Generation of polluted waters from mining wastes in a uranium deposit

• Autorzy: Groudev S N , Spasova I.I. , Nicolova M.V. , Georgiev P.S.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Dump consisting of 9500 tons of rich-in-pyrite mining wastes located in the uranium deposit Curilo, Western Bulgaria, was, after rainfall, an intensive source of acid drainage waters. These waters had a pH in the range of about 1.7-4.5 and contained radionuclides (uranium, radium), heavy metals (copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, nickel, cobalt, iron, and manganese), arsenic and sulphates in concentrations usually much higher than the relevant permissible levels for waters intended for use in the agriculture and/or industry. The generation of these polluted waters was studied under real field conditions for a period of about seven years during different climatic seasons. It was found that the dump was inhabited by a diverse microflora in which some acidophilic chemolithotrophic bacteria were the prevalent microorganisms. The solubilization of the above-mentioned pollutants from the dump material was connected mainly with the oxidation of pyrite and other sulphide minerals by these bacteria. Their activity depended on some essential environmental factors such as temperature, pH, and water, oxygen and nutrient contents in the dump.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

chemolithotrophic bacteria; radionuclide; acid mine drainage; polluted water; uranium deposit; sulphide mineral; bacterial oxidation; mining waste; heavy metal

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Polish Journal of Microbiology
• Rocznik: 2005
• Tom: 54
• Numer: Suppl.
• Opis fizyczny: p.7-11,ref.

Twórcy

autor

Groudev S N

• University of Mining and Geology 'St.Ivan Rilski', Studentski grad-Durvenitza, Sofia 1700, Bulgaria

autor

Spasova I.I.

autor

Nicolova M.V.

autor

Georgiev P.S.

Bibliografia

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