CHARACTERIZATION OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE WATER GENERATED IN THE COPPER PRODUCTION PROCESS

11th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM2011, www.sgem.org, SGEM2011 Conference Proceedings/ ISSN 1314-2704, June 20-25, 2011, Vol. 3, 215-220 pp

ABSTRACT

The biggest polluters of water resources are industrial waste water produced after
various production technological processes. Within the industrial complex RTB Bor, the
waste water are generated during the copper production process with negative impact on
the environment, reflected in long-term contamination of soil with which they come into
contact and accumulation of heavy metal ions in it, in inflow into surface water and
mixing with ground water and their pollution. Directly, the most vulnerable are the Bor
River and Krivelj River belonging to the catchment area of the River Timok that still
flows into the Danube and therefore presents wider environmental problem of
international character. The aim of this work is a characterization of industrial waste
water generated in RTB Bor and their impact on the pollution of nearby water flows.
The waste water samples were analyzed from the production process of sulfuric acid,
production of copper sulfate, electrolytic copper refining and treatment plant of anode
slime. Detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis of waste water samples was carried
out from these production processes and high content of heavy metal ions (Cu, Fe, Mn,
Zn, Pb, Ni, Bi, Cd, etc.) was established, that highly exceeds the limit values defined in
the legal regulations of the Republic of Serbia. Neutralization of the waste industrial
water was performed and after chemical characterization of purified water, it was found
that they belong to the IV water category, according to the legislation of the Republic of
Serbia. Based on chemical composition, a proposal for treatment with valorization of
present copper was given.

Keywords: waste water, chemical characterization, neutralization