A review of pollutant leaching from tailings: numerical modeling, transport mechanisms, and pollution control

Pollutant leaching from tailings presents critical environmental risks driven by complex geochemical, hydrological, and biological interactions. This study conducted a systematic review of research trends in numerical modeling, transport mechanisms, and pollution control through topic modeling, identifying eight dominant thematic clusters. The results reveal an evolution from foundational investigations of leaching kinetics to advanced predictive simulations and sustainable remediation technologies. Numerical simulations, including geochemical and hydrological models, have improved our understanding of pollutant leaching processes. Transport mechanism studies have highlighted leaching kinetics, redox transformations, and adsorption-desorption in controlling pollutant mobility. In pollution control, adsorption-based treatments, microbe-driven remediation, and resource recovery are emerging as key strategies. Despite these advancements, significant challenges remain. Existing models struggle to integrate multi-process interactions, leading to uncertainties in long-term pollutant behavior. The heterogeneity of tailings complicates parameterization, and microbial contributions to pollutant immobilization remain underexplored. Additionally, climate change-induced variations in hydrological conditions pose new risks for pollutant leaching and migration. Future research should develop hybrid modeling frameworks incorporating artificial intelligence, enhance field-scale validation, and promote circular economy principles for tailings management. By leveraging data-driven approaches, this review provides a structured synthesis of existing knowledge and a foundation for innovative solutions in environmental risk mitigation and sustainable mining practices.