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Computational modelling of final covers for uranium mill tailings impoundments
Guilherme Luís Menegassi Leoni1, Márcio de Souza Soares Almeida, Horst Monken Fernandes
1Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, COPPE-Graduate School of Engineering, Civil Engineering Program, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Journal of Hazardous Materials
|June 5, 2004
Summary
This study presents a computer-based method to evaluate engineered final covers for uranium mill tailings impoundments, assessing hydraulic flux and radon exhalation for effective remediation.
Area of Science:
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Environmental Science
- Nuclear Engineering
Background:
- Uranium mill tailings impoundments require effective final covers to mitigate radiological and non-radiological impacts.
- Preventing geochemical processes within tailings is crucial for long-term impoundment stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a computer-based method for evaluating the performance of engineered final covers.
- To assess the effectiveness of different final cover designs in uranium mill tailings remediation.
Main Methods:
- Evaluation of three hypothetical final covers: compacted clay liner (CCL), composite liner (CL), and capillary barrier (CB).
- Investigation of saturated and unsaturated hydraulic flux, and radon exhalation using Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP), SEEP/W, and RADON software.
- Case study analysis at the uranium mill tailings impoundment in Poços de Caldas, Brazil.
Main Results:
- The computer-based method provides a comprehensive evaluation of final cover performance.
- Analysis quantifies hydraulic flux and radon exhalation rates for different cover designs.
- Performance metrics were generated for CCL, CL, and CB under simulated conditions.
Conclusions:
- The proposed computer-based method is effective for assessing engineered final covers for uranium mill tailings.
- The study provides valuable data for selecting optimal geotechnical solutions for impoundment remediation.
- Findings contribute to the safe and effective long-term management of uranium mill tailings.