Salinization of groundwater is a major problem, particularly in areas with limited infrastructure. 14 diffusion reactors are operated diabatically at -8°C to 20°C to determine the amount of NaCl removed by n-Fe0. The reactors establish NaCl removal by Fe0: (i) 44,000-77,000 nm particle size (PS) = 0.0675-0.1925 g L-1 [feed water (FW) = 0.89 g L-1]; (ii) 50 nm PS = 0.953-1.14 g L-1 [FW = 1.095-1.19 g L-1]; (iii) 50 nm PS under nitrogen saturation (0.1- 0.2 MPa) = 9.693 g L-1 [FW = 10 g L-1]; (iv) <0.01 g 50 nm PS L-1 under nitrogen saturation (0.1-0.2 MPa) = 1.564 g L-1 [FW = 4 g L-1]; (v) 50 nm PS modified by nitrogen saturation (PSN) = 5.52 g L-1 [FW = 6.89 g L-1]. Desalination commences at a time, t, after the n-Fe0 is added to the water, and continues with an exponential decline until a base (equilibrium) salinity is reached. The effectiveness of n-Fe0 as a desalination agent appears to increase with increased water salinity. Placement of PSN in an existing impoundment, or aquifer, may provide a cost effective, zero energy, partial desalination solution, which can be used to support emergency relief, agriculture and extractive industries.
Regular monitoring of soil and plants in the surroundings of Żelazny Most tailings impoundment has been held since 1996. The results presented in this paper refer to potatoes and grains of cereals such as wheat, barley, triticale and oats, which are the most popular crops planted in that area in 2004-2006. The average content of heavy metals in 2006 in cereals and potatoes was approximately: Cu – 3.7 and 1.3 mg kg-1 of fresh mass; Zn – 20.6 and 3.5 mg kg-1; Pb – 0.14 and 0.04 mg kg-1; Cd – 0.055 and 0.011 mg kg-1, respectively. All those concentrations are well below threshold limit values accepted in Poland. No significant differences in Cu, Pb and Cd concentrations between the tested cereals were found. Zinc concentration in wheat and oat was significantly lower than in barley and triticale. The copper ore tailings impoundment in Żelazny Most, although very large, at present has no negative impact on the quality of crops and species of cereals and pasture plants cropped in its surroundings.
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