PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF WASTEWATER FROM TECHNOLOGICAL WASTE DUMPS OF NOVOVOLINSK MINING DISTRICT
Authors: Bosak P. 
Published: October 2019

Introduction. Waste dumps of mine rocks of Novovolynsky mining area have high acidity, considerable content of various salts, namely sulfate ions. This high mineralization is caused by the movement to the water-collection points and the interaction of such water with rock dumps, and besides, on its way wastewater is enriched with products of rocks destruction (sulphates and salts of alkaline earth elements) and coal. Running through the abandoned places and accumulating mineral and mechanical impurities, such water gets new physical and chemical properties, which strongly influence the qualitative parameters of the environment.

Analyzing the ecological situation caused by the wastewater pouring from technological dumps in mines № 2, 4, 9 on the investigated site it should be emphasized that at present, there is no storm sewer system on the investigated mines, therefore, rain water from the surfaces of waste heaps and industrial sites spontaneously flow down the lowlands and concentrate with mineral salts. Although it is known that there are considerable water influences in the main and preparatory mining operations, therefore, the collection of created waste water along the perimeter of existing waste heaps in the form of catchwater drains is made.

Purpose. The purpose of the work is to investigate the physicochemical properties of wastewater from technological dumps in the Novovolynsk mining area.

Methods. In this work chemical methods of wastewater analysis are used.

Results. In all water samples, an increase in the content of ammonium salts was determined. As it is known, the main danger of pollution of the hydrosphere with ammonium salts is the saturation of water with ammonia. The content of ammonium salts above 0.1 mg/dm³ indicates pollution of water, since ammonia is the first compound formed during the decomposition of organic nitrogen-containing substances. Simultaneous presence of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates in samples of water shows a significant pollution of this water due to the oxidation of the rock in the dump and its washing-off with water. The increase in water samples of nitrite and nitrate content without the detection of ammonia indicates the isolation of the source of contamination. The content of ammonia and nitrite in water shows the constant source of pollution from the dumps. The presence of nitrates only indicates the end of mineralization processes. Excess ammonia in samples with the subsequent discharges into the river leads to ecological instability of the ecosystem in general, during the process of displacement of nitrogen-sensitive species, functional connections between all parts of the ecosystem (plants, animals, microorganisms) collapse, which leads to a violation of the self-regulation of the ecosystem. As a result of the conducted researches, significant differences in the physical and chemical composition of wastewater from the technological dumps of the Novovolynsk mining area were revealed. The chemical composition of wastewater of investigated mines is characterized by instability.

Conclusion. Accumulation of toxic compounds in wastewater from technological dumps creates a significant man-made danger to the water resource potential of the state. It is also relevant to the wastewater contaminated with substances of the 2nd and 4th class of hazard, such as organic compounds of fluorine, nitrogen and radionuclide’s, which are one of the most dangerous for the hydrosphere. To prevent the hazardous effect of wastewater on the ecological state in the investigated area, it is necessary to use natural resources rationally, to conduct demineralization and remediation, vegetative reclamation of disturbed lands.