FEATURES OF THE FORMATION, INTAKE AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE IRON-CONTAINING COMPONENT IN THE WATER SUSPENSION OF THE DNIEPER RIVER WITHIN ZAPORIZHZHIA CITY

Abstract

The article presents the results of research devoted to one of the aspects of environmental issues, namely: the determination of the distribution features of the solid component of the river suspension containing iron oxide; investigation of the morphological characteristics of iron-containing particles; and the discovering of their genetic affiliation to various technological processes of metallurgical production. The results of many years of continuous comprehensive research on the distribution of iron in the suspended matter of the Dnieper water within Zaporizhzhia city are presented. Field observations were carried out by scientists of the Institute of Geological Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IGS) in cooperation with specialists from the State Institution “Scientific Hydrophysical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine” (SHC). Analytical studies of the solid phase of the suspended matter were done in the Center for Collective Use of Scientific Equipment of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Educational and Scientific Institute “Institute of Geology” of Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University. The publication considers the seasonal features of the distribution of the total iron content in suspension and the relationship of its monthly changes with the distribution of concentrations of such heavy metals as copper, chromium, nickel, zinc. Considerable attention is paid to the examination of iron-containing particles present in suspension, their chemical and trace element composition and the allocation of their individual categories in accordance with the technogenic processes during which they were formed. Comprehensive analysis of suspension samples made it possible to identify and classify a group of typical iron-bearing formations that are inherent in the territory of Zaporizhzhia city. Based on a set of characteristics, three main genetic categories have been identified: spherical mineral aggregates represented by iron oxide; clastic fragments of Fe2O3, and aluminosilicate spherules (formation, the main or essential component of which is aluminum oxide with an admixture of iron). The obtained data showed a significant influence of the metallurgical industry on the chemical composition of the Dnieper suspension within Zaporizhzhia. Comparison of iron-containing particles observed in the Dnieper suspended matter with the substance filtered out by gas purification systems of various parts of metallurgical production and slag deposits showed that the most active emission to the environment occurs during the preparation and smelting of iron ore.