Sediment matrix characterization as a tool for evaluating the environmental impact of heavy metals in metal mining, smelting, and ore processing areas

Abstract

In this work, the matrix characterization (mineralogy, total and local chemical composition, and total organic (TOC) and inorganic carbon (TIC) contents) of different types of sediments from mining- and metallurgy-influenced areas and the assessment of the impact of the matrix on the association of potentially hazardous metals with the mineral phases of these samples, which affect their mobility in the environment, are presented. For these purposes, sediment samples with different origins and from different locations in the environment were analyzed. Anthropogenic sediments from metal-rich post-flotation tailings (Lintich, Slovakia) represent waste from ore processing, natural river sediments from the Hornád River (Košice, Slovakia) represent areas influenced predominantly by the metallurgical industry, and lake sediments from a water reservoir Ružín (inflow from the Hornád and Hnilec Rivers, Slovakia) represent the impact of the metallurgical and/or mining industries. The total metal contents were determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis, the local chemical and morphological microanalysis by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and the TOC and TIC contents by infrared (IR) spectrometry. The mobility/bioavailability of Cu, Pb, and Zn in/from sediments at the studied areas was assessed by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and acetic acid (AA) extraction and is discussed in the context of the matrix composition. The contents of selected potentially hazardous elements in the extracts were determined by the high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS FAAS).

Distribution and risk assessment of trace metals in riverine surface sediments in gold mining area

“…The sediments were freeze-dried at − 50°C and powdered with an agate mortar and pestle, and~4 g of powder was pressed to obtain powder pellets (Ahmadi et al 2019). The trace elements were analyzed by x-ray fluorescence (XRF) with the pressed power pellets, using an ARL AdvantXP automated X-ray spectrometer (Ruzickova et al 2018). In this research, calibrations were performed with reference materials at each batch (30 samples determination), and matrix correction was obtained with the method of Lachance and Traill (1966) (Natali and Bianchini 2018).…”

Nanocellulose-based sensing platforms for heavy metal ions detection: A comprehensive review

“…HMIs, which are considered extremely toxic elements, are some of the substances contaminating this vital resource via industrial activities. For instance, in the case of metallurgical industries, which includes electroplating metal, mining and smelting, release copper (Cu +2 ), zinc (Zn +2 ), nickel (Ni +2 ), Cd +2 and Pb +2 ( Hasanpour and Hatami, 2020;Ružičková et al, 2018;Yang et al, 2019). Additionally, agricultural products, mainly manures, fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and insecticides import Pb +2 , Cu +2 , Zn +2 , Cd +2 as well as chromium (Cr +3 /Cr +6 ) into the environment (Briffa et al, 2020;Manzoor, 2020), and paint manufacturing is another remarkable contributor of Pb +2 , Zn +2 and Cr +3 /Cr +6 contamination (Lokhande et al, 2011).…”