Objectives:
The purpose of the project is the development and validation of complex analytical methods that can provide very useful information on pollution sources and their potential of pollution (especially tailings and ponds), methods based on mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS), for determination of isotopic ratios and rare earth, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine the mineralogy.
| OBJECTIVES |
- development of modern methods, for identification of sources of heavy metal pollution from the environment by measuring the content of rare earth and isotopic ratios,
- development of modern methods to identify pollution sources using isotope ratio measurements,
- development of methods for assessing the potential long-term pollution tailing ponds from mining industry and implementation of applications of these methods.
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| DESCRIPTION |
Metals pass into the atmosphere, soil, vegetation, water and sediment from different sources such as mining and quarrying and processing deposits and tailings settling ponds, but also from the burning of liquid and solid fuels, and from wastes.
A part of the total metals in the environment exist as part of natural background. Potentially toxic metals resulting from anthropogenic activities cause severe disturbances of ecosystems and therefore pollution sources should be identified, long-term pollution potential should be estimated, to reduce or stop pollution.
In areas with mining activities, in which there are stored wastes resulted from exploitations, this is expected to be the main source of pollution. Data on contamination in these areas can be evaluated through analysis of total concentrations of metals, but this information has still a high uncertainty.
Identifying sources of pollution is difficult to achieve, and involves the application of special analysis method based mainly on measuring the isotopic ratios and trace analysis of rare earth. Tracking a pollutant (Pb) can be done by measuring the isotopic ratio in samples of various origins, because the value of this ratio depends on strict proof of the origin and can not be modified by natural, chemical or physical factors (on a reduced time scale to tens of years) or anthropogenic (conventional).Opportunity of proposal result from:
- Integration of national research system in the field of evaluation of environmental factors in the international scientific environment. Currently, quality assessment of environmental factors, risk assessment and find solutions for reducing pollution is a global problem. Analytical methods by which are characterized the environmental factors have evolved a lot, and mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) is the most performant method used for determining of elements in trace and ultratrace level (ppb). This method enables to measure rare earth with great accuracy, which can not be achieved by another method. In addition, ICP-MS method is capable of measuring the isotopic ratios. Rare earth and isotopic ratios are a true landmark and provides information on sources of pollutants in the environment
- Solutions for environmental protection by assessing long-term pollution potential of mining activities. By determining the mineralogy heaps of sterile will be possible to assess their impact on environmental factors, by possible pollution with acid drainage with high content of heavy metals. Although many of the mining industry were closed, they continue to have a negative impact on environment. The methods to be developed may solve the problem long term impact assessment and measures will can be taken to reduce pollution
- Experience institute that will run the project on assessment and monitoring environmental factors, this participating in the achievement of more national and international projects. Institute have the infrastructure to achieve the best conditions of a such project: mass spectrometer with inductively coupled plasma coupled with laser ablation and chemical speciation module, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometers one simultaneous and one sequential, flame atomic absorption spectrometers and graphite furnace absorption spectrometer, device for determining the total carbon, mercury analyzer.
- The existence of an environmental testing laboratory LAM-ICIA accredited according to SR ISO 17025:2005 for a wide range of environmental analysis.
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| RESULTS ESTIMATED |
- New, validated method for pollution sources identification from environment by rare earth determination by ICP-MS,
- New, validated method for pollution sources identification by measuring the isotopic ratios of elements by ICP-Q-MS,
- Validated method for evaluation of long-term pollution potential of mining activities by mineralogy determination,
- Validated method to determine the metal content of the waste dumps by sequential extraction (extractions in different pH solutions),
- Complex methodology for assessing the quality of environmental factors, which include identification of pollution sources and assessment of long-term pollution potential by producing acid mine drainage and dissolution of existing metals in waste dumps,
- Articles published in specialized journals in analytical chemistry and evaluation of environmental factors, ISI coated,
- Presentations to national and international conferences.
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| RESULTS OBTAINED |
- Methods for pollution sources identification from environment by rare earth determination by ICP-MS,
- Methods for pollution sources identification by measuring the isotopic ratios of elements by ICP-Q-MS,
- Methods for evaluation of long-term pollution potential of mining activities by mineralogy determination,
- Methods to determine the metal content of the waste dumps by sequential extraction (extractions in different pH solutions),
- Methodology for identification of pollution sources and assessment of long-term pollution potential by producing acid mine drainage and dissolution of existing metals in waste dumps,
- Articles published in specialized journals in analytical chemistry and evaluation of environmental factors, ISI coated,
- Presentations to national and international conferences.
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| Other Informations |
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