Studying the heavy metals concentration in discharged water from the Trepça Mine and flotation, Kosovo

Sadija Kadriu¹, Milaim Sadiku¹, Mensur Kelmend¹, Edona Sadriu²

¹University of Mitrovica “Isa Boletini”, Mitrovicë, 40000, Kosovo

²HPC International SAS, Prishtinë, 10000, Kosovo

Min. miner. depos. 2020, 14(4):47-52

https://doi.org/10.33271/mining14.04.047

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      ABSTRACT

      Purpose. The purpose of this study is to assess the concentration of heavy metals in industrial discharge water from the Trepça Mine in Stantërg and flotation, and their impact in polluting the urban environment.

      Methods. During the research work we have marked the sampling location. The sampling method, the amount of the sample, the transportation method and maximum time the sample can stay before the chemical analysis were all in compliance with the ISO 5667:1, 3 method. The conservation of samples for defining certain parameters was done in compliance with the American Public Health Association conservation procedure, and for the mineralization of heavy metals from the polluted discharged water samples the EPA-3015A method was applied. For defining the heavy metals concentration, the ICP – OES measuring technique was applied (the Inductively Coupled Plasma Method – Optical Emission Spectrometry).

      Findings. Based on the industrial activity of Trepça Mine, it has been concluded that the main cause of environment pollution has continuously been the mine and flotation. The analysis of discharged water samples, both from the mine and the flotation depict the real situation of the heavy metals’ concentration in the surrounding environment.

      Originality.All laboratory analyses have been conducted with special care through the use of necessary advanced techno-logy lab equipment, so that the obtained results would provide maximum accuracy.

      Practical implications. The water samples were taken in January and June 2020, namely in winter and summer. The seasonal monitoring of heavy metals in water result with significant changes in the presence of metals as a consequence of climate changes.

      Keywords: mining activity, mine water, industrial discharge water, heavy metals, pollution

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