Study of the Neutralizing Properties of Chlorite Crushed Stone and Prospects for its Use in Railway Transport

The problem of utilization of a by-product generated during shungite mining in the form of chlorite crushed stone is considered. It is shown that the presence of the silicate-containing mineral chlorite in the waste provides information on the neutralizing properties of the waste with respect to heavy metal ions; the presence of the mineral shungite predicts the activity of the waste with respect to biological contaminants. The results of studies of chlorite crushed stone in terms of operating capacity of the waste and the dependence of static capacity on impurities in a model solution are presented. The absence of selectivity of the crushed stone with respect to heavy metal ions is proven. The oil sorption capacity of the waste was analyzed with variation in filtration rate, grain size, and concentration of the model solution. A quantitative assessment of the prevented environmental damage is given, provided that the waste is used in a geochemical barrier during the construction or reconstruction of the ballast prism of the railway track.