Evaluation of behavior of the zeolitized tuffs of the San Andrés in the treatment of the WL residual of the Commander “Pedro Sotto Alba Company”

Abstract

In the work, the results of the behavior of the zeolitized tuffs of the San Andrés deposit, composed mostly of clinoptilolite-heulandite, of granulometry (-1,4 +0,85 mm), in the treatment of the residual WL of the Company Cmdt Pedro Sotto Alba are exposed. A batch test was carried out at a temperature between 50-60oC where the selectivity of the zeolitized tuffs was in the order: Fe2 + ˃Mn2 + ˃Co2 + ˃ Mg2 + ˃Fe3 + and the acidity of the WL was reduced from 1,58 to pH = 2 6. It was observed that the tuffs suffer a 1, 4 % de alumination, product to the acid medium in which the experiment was carried out. The diffractograms of the zeolitized tuff were analyzed after treatment, where no differences in their phasic composition were observed. The influence of the zeolitic material in the reduction of the color and unpleasant smell of the WL was demonstrated as a significant aspect with respect to the environmental indicators.