PN 23-39-02-07

Description

The widespread use of mineral processing wastes (metallurgical slags, thermal power plant ashes, phosphogypsums, and sulfogypsums) as raw materials for road infrastructure or the construction materials industry stems from the high demand for inexpensive, readily available construction materials, as well as the need to reduce industrial waste stockpiles in accordance with European Union Directive 851/2018. Beyond the practical necessity—given their low cost and the role their reintroduction into the economic cycle plays in the circular economy—their utilization must be supported by rigorous studies. These should address radioactivity (for phosphogypsums and thermal power plant ashes) and the content of specific elements—such as Cr in ferrous metallurgical slags, or Cd, As, and Pb in non-ferrous metallurgical slags—as well as mineralogical composition and general physicochemical properties. Such studies are essential to facilitate the assessment of processing requirements and reactivity when these products are used as concrete additives or as raw materials for the manufacture of cement, bricks, and other construction materials. The proposed topic aims to characterize—from these perspectives—the phosphogypsum deposits at Valea Călugărească, Turnu Măgurele, Bacău, and Năvodari; the sulfogypsum deposit at Rovinari; the metallurgical slag deposits at Hunedoara, Galaţi, Călan, Oţelu Roşu, Reşiţa, Dognecea, Oraviţa, Baia Mare, and Copşa Mică; the thermal power plant ash dumps at Rovinari, Turceni, Işalniţa, Mintia, Doiceşti, Paroşeni, Govora, and Comăneşti; and the tailings ponds at Tăuşani, Sasca Montană, and Altân Tepe.

Objectives

1. conducting detailed studies on the radioactivity of phosphogypsum and thermal power plant ash;
2. determining the contents of Cr in the case of slags from iron metallurgy or of Cd, As, Pb in the case of those from non-ferrous metallurgy;
3. conducting studies on mineralogical composition and general physicochemical properties, aimed at facilitating research into processing and reactivity for the use of these products as concrete additives, as well as innovative sources for manufacturing construction materials, such as geopolymer bricks;
4. environmental impact assessment;
5. identifying the best solutions for the sustainable management of the studied landfills;
6. provision of material support for the participation of research team members in specialized congresses and symposia;
7. providing logistical support for ongoing master’s and doctoral programs, as well as for international cooperation activities;

PN 23 39 02 07, Secondary utilization of mineral processing waste for infrastructure works: an example of convergence between the circular economy and the need for remediation.

Phase 1 – Mineralogical, geochemical, and radiological study of phosphogypsum deposits at Valea Călugărească, Turnu Măgurele, and Năvodari

Results obtained

• Database containing mineralogical, geochemical, and radiological information regarding the proposed phosphogypsum deposits;
• Environmental impact assessment;
• Publication of scientific articles in specialized journals (1);
• Preparation of and participation with papers in national and international scientific events (3);
• Completion of two professional development, analytical, and research placements in the laboratories
  partners from Université de Liège, Belgium;
• Enriching the educational and heritage collections of IOSIN – MGN

Articles in journals indexed in Web of Science

• Bilal, E., Bellefqih, H, Bourgier, V., Mazouz, H., Dumitraş, D.-G., Bard, F., Laborde, M., Caspar, J.P., Guilhot, B., Iatan, E.-L., Bounakhl, M., Iancu, M.A., Marincea, Ş., Essakhraou, M., Li, B., Diwa, R.R., Ramirez, J.D., Chernysh, Y., Chubur, V., Roubík, H., Schmidt, H., Beniazzan, R., Cánovas, C.R., Nieto, J.M., Haneklaus, N. (2023): Phosphogypsum circular economy considerations: A critical review from more than 65 storage sites worldwide. J. Clean. Prod., 414, 137561, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137561

Scientific papers presented at scientific events (conferences, seminars, workshops, etc.):

• Dumitraş, D.-G., Marincea, Ş., Sava Ghineţ, C., Dal Bo, F., Hatert, F. (2023): Wollastonite-2M from Cerboaia Valley, Măgureaua Vaţei (Metaliferi Massif, Apuseni Mountains, Romania): Structure and vibrational behavior of “parawollastonite”. Goldschmidt Abstracts,https://hdl.handle.net/2268/309085
• Iancu, A.M., Sava Ghineţ, C., Marincea, Ş., Dumitraş, D.-G. (2023): Phosphogypsum stacks from Năvodari (Romania), as secondary resource. Goldschmidt Abstracts, https://hdl.handle.net/2268/309086
• Marincea, Ş., Dumitraş, D.-G., Sava Ghineţ, C., Dincă, G., Dal Bo, F., Hatert, F. (2023): Structure vs. vibrational behavior of spodumene from Conţu (Cindrel Mountains, South Carpathians, Romania). Goldschmidt Abstracts, https://hdl.handle.net/2268/309084

Phase 2: Mineralogical, geochemical, and radiological study of the phosphogypsum deposits at Bacău and the sulfogypsum deposit at Rovinari.

