Reaction mechanism of metal and pyrite under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions and improvement of the properties

Abstract

Pyrite tailings are the main cause of acid mine wastewater. We propose an idea to more effectively use pyrite, and it is modified by exploiting the reducibility of metal represented by Al under high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) conditions. Upon increasing the Al addition, the conductivity of pyrite is effectively improved, which is nearly 734 times higher than that of unmodified pyrite at room temperature. First-principles calculations are used to determine the influence of a high pressure on the pyrite lattice. The high pressure increases the thermal stability of pyrite, reduces pyrite to high-conductivity Fe7S8 (pyrrhotite) by Al. Through hardness and density tests the influence of Al addition on the hardness and toughness of samples is explored. Finally we discuss the possibility of using other metal-reducing agents to improve the properties of pyrite.