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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating disease characterized by progressive and irreversible scarring of the lung tissue. Development of new efficacious and safe treatments is hampered by limited understanding of disease pathogenesis, lack of predictive preclinical models, and narrow therapeutic index of candidate drugs targeting complex biologies. Here, we tackle these aspects by generating spatially resolved transcriptomic maps of fibrotic lungs from clinical samples and a preclinical mouse model. We utilized the Visium platform to study parenchyma biopsies from four healthy lungs and regions of varying fibrotic severity from four IPF patient lungs. By mapping single cell RNA-seq data spatially, we were able to detect distinct fibroblast populations in different regions of the lesioned IPF lung, as well as the presence of various immune cell populations. To study lung fibrosis preclinically in vivo, the bleomycin mouse model is the most widely used alternative, although its translatability to human disease is disputed. Visium data from mouse lungs collected at two time points following bleomycin administration were generated, which allowed us to characterize the fibrotic lesions and inflammatory areas in their spatiotemporal context. In addition, mass spectrometry imaging was performed on adjacent tissue sections to provide paired spatial metabolomics. Herein, we have generated spatial maps of the lung fibrosis transcriptome from IPF lung biopsies and bleomycin-injured mouse lungs, providing an extensive resource to probe disease pathogenesis and animal model translatability., QC 20230316

An innovative and sustainable way for production of vanadium is to co-process vanadium titanomagnetite ores with vanadium-bearing slag from steel industry, via reduction, producing a hot metal containing about 2 mass% vanadium, 0.1 mass% phosphorus, and 0.4 mass% silicon. A vanadium-extraction method was developed for these hot metals using a semi-industrial-scale converter. Oxidation was carried out with an air jet enriched to 50 vol% oxygen and by top-charging up to 70 kg iron ore pellets per ton hot metal. The complete dissolution of pellets was achieved by deliberately creating good stirring conditions utilizing high momentary decarburization rates. The temperature could be controlled to around 1677 K at the blowing endpoint after the pellet coolant had been dissolved. Produced vanadium slags contained as high as 20 mass% V. The semifinished product contained about 3 mass% carbon and 0.1 mass% vanadium, corresponding to a vanadium yield of 94%. The phosphorus distribution to the slag was low when good stirring was maintained. The slag composition had a more significant impact than the temperature on the vanadium distribution. Laboratory-scale study also showed that the temperature impact on the composition of the liquid phase was minor., QC 20190527

Swedish iron ore contains about 0.1% V which is reduced to the hot metal in the blast furnace and oxidised to the slag in the converter. The slag contains up to 5% V and has very limited uses. A project is decribed aimed at the efficient recovery of V from the slag and the production of a useful slag involving the VILD concept, a two-stage process in which Fe, P, Mn and V are reduced into a metal phase containing more than 10% V and about 1% P followed by the separation of P. Trials were carried out using two slags, an LD slag and a LUVA slag obtained using a double slag method with intermediate tapping in the basic oxygen furnace plant. Various reactors and processes were employed including hot slag reduction by the addition of FeSi and Al during slag tapping, by the injection of FeSi powder into the slag melt and in Kaldo and AC furnaces, and cold slag reduction in a DC furnace. Reduction in a DC furnace showed excellent results for V recovery, and the degree of slag reduction and the slag composition were easily controlled by the reductant/slag ratio and the addition of slag additives. Blast furnace sludge was also treated in some trials for metal recovery and as an additional carbon source. Reduction in an AC and DC furnace showed high flexibility for various slag products and raw materials and they can be employed without modification of the existing production chain. The main advantages of hot slag reduction are low energy consumption and lower investment costs, but process control was more difficult. The slag products can be used as a raw material for cement production., Swedish iron ore contains about 0.1% V which is reduced to the hot metal in the blast furnace and oxidised to the slag in the converter. The slag contains up to 5% V and has very limited uses. A project is decribed aimed at the efficient recovery of V from the slag and the production of a useful slag involving the VILD concept, a two-stage process in which Fe, P, Mn and V are reduced into a metal phase containing more than 10% V and about 1% P followed by the separation of P. Trials were carried out using two slags, an LD slag and a LUVA slag obtained using a double slag method with intermediate tapping in the basic oxygen furnace plant. Various reactors and processes were employed including hot slag reduction by the addition of FeSi and Al during slag tapping, by the injection of FeSi powder into the slag melt and in Kaldo and AC furnaces, and cold slag reduction in a DC furnace. Reduction in a DC furnace showed excellent results for V recovery, and the degree of slag reduction and the slag composition were easily controlled by the reductant/slag ratio and the addition of slag additives. Blast furnace sludge was also treated in some trials for metal recovery and as an additional carbon source. Reduction in an AC and DC furnace showed high flexibility for various slag products and raw materials and they can be employed without modification of the existing production chain. The main advantages of hot slag reduction are low energy consumption and lower investment costs, but process control was more difficult. The slag products can be used as a raw material for cement production.