Results obtained

• Mineralogical, geochemical, and radiological characterization of the proposed phosphogypsum and sulfogypsum deposits, and the creation of databases;
• Environmental impact assessment and identification of the best recovery solutions;
• Publication of scientific articles in specialized journals (1);
• Preparation of and participation with papers in national and international scientific events (1);
• Results with transfer potential for application at SC Etex Building Performance Group (Siniat) and Saint-Gobain Romania;
• Completion of three professional development, analytical, and research placements at partner laboratories at the University of Liège, Belgium;
• Participation in workshops and working meetings related to project submissions for the ERA-MIN competition on critical raw materials.

Articles in journals indexed in Web of Science

• Bellefqih, H, Bourgier, V., Bilal, E., Dumitraş, D.-G., Marincea, Ş., Haneklaus, N. (2023): The influence of brushite on the reactivity of gypsum and phosphogypsum. J. Clean. Prod., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137561

Scientific papers presented at scientific events (conferences, seminars, workshops, etc.):

• Dumitraş, D.-G., Iancu, A.-M., Marincea, Ş., Sava, C., Cruşoveanu, S. (2023): Fosfogipsurile din România – caracteristici mineralogice, geochimice şi radiometrice. Simpozionul “Mircea Savul”, Iaşi, Abstracts Volume.

Faza 3 – Studiul mineralogic şi geochimic, dar şi sub raport al proprietăţilor fizico-chimice al zgurilor de la Hunedoara, Galaţi, Călan, Oţelu Roşu şi Reşiţa şi Faza 4 (parţial) – Studiul mineralogic al zgurilor de la Dognecea

Results obtained

• Identification and characterization of technogenic dust deposits (metallurgical slags) with valorization potential;
• Database containing mineralogical and geochemical information on the analyzed slag deposits.
• Enrichment of the mineralogical determinations performed on various samples collected during field campaigns;
• Supporting international collaborations through the participation of project research team members in various activities aimed at promoting and enhancing research outcomes (research and professional development visit to Belgium; participation in workshops and working meetings on critical raw materials);
• Publication of scientific articles in specialized journals (1);
• Preparation of and participation with papers in national and international scientific events (4)
• Preparation of two national project proposals: PNCDI IV, PN-IV-P7-7.1-PED-2024-0403 and PN-IV-P8-8.3-PM-RO-BE-2024-0001

Articles in journals indexed in Web of Science

• Blebea-Apostu, A.M., Gomoiu, M.C., Mărgineanu, R.M., Perşa, D., Marincea, Ş, Duliu, O.G., Dumitraş, D.-G., Iancu, A.M. (2024): The Bacău (Romania) phosphogypsum stacks as a source of radioactive threat: A case study. Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies, 1-15, DOI: 10.1080/10256016.2024.2365684.

Scientific papers presented at scientific events (conferences, seminars, workshops, etc.):

• Dumitraş, D.-G., Marincea, Ş., Sava Ghineţ, C., Dal Bo, F., Hatert, F. (2024): Structure vs. FT-IR and Raman behavior of wollastonite-2M (“parawollastonite”) from Cerboaia Valley, Măgureaua Vaţei (Metaliferi Massif, Apuseni Mountains, Romania). Abstract 1811.
• Iancu, A.M., Marincea, Ş., Sava Ghineţ, C., Dumitraş, D.-G. (2024): Phosphogypsum stacks from Năvodari (Romania), as secondary resource. Abstract 1704.
• Marincea, Ş., Dumitraş, D.-G., Sava Ghineţ, C., Dincă, G., Dal Bo, F., Hatert, F. (2024): Structure vs. FTIR and Raman behavior of spodumene from Conţu (Lotru Mountains, South Carpathians, Romania). Abstract 1777.
• Sava Ghineţ, C., Marincea, Ş., Dumitraş, D.-G., Iancu, A.M. (2024): Infrared behavior of phlogopite from some magnesian skarns in the Banatitic Magmatic and Metallogenetic Belt from Romania. Abstract 1755.