The main objective of this research line is to design treatments for mining drainage waters (laboratory and field scale), including minimization and revalorization of mining residues.
Selected publications
2020
Marazuela, M.A.; Vázquez-Suñé, E.; Ayora, C.; García-Gil, A. (2020) Towards more sustainable brine extraction in salt flats: Learning from the Salar de Atacama. Science of the Total Environment, 703, 135605. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135605
Wolkersdorfer, C.; Nordstrom, D.K.; Beckie, R.D.; Cicerone, D.S.; Elliot, T.; Edraki, M.; Valente, T.; França, S.C.A.; Kumar, P.; Oyarzún, R.A.; Soler, A. (2020). Guidance for the Integrated Use of Hydrological, Geochemical, and Isotopic Tools in Mining Operations. Mine Water and the Environment, 1-25. DOI: 10.1007/s10230-020-00666-x
2019
Basallote, M.D.; Canovas, C.R.; Olias, M.; Perez-Lopez, R.; Macias, F.; Carrero, S.; Ayora, C.; Nieto, J.M. (2019) Mineralogically-induced metal partitioning during the evaporative precipitation of efflorescent sulfate salts from acid mine drainage. Chemical Geology, 530, DOI: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2019.119339
Cama, J.; Soler, J.M.; Ayora, C. (2019) Acid Water–Rock–Cement Interaction and Multicomponent Reactive Transport Modeling. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 85, 459-498. DOI: 10.2138/rmg.2018.85.15
Caraballo, M.A.; Wanty, R.B.; Verplanck, P.L.; Navarro-Valdivia, L.; Ayora, C.; Hochella, M.F. (2019) Aluminum mobility in mildly acidic mine drainage: Interactions between hydrobasaluminite, silica and trace metals from the nano to the meso-scale. Chemical Geology, 519, 1-10. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2019.04.013
Gimenez-Gomez, P.; Baldi, A.; Ayora, C.; Fernandez-Sanchez, C. (2019) Automated Determination of As(III) in Waters with an Electrochemical Sensor Integrated into a Modular Microfluidic System. ACS sensors, 4, 3156-3165. DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.9b01286
Lozano, A.; Ayora, C.; Fernández-Martínez, A. (2019) Sorption of rare earth elements onto basaluminite: The role of sulfate and pH. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 258, 50-62. DOI: 10.1016/j.gca.2019.05.016
Lozano, A.; Fernandez-Martinez, A.; Ayora, C.; Di Tommaso, D.; Poulain, A.; Rovezzi, M.; Marini, C. (2019) Solid and aqueous speciation of titrium in passive remediation systems of acid mine drainage. Environmental Science & Technology, 53(19), 11153-11161. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b01795
Marazuela, M.A.; Vazquez-Sune, E.; Ayora, C.; García-Gil, A.; Palma, T. (2019) Hydrodynamics of salt flat basins: The Salar de Atacama example. Science of the Total Environment, 651, 668-683. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.190
Marazuela, M.A.; Vázquez-Suñé, E.; Ayora, C.; García-Gil, A.; Palma, T. (2019) The effect of brine pumping on the natural hydrodynamics of the Salar de Atacama: The damping capacity of salt flats. Science of the Total Environment, 654, 1118-1131. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.196
2018
Lopez, J.; Reig, M.; Gibert, O.; Torres, E.; Ayora C.; Cortina, J.L.(2018) Application of nanofiltration for acidic waters containing rare earth elements: Influence of transition elements, acidity and membrane stability. Desalination, 430, 33-44. DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2017.12.033
Lozano, A.; Fernández-Martínez, A.; Ayora, C.; Poulain A. (2018) Local structure and ageing of basaluminite at different pH values and sulphate concentrations. Chemical Geology Volum, 496, 25-33. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2018.08.002
Marazuela, M. A.; Vazquez-Sune, E.; Custodio, E.; Palma, T. García-Gil, A; Ayora, C. (2018) 3D mapping, hydrodynamics and modelling of the freshwater-brine mixing zone in salt flats similar to the Salar de Atacama (Chile). Journal of Hydrology, 561, 223-235. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.04.010
Pujades, E.; Jurado, A; Orban, P.; Ayora, C.; Poulain, A.; Goderniaux, P: Brouyere, S.; Dassargues A. (2018) Hydrochemical changes induced by underground pumped storage hydropower and their associated impacts. Journal of Hydrology, 563, 927-941. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.06.041
Scheiber, L., Ayora, C., Vázquez-Suñé, E. (2018) Quantification of proportions of different water sources in a mining operation. Science of the Total Environment, 619, 587-599. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.172
Torres, E.; Lozano, A.; Macías, F.; Gomez-Arias, A.; Castillo, J.; Ayora, C. (2018) Passive elimination of sulfate and metals from acid mine drainage using combined limestone and barium carbonate systems. Journal Of Cleaner Production, 182, 114-123. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.01.224
2017
Fernandez-Rojo L; Héry M.; Le Pape P.; Braungardt C.; Desoeuvre A.; Torres E.; Tardy V.; Resongles E.; Laroche E.; Delpoux ; Joulian C.; Battaglia-Brunet F.; Boisson J.; Grapin G.; Morin G.; Gassiot C. (2017) Biological attenuation of arsenic and iron in a continuous flow bioreactor treating Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). Water Research, 123, 594 - 606. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.06.059
Jofre-Melendez, R.; Torres, E.; Ramos-Arroyo, Y.R.; Galván, L.; Ruiz-Cánovas, C.; Ayora, C. (2017) Reconstruction of an Acid Water Spill in a Mountain Reservoir. Water, 9, 613. DOI: 10.3390/w9090613
Macias, F.; Perez-Lopez, R.; Caraballo, M.A.; Sarmiento, A.M.; Canovas, C.R.; Nieto, J.M.; Olias, M.; Ayora, C. (2017) A geochemical approach to the restoration plans for the Odiel River basin (SW Spain), a watershed deeply polluted by acid mine drainage. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24, 4506-4516. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-8169-9
2016
Ayora, C.; Macías, F.; Torres, E.; Lozano, A.; Carrero, S.; Nieto, J.M.; Perez-Lopez, R.; Fernandez-Martínez, A.; Castillo-Michel H. (2016) Recovery of Rare Earth Elements and Yttrium from Passive-Remediation Systems of Acid Mine Drainage. Environmental Science & Technology, 50, 8255 - 8262. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b02084
Canovas, C.R.; Olias, M.; Macias, F.; Torres, E.; San Miguel, E.G.; Galvan, L.; Ayora, C.; Nieto, J.M. (2016) Water acidification trends in a reservoir of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (SW Spain). Science of the Total Environment, 541, 400 - 411. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.09.070
Caraballo, M,A.; Macias, F., Nieto, J,M., Ayora (2016) Long term fluctuations of groundwater mine pollution in a sulfide mining district with dry Mediterranean climate: Implications for water resources management and remediation. Science of the Total Environment, 539, 427 - 435. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.08.156
Dietrich, S.; Bea, S.; Weinzettel, P.; Torres, E.; Ayora C. (2016) Occurrence and distribution of arsenic in the sediments of a carbonate-rich unsaturated zone. Environmental Earth Sciences, 75, 90. DOI: 10.1007/s12665-015-4892-7
Torres, E; Galvan, L.; Canovas, CR; Soria-Piriz, S.; Arbat-Bofill, M; Nardi, A.; Papaspyrou, S; Ayora, C. (2016) Oxycline formation induced by Fe(II) oxidation in a water reservoir affected by acid mine drainage modeled using a 2D hydrodynamic and water quality model - CE-QUAL-W2. Science of the Total Environment, 562, 1 - 12. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.209
2015
Carrero, S.; Perez-Lopez, R.; Fernandez-Martinez, A. Cruz-Hernandez P.; Ayora, C.; Poulain, A. (2015) The potential role of aluminium hydroxysulphates in the removal of contaminants in acid mine drainage. Chemical geology, 417, 414 - 423. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2015.10.020
De Pourcq, K.; Ayora, C.; Garcia-Gutierrez, M.; Missana, T.; Carrera, J. (2015) A clay permeable reactive barrier to remove Cs-137 from groundwater: Column experiments. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 149, 36 - 42. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.06.029
De Soto, I. S.; Ayora, C.; Cuevas, J. (2014) Geochemical processes in compacted clay in contact with an acid landfill leachate: laboratory experiments and modelling results. Clay Minerals, 49, 443 - 455. DOI: 10.1180/claymin.2014.049.3.07
Offeddu, F.G.; Cama, J.; Soler, J.M.; Davila, G.; McDowell, A.; Craciunescu, T.; Tiseanu, I. (2015) Processes affecting the efficiency of limestone in passive treatments for AMD: Column experiments. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 3, 304 - 316. DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2014.10.013
Yi, S.; Samper, J.; Naves, A; Soler, J.M. (2015) A single-site reactive transport model of Cs+ for the in situ diffusion and retention (DR) experiment. Environmental Earth Sciences, 74, 3589 - 3601. DOI: 10.1007/s12665-015-4419-2
2014
Missana, T.; Garcí-Gutiérrez, M.; Benedicto, A.; Ayora, C.; de Pourcq, K (2014) Modelling of Cs sorption in natural mixed-clays and the effects of ion competition. Applied Geochemistry, 49, 95 - 102. DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2014.06.011
Molinari, A.; Ayora, C.; Marcaccio, M.; Guadagnini, L.; Sanchez-Vila, X.; Guadagnini, A. (2014) Geochemical modeling of arsenic release from a deep natural solid matrix under alternated redox conditions. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 21, 1628 - 1637. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-2054-6
Offeddu, F.G.; Cama, J.; Soler, J.M.; Putnis, C.V. (2014) Direct nanoscale observations of the coupled dissolution of calcite and dolomite and the precipitation of gypsum. Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, 5, 1245 - 1253. DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.5.138
Torres, E.; Ayora, C.; Jimenez-Arias, J.L.; García-Robledo, E.; Papaspyrou, S.; Corzo, A. (2014) Benthic metal fluxes and sediment diagenesis in a water reservoir affected by acid mine drainage: A laboratory experiment and reactive transport modeling. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 139, 344 - 361. DOI: 10.1016/j.gca.2014.04.013
2013
Asta, M.P.; Perez-Lopez, R.; Roman-Ross, G.; Illera, V.; Cama J.; Cotte, M.; Tucoulou, R. (2013) Analysis of the iron coatings formed during sulphide oxidation at neutral-basic conditions. Geologica Acta, 11, 465-481. DOI: 10.1344/105.000002062
Atanassova, R.; Cama, J.; Soler, J. M.; Offeddu, F. G.; Queralt, I.; Casanova, I. (2013) Calcite interaction with acidic sulphate solutions: a vertical scanning interferometry and energy-dispersive XRF study. European Journal of Mineralogy, 25, 331 - 351. DOI: 10.1127/0935-1221/2013/0025-2279
Ayora, C; Caraballo, M.A.; Macías, F.; Rötting, T.S.; Carrera, J.; Nieto, J.M. (2013). Acid mine drainage in the Iberian Pyrite Belt: 2. Lessons learned from recent passive remediation experiences. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 20, 7837 - 7853. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-1479-2
Cappelli, C.; Van Driessche, A.; Cama, J.; Huertas, F.J. (2013). In situ observation of biotite dissolution at pH 1 using advanced optical microscopy. Crystal Growth and Design, 13, 2880 - 2886. DOI: 10.1021/cg400285a
Cordoba, P.; Ayora, C.; Moreno, N.; Font O.; Izquierdo, M.; Querol, X. (2013) Influence of an aluminium additive in aqueous and solid speciation of elements in flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) system. Energy, 50, 438-444. DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2012.11.020
Gibert, O.; Cortina, J.L.; de Pablo, J.; Ayora C. (2013) Performance of a field-scale permeable reactive barrier based on organic substrate and zero-valent iron for in situ remediation of acid mine drainage. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 20, 7854 - 7862. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-1507-2
Nieto, J.M.; Sarmiento, A.M.; Cánovas, C.R.; Olías, M.; Ayora, C. (2013). Acid mine drainage in the Iberian Pyrite Belt: 1. Hydrochemical characteristics and pollutant load of the Tinto and Odiel rivers. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 20, 7509 - 7519. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-1634-9
Quispe, D.; Perez-Lopez, R.; Acero, P.; Ayora, C.; Nieto, J.M. (2013) Formation of a hardpan in the co-disposal of fly ash and sulfide mine tailings and its influence on the generation of acid mine drainage. Chemical Geology, 355, 45 - 55. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2013.07.005
Quispe, D.; Perez-Lopez, R.; Acero, P.; Ayora, C.; Nieto, J.M. (2013) The role of mineralogy on element mobility in two sulfide mine tailings from the Iberian Pyrite Belt (SW Spain). Chemical Geology, 345, 119 – 129. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2013.03.002
Torres, E.; Ayora, C.; Canovas, C.R.; García-Robledo, E.; Galvan, L.; Sarmiento, A.M. (2013) Metal cycling during sediment early diagenesis in a water reservoir affected by acid mine drainage. Science of Total Environment, 461-462, 416 - 429. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.05.014