Heavy metal ions in the wastewater of the Majdanpek Copper Mine

Serbula, Snezana M.; Ristić, Ana; Manasijević, S.; Dolić, Natalija

doi:10.5937/zasmat1501052s

Cited by 7 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The partially purified wastewater from the concentrate filtration plant is discharged to the Veliki Pek river. Surface and underground water forming Pek and Veliki Pek river flows through the area which are composed of copper, iron, zinc and others elements and thereby increase the concentration of these elements in the water [3]. Šerbula et al (2014; 2015) compared chemical analyses of wastewater in Majdanpek copper mine and influence of wastewater to the water quality of Veliki Pek river for the period from 2008 to 2012.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Šerbula et al (2014; 2015) compared chemical analyses of wastewater in Majdanpek copper mine and influence of wastewater to the water quality of Veliki Pek river for the period from 2008 to 2012. They concluded that in earlier years impact was greater and that in recent years situation is better because copper mine Majdanpek worked hard to improve the quality of wastewater, and thus to reduce pollution [3,4]. In order to avoid large losses of copper through wastewater, Šerbula et al (2015) proposed to complement the existing wastewater treatment.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On that way copper would be transformed into copper sulfate and could be used in the Electrolytic Refining Plant in RTB Bor, thereby copper recovery would be complete. Also Šerbula et al (2014) proposed that for reduction of the concentration of suspended solids in wastewater of the filtration plant could be used coagulants aluminum sulfate, aluminum chloride and sodium aluminate in the sedimentation tanks for gravitational purification before discharging wastewater to the Veliki Pek river [3,4].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Šerbula et al (2015; 2014) in wastewater of the Majdanpek Copper Mine filtration plant (after treatment of wastewater of filtration plant in sedimentation tanks) it was found an increased content of heavy metal ions (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cd etc.) [3] and suspended particles [4] that exceed the values of the maximum permissible concentration defined by the relevant Regulation of the Republic of Serbia. This paper is derived from the results of activities of the project "Joint efforts for the protection and management of the Pek River".…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of Water Quality of the Pek River Based on Physicochemical Analysis

Petrović¹,

Markovic²

2015

AFST

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Levels of physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, sulphates, chlorides, temperature, turbidity, total hardness, iron, manganese, copper, dissolved oxygen, oxygen saturation, total suspended solid, ammonium nitrogen, total nitrogen and orthophosphates ) were determined in the water samples collected from Pek River at 4 sample sites during 6 months. Monitoring was done at the source of river, on the border between the municipalities Majdanpek and Kučevo, on the border between the municipalities Kučevo and Veliko Gradište and at the confluence of Pek into Danube River. Some of the physicochemical parameter values fall within national standard and WHO limits, some are not.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of Water Quality of the Pek River Based on Physicochemical Analysis

Petrović¹,

Markovic²

2015

AFST

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“…Modern and organized mining started in Bor as underground mining in 1903 after the discovery of high-grade copper ore deposits (Serbula et al, 2010(Serbula et al, , 2016. In 1961, operations started in the Majdanpek mine when porphyry-style mineralization was discovered in the Majdanpek mining area, which is located 40 km northwest of the Bor mining area (Armstong et al, 2005;Serbula et al, 2015). Operations are still being carried out in both mines.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation and comparison of the environmental impacts of acid mine drainage‐bearing river water in the Bor and Majdanpek porphyry copper mining areas in Eastern Serbia

et al. 2021

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Mining activities in the Bor and Majdanpek mining areas in Eastern Serbia started in 1903 and 1961, respectively. Environmental problems in the Bor mining area began after the opening of the Bor mine. Long‐term pollution of river water in the Bor and Majdanpek mining areas has an environmental impact on East Europe because all of the river water from these mining areas flows into the Danube River. However, the sizes of areas with pollution and the differences between the environmental impacts of the Bor and Majdanpek mining areas are not clear. In order to determine the effects of mining activities on river water in the study area, creation of geochemical maps showing the distributions of sulfate, heavy metals, and arsenic; estimation of threshold values to discriminate anomalous values from background values; and comparison of the environmental impacts of the two mining areas were carried out. High concentrations of SO42−, Fe, As, Cu, and Mn were found in the Bor River, Krivelj River, and Bela River located in the Bor mining area. These rivers are characterized by acidic pH ranging from 2.9 to 6.2. High concentrations of these components were also measured in the Small Pek River and the upper reach of the Pek River. These rivers are located in the Majdanpek mining area and are characterized by weakly alkaline pH (7.3–8.4). The acidic river water in the Bor mining area transports large quantities of heavy metals and arsenic downstream (6,900 t/year of Fe, 42 t/year of As, 910 t/year of Cu, and 187 t/year of Mn). On the other hand, the weakly alkaline river water in the Majdanpek mining area transports smaller quantities of heavy metals and arsenic downstream (160 t/year of Fe, 0.1 t/year of As, 6 t/year of Cu, and 272 t/year of Mn). The environmental impact of the Bor mining area is significantly larger than that of the Majdanpek mining area. In addition, on the basis of the distribution of anomalous values in river water, pollution caused by mining activities reaches the Danube River, which is located more than 100 km from the Bor and Majdanpek mining areas. Concentrations of SO42−, Fe, As, Cu, and Mn in the Bela River in the Bor mining area have been greatly decreased after mixing of acidic polluted water of the Bela River with water of the Timok River containing a high bicarbonate concentration. This fact suggests that river water in the Bor and Majdanpek mining areas has sufficient capacity for neutralization. Considering appropriate countermeasures of environmental reclamation, such as artificial neutralization at some important sources of waste water before discharging the waste water from the mining sites, there is a possibility for environmental reclamation in both mining areas because unpolluted river water in the study area has sufficient capacity for neutralization in a natural system.

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