Passive Treatment Methods for Mine Water

Wolkersdorfer, Christian

doi:10.1007/978-3-662-65770-6_4

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

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“…Coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), it can provide simple and fast extraction and analysis. However, because sample matrix can play a particular role in extraction by SPME, the analysis of PCBs in MIW can be highly challenging due to matrix effects caused by pH, dissolved salts, metals, sulfate, and suspended matter, which are specific to different mines. , Although previously used for the analysis of PCBs, − SPME was not yet applied for the detection of PCBs in MIW. Generally, peer-reviewed studies that related PCBs to mining investigated river water and sediments near mine water discharges.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, PCBs either get dissolved in mine water or are sorbed to and transported with suspended matter. This mining influenced water (MIW) is permanently pumped and discharged to surface waters to prevent flooding of active mines, or to prevent its uncontrolled surface discharge, or entry to groundwater in abandoned mines. , Due to high dissolved salt and metal concentrations or rather reductive conditions, the composition of MIW can be extreme compared to that of surface water, which can cause adverse environmental effects in receiving water courses . Surveys of mine water and surface water in the vicinity of MIW discharges have been initiated by authorities and revealed low concentrations of dissolved indicator PCBs, reported in non-English gray literature such as reports and expert opinions. , Although mainly technical mixtures with lower chlorination degrees have been used in mines, PCB analyses in the previously mentioned reports have been mainly limited to the six indicator PCBs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Between Underground and the Deep Blue Sea: Contamination of Mine Water Effluents by Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Wiltschka,

Wolkersdorfer,

Düring

et al. 2023

ACS EST Water

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Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were used as industrial chemicals due to their beneficial physicochemical properties in many applications until the recognition of their adverse effects. Although being banned for decades, PCBs are still ubiquitous in the environment due to their congener-specific high persistence and their ongoing remobilization from contaminated sites. While mining influenced water (MIW) was generally known to be a potential source of PCB contamination, hardly anything was known about concentrations, congener patterns, or PCB loads. For further elucidation of environmental risks, 14 MIW samples from five mine water effluents were analyzed for a set of 58 PCB congeners and biphenyl by a specifically optimized SPME-GC-MS method (LOD 0.004−0.58 ng L −1 ). As a result, 53 mono-to heptachlorinated congeners could be detected in concentrations of 0.01−25.9 ng L −1 per congener, of which mainly tri-but also diand tetrachlorinated PCBs were identified in higher concentrations. Total PCB concentrations (0.02−0.12 mg m −3 ) and annual loads (0.1−0.7 kg PCBs a −1 per mine) show the relevance of MIW as an additional point source for PCB release to the environment. Implementation of water treatment is recommended to achieve a decrease in these contaminant loads in agreement with worldwide efforts to eliminate PCBs.

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