2024

Friedrich, Bernd
Marković, Radmila
Marjanović, Vesna
Stevanović, Zoran
Gardić, Vojka
Petrović, Jelena
Kovačević, Renata
Štirbanović, Zoran 

MDPI, Switzerland

Metals

14

6

649

English

M21 - Paper in a top international journal

This paper considers the impact of copper mining-influenced water and metallurgical wastewater on the surface water in the Bor area, Serbia. Sampling, realized through the four campaigns (2020–2021), confirmed that both types of water, discharged without appropriate treatment in the Bor River, had a signific impact on the concentration of metal ions, pH and electrical conductivity on the watercourse in the Bor area. The highest concentrations of the following metal ions, Cu—271 mg/L, As—25,991 µg/L, Ni—13,856 µg/L, Cd—2627 µg/L, and Pb—2855 µg/L, were registered in the metallurgical wastewater samples. After changes occurred in the copper production process by stopping the discharge of untreated wastewater into the Bor River, the concentrations of monitored elements were drastically decreased. In the period 2022–2024, the concentration values for Cu, As and Pb ions were below the maximum allowable value, and the concentration values of Ni and Cd ions were also decreased. The values for pH and electrical conductivity were in the maximum allowable range. The return of wastewater to the copper production process would lead to both a reduction in the primary water consumption and reduction in the negative impact on the environment.

The Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, within the scientific research work at the Mining and Metallurgy Institute Bor, (Contract No. 451-03-66/2024-03/200052) and University of Belgrade, Technical Faculty in Bor (Contract No. 451-03-65/2024-03/200131).

metal ions, copper production, mining and metallurgy, environment, wastewater, surface water

DOI

10.3390/met14060649

ISSN

2075-4701

URI

https://repozitorijum.tfbor.bg.ac.rs/handle/...