Browsing by Author "Bratkova S."

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    MIGRATION OF HEAVY METALS FROM MINE WASTE ROCK DUMP END ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON GROUNDWATERS AND SEDIMENTS
    (2024-01-01) Bratkova S.; Tsvetkov P.
    The environmental impact of mine waste rock dump, located in the region of Srednogorie, Bulgaria on groundwaters and sediments was studied. The acid mine drainage with low pH (2.43 - 3.53), high electrical conductivity (1500 - 4400 µS cm-1), content of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Al, As and high concentration of sulfates (540 - 6905 mg L-1) are formed after heavy rainfall. The content of heavy metals, except manganese, in groundwater was significantly lower than that in the acid mine drainage, and the pH was in the range of 5.43 to 6.62. Sediments in the non-consequential vicinity of the mine waste rock dump had a pH in the range of 2.86 - 4.53 and contained heavy metals and As at concentrations higher than those in the mineral waste due to precipitation, co-precipitation and sorption reactions. An increase in the copper and zinc content in the exchangeable and organic matter fractions was found in the sediment sample. A relationship was found between arsenic and iron concentration in the sediments, which was mainly due to the retention of arsenic in the Fe and Mn oxides fraction. The concentration of total Mn in the sediments was lower than that in the mining waste due to the high mobility of manganese.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Treatment of wastewaters containing Fe, Cu, Zn and as by microbial hydrogen sulfide and subsequent emoval of COD, N and P
    (2018-01-01) Bratkova S.; Lavrova S.; Angelov A.; Nikolova K.; Ivanