Treatment of industrial waste water from copper production process in RTB Bor

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.