Waste to Wonder

Zinc Mining Waste Can Be a Source for Essential Plant Nutrients

- Suneeti singh

In this article, Dr Suneeti Singh and Dr Pushplata Singh have highlighted that TERI has pioneered the development of a zinc-iron nanocomposite as a nanofertilizer. In the creation of this nanofertilizer, researchers utilized jarosite, a by-product of zinc extraction from its ore, employing a biogenic synthesis process. Keep reading to delve into the details...

Urbanization and industrialization have placed a heavy load on the environment by generating billion tonnes of harmful garbage every year. A study by TERI found India, in a year, produces over 62 million tonnes (MT) of waste, making it a leading cause of environmental and public health concerns in the country. Industrial waste, the residue discharged from various production processes, is known to have hazardous properties as they are primarily made of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, nickel, and zinc. Since heavy metals cannot be degraded, biologically or chemically, they can persist in the environment for a long time resulting in serious environmental pollution. Industries such as mining, electroplating, textile, tanneries, agriculture, are major sources for the emission of harmful heavy metals in the waste streams.

One of the industrial waste material produced as a by-product of the extraction of zinc from its ore is jarosite. Jarosite is a basic hydrous sulphate of ammonium and ferric iron (Fe-III) with the chemical formula of NH Fe (SO)(OH). The Debari zinc smelter plant (HZL) is one of the largest plants, in Udaipur, India, and has an annual production capacity of 92,000 MT of high zinc metal using electrolytic extraction.1,2 A large amount of zinc, along with other contaminated elements like lead and cadmium, is being emitted into the environment during the processing of zinc mining, which may cause sinkholes, soil erosion, and the loss of biodiversity.