Content analysis of heavy metals/metalloids and mineral composition of waste generated during uranium concentrate processing
1
Silesian University of Technology, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Department of Technology and Installations for Waste Management, Gliwice, Poland
2
Silesian University of Technology, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Department of Environmental Chemistry and Membrane Processes, Gliwice, Poland
3
Silesian University of Technology, Faculty of Mining and Geology, Institute of Applied Geology, Gliwice, Poland
Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi – Mineral Resources Management 2013;29(2):89-102
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Waste generated during mining and processing of uranium ore is the largest group of uranium mining wastes. Wastes collected in the forms of uranium piles, and evaporation and tailing ponds constitute a potential danger to ecosystems, because of the presence of radioactive elements and heavy metals. This paper presents the mineral and chemical compositions of rock wastes. Determination of mineral composition was performed using a DRON HZG-4 diffractometer. The content of heavy metals in samples of waste rock was determined by atomic sorption spectrometry. Spectral analysis was applied to heavy metals/metalloids such as As, Cr, Zn, Cd, Pb, Co, Cu, and Ni. The purpose of this analysis was to characterize the groups of extractive wastes in terms of mineral and elemental compositions. The sites examined were located in the Jelenia Góra Basin area in south-western Poland in the Lower Silesia province. Waste rock was taken from heaps located in Kowary-Podgórze and Radoniów. X-ray analysis of waste rock samples showed the presence of minerals in the wastes which commonly occur in the Jelenia Góra Basin area. Identified in the samples were minerals belonging to a group of zeolites and clay minerals which demonstrate the potential for sorption of heavy metals/metalloids. Spectrometric analysis of heavy metals/metalloids confirmed the presence of As, Cr, Zn, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, and Pb in the collected waste, but their concentrations do not exceed the limit values laid down in the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment on the quality standards for soil and ground. The analysis performed did not show that the examined group of mining wastes had a negative impact on the environment.
METADATA IN OTHER LANGUAGES:
Polish
Analiza zawartości metali ciężkich/metaloidów i składu mineralnego odpadów pochodzących z procesu pozyskiwania koncentratu uranowego
górnictwo uranowe, skała płonna, metale ciężkie, skład mineralny, Kowary, Radoniów
Odpady powstające w procesie wydobycia i przeróbki rudy uranowej stanowią najliczniejszą grupę odpadów pouranowych. Gromadzone w postaci hałd skały płonnej i odpadów przeróbczych, ze względu na obecność w nich promieniotwórczych radionuklidów oraz pierwiastków metali ciężkich/metaloidów, stanowią potencjalne źródło zagrożenia dla ekosystemów. W artykule przedstawiono wyniki analizy składu mineralnego oraz chemicznego skały płonnej. Określenie składu mineralnego dokonano na drodze analizy rentgenograficznej, stosując dyfraktometr HZG-4 firmy DRON. Zawartość metali ciężkich/metaloidów w próbkach odpadów oznaczona została przy użyciu metody atomowej spektrometrii absorpcyjnej. Analizie spektrometrycznej poddano następujące metale ciężkie/metaloidy: As, Cr, Zn, Cd, Pb, Co, Cu, Ni. Celem wykonanych analiz było scharakteryzowanie rozpatrywanej grupy odpadów pouranowych pod względem składu mineralnego i pierwiastkowego. Teren badań obejmował obszar Kotliny Jeleniogórskiej, znajdujący się w południowo-zachodniej Polsce w województwie dolnośląskim. Odpady skalne pobrane zostały z hałd zlokalizowanych w miejscowościach Kowary-Podgórze i Radoniów. Przeprowadzona analiza rentgenograficzna pobranych próbek odpadów wykazała obecność w odpadach minerałów powszechnie występujących na terenie Kotliny Jeleniogórskiej. W próbkach oznaczone zostały między innymi minerały należące do grupy zeolitów oraz minerałów ilastych, które wykazują zdolność sorpcji metali ciężkich/metaloidów. Analiza spektrometryczna metali ciężkich/metaloidów potwierdziła obecność w pobranych próbkach oznaczanych metali ciężkich/metaloidów, których stężenia nie przekroczyły jednak wartości dopuszczalnych, określonych w Rozporządzeniu Ministra Środowiska w sprawie standardów jakości gleby i ziemi. Przeprowadzone analizy nie wykazały, aby rozpatrywana grupa odpadów wydobywczych miała negatywny wpływ na środowisko przyrodnicze.
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