Importance of changes in the copper production process through mining and metallurgical activities on the surface water quality in the Bor area, Serbia
Loading...
Date
2024
Authors
Marković, Radmila
Marjanović, Vesna
Stevanović, Zoran
Gardić, Vojka
Petrović, Jelena
Kovačević, Renata
Štirbanović, Zoran
Friedrich, Bernd
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI, Switzerland
Source
Metals
Volume
14
Issue
6
Abstract
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.
Description
Keywords
metal ions, copper production, mining and metallurgy, environment, wastewater, surface water
Citation
DOI
10.3390/met14060649
Scopus
ISSN
2075-4701
ISBN
License
ARR