Experiments on a vanadium recovery method from vanadium containing BOF-slag using both a Tamman furnace (3 kg scale) and an induction furnace (150 kg scale) were conducted. The vanadium was extracted into the slag phase by bubbling oxidation gas into a metal bath consisting mainly of V (1-10 mass%), Si (less than 1 mass%) and P (about 1 mass%). The first experiments revealed that the slag formed during oxidation reaction had considerably high phosphate capacity High phosphorus content would rule out the possibility of using the slag as a raw material for the production of ferrovanadium of high quality In order to reduce the P-content in the slag, addition of slag former to reduce phosphate capacity was necessary. A suitable slag system (having the initial composition 40 mass% Al2O3 - 25 mass% CaO - 35 mass% SiO2) and a suitable atmosphere, by using CO2, that enhanced the oxidation of vanadium, but limit the oxidation of iron and phosphorus was found. However, more efforts should be put forward, e.g. study of the phase diagram, the viscosity of the slag and even oxide activities to gain more insight into the slag formed by selective oxidation., QC 20100525, MISTRA stålkretsloppet delprojekt Vanadin

Examples are presented of the many research initiatives in Europe and in individual European countries concerned with environmental issues related to mining. The approach taken by many of the programmes goes beyond the strict ARD scientific area. European programmes include PIRAMID (passive in situ remediation of acidic mine/industrial drainage), PEREBAR (long-term performance of permeable reactive barriers used for the remediation of contaminated groundwater), CLOTADAM (the treatment of mine waste to achieve cost effective engineered closure of tailings dams), MINEO (monitoring and assessing the environmental impact of mining in Europe using advanced earth observation techniques), and ERMITE (environmental regulation of mine waters in the European Union). European networks include the Mine Water Interdisciplinary Network Europe and the Ore Mining and Environment Technology Information Network. National programmes in Sweden and the UK are described., Examples are presented of the many research initiatives in Europe and in individual European countries concerned with environmental issues related to mining. The approach taken by many of the programmes goes beyond the strict ARD scientific area. European programmes include PIRAMID (passive in situ remediation of acidic mine/industrial drainage), PEREBAR (long-term performance of permeable reactive barriers used for the remediation of contaminated groundwater), CLOTADAM (the treatment of mine waste to achieve cost effective engineered closure of tailings dams), MINEO (monitoring and assessing the environmental impact of mining in Europe using advanced earth observation techniques), and ERMITE (environmental regulation of mine waters in the European Union). European networks include the Mine Water Interdisciplinary Network Europe and the Ore Mining and Environment Technology Information Network. National programmes in Sweden and the UK are described.

The tailings pond currently covers 1 140 ha but at closure it will hold around 760 000 000 t of tailings and occupy an area of 1 400 ha. The tailings contain less than 1% S and 0.03 % Cu. The carbonate content is as low as 0.25% but silicates, with substantial accumulated buffering and metal adsorption capacity, are abundant. Investigations were undertaken to design a decommissioning strategy that meets regulatory requirements and secures the long-term stability of the tailings. Standard tests using acid-base accounting (ABA) and humidity cell tests over 15 weeks were not conclusive and almost four years of humidity cell tests were conducted on representative samples to cover the variations in sulphide content existing on site and at different points in the milling process. The results were subjected to geochemical evaluation to investigate the interaction between acid-producing reactions, driven by the weathering of sulphides, and acid-consuming reactions resulting from dissolution of carbonates and aluminosilicates. Pilot tests and field measurements were carried out to estimate the scale dependency between the laboratory and field results. Sulphide weathering rates in the field were considerably lower than those measured in the laboratory but it could not be confirmed that the tailings top layer would maintain a neutral pH in the long term. A modified tailings management plan is being considered, including de-pyritisation., The tailings pond currently covers 1 140 ha but at closure it will hold around 760 000 000 t of tailings and occupy an area of 1 400 ha. The tailings contain less than 1% S and 0.03 % Cu. The carbonate content is as low as 0.25% but silicates, with substantial accumulated buffering and metal adsorption capacity, are abundant. Investigations were undertaken to design a decommissioning strategy that meets regulatory requirements and secures the long-term stability of the tailings. Standard tests using acid-base accounting (ABA) and humidity cell tests over 15 weeks were not conclusive and almost four years of humidity cell tests were conducted on representative samples to cover the variations in sulphide content existing on site and at different points in the milling process. The results were subjected to geochemical evaluation to investigate the interaction between acid-producing reactions, driven by the weathering of sulphides, and acid-consuming reactions resulting from dissolution of carbonates and aluminosilicates. Pilot tests and field measurements were carried out to estimate the scale dependency between the laboratory and field results. Sulphide weathering rates in the field were considerably lower than those measured in the laboratory but it could not be confirmed that the tailings top layer would maintain a neutral pH in the long term. A modified tailings management plan is being considered, including de-pyritisation.

Poorly buffered tailings from the mine have been deposited in five impoundments located along a valley. The tailings area has been remediated by applying a combination of till cover and flooding. A new method has been applied to parts of the area involving raising the groundwater table to saturate the tailings. A water-covered downstream impoundment has been subjected to liming to increase the pH and reduce metal mobility, and is functioning as a trap for metals released from the till-covered impoundments upstream. Measurements of the progressive changes in water quality confirm the effectiveness of the system approach used in the design of the remediation programme. The sulphide oxidation rate has decreased in the till-covered impoundments and, as predicted, there is an out-flush of old weathering products which will continue for at least five years before equilibrium is reached. The groundwater in the till-covered impoundments has high concentrations of Fe, S, Mg and In, but the concentrations of metals such as Cu, Cd and Pb are much lower than before the till cover was applied. The limed pond is an efficient metal trap, with concentrations as high as 2.76% Zn and 0.28% Cu in the calcite-gypsum sludge in the tailings., Poorly buffered tailings from the mine have been deposited in five impoundments located along a valley. The tailings area has been remediated by applying a combination of till cover and flooding. A new method has been applied to parts of the area involving raising the groundwater table to saturate the tailings. A water-covered downstream impoundment has been subjected to liming to increase the pH and reduce metal mobility, and is functioning as a trap for metals released from the till-covered impoundments upstream. Measurements of the progressive changes in water quality confirm the effectiveness of the system approach used in the design of the remediation programme. The sulphide oxidation rate has decreased in the till-covered impoundments and, as predicted, there is an out-flush of old weathering products which will continue for at least five years before equilibrium is reached. The groundwater in the till-covered impoundments has high concentrations of Fe, S, Mg and In, but the concentrations of metals such as Cu, Cd and Pb are much lower than before the till cover was applied. The limed pond is an efficient metal trap, with concentrations as high as 2.76% Zn and 0.28% Cu in the calcite-gypsum sludge in the tailings.