Chemical Speciation of Lead Dust Associated with Primary Lead Smelting

Abstract

The research presented in this artide assessed geochemical factors relating to dust pr d during primary lead smelting. Bulk dust samples and size-selective airborne dust samples were collected from four ar of a pimary lead smelter and analyz by X-ray diaction and sequential .chemical exrtion. X-ray di on showed that the smelter dusts were composed primarily of sulfides, oxides, sulfates, and silicates of meta ores, with galena being the primary dust component. Sequenti extraction revealed the solubility of lead compounds at less than 7% in the exchangeable and mildly acidic steps for the bull dusts collected from four smelter areas. The later steps of the extraction procedure were more effective in dissolving the lead compounds asociated with the bulk dust samples, witi 43%, 26%, and 8% ofthe total lead, in the ore storage, sinter, and blast/dross smelter areas, respectively, being extracted in the residual step.Sequential extraction of coarse airborne dust samples from the ore storage and sinter plant showed that 1.2% and 4.1% of the total lead, respecivey, was e ble. The finer partide size fractions from these areas ofthe smelter showed higher percentags ofexchanable lead. Of the course airborne dust from the blast/dross furnace processes, 65% of the total lead was exchangeable. However, the largest percentage of lead from these areas was associated with the finer particle-size fractions. If lead bioavailability is related to its solubility as determined though sequential e on, the health hazards associated with lead exposure may be appreciably enhanced in the blat and dross fuace processes.

A review on the importance of metals and metalloids in atmospheric dust and aerosol from mining operations

“…The mass distributions of individual chemical species can be determined by analyzing the chemical composition of particles collected in each size range, as described in the next section. Spear et al (1998) utilized an Andersen cascade impactor to study Pb concentrations around a Pb smelter. Corriveau et al (2011) used a Proton Induced X-ray Emission Spectroscopy Cascade Impactor (PCI) sampler to assess As contamination from a mine-tailing site.…”

“…X-ray diffraction has been used to examine the mineralogy of non-soluble materials in dust (Spear et al, 1998; Querol et al, 2000; Moreno et al, 2007). Moreno et al (2007) identified silica, kaolinite, alunite, jarosite, illite and iron oxides in PM 10 particles in the vicinity of an ore processing plant near a gold mine in Southeastern Spain.…”

“…Both Csavina et al (2011) and Spear et al (1998) showed that the majority of atmospheric metals and metalloids around smelting operations are in the fine to ultrafine size fraction. Spear et al (1998) used sequential chemical extractions to show that the solubility of combined bulk smelter particulate Pb compounds was < 7 %. However, analysis of coarse airborne dust from the blast and furnace processes showed that 65 % of the total Pb was exchangeable.…”

“…Figure 8 illustrates the size distribution for As, Cd, and Pb concentrations in atmospheric particulate around a Cu smelter in Arizona, US, studied by Csavina et al (2011). These results show that approximately 75 % of metals and metalloids exist in the PM range below 1 m. Spear et al (1998) used an Andersen impactor to investigate the chemical speciation of Pb-laden dust associated with a Pb smelter in Montana, US. This study similarly found the largest percentage of Pb in the fine size fraction, which also had higher percentages of bio-available Pb.…”

Heavy Metal–Mineral Associations in Coeur d’Alene River Sediments: A Synchrotron-Based Analysis

“…Coronadite is a Pb-containing manganese oxide which forms a tunnel structure into which the Pb is associated (Post and Bish 1989;Post 1999). Mattheddleite-like minerals have been identified as major components of blast and dross furnace dust samples from Pb smelting operations (Spear et al 1998), such that identification of mattheddleite in this system may reflect the result of mining activities. Bindheimite is a constituent of the primary Pb-Ag ores in the Coeur d'Alene Mining district with nearly pure masses several feet in diameter (Lawson and Meyer 1964).…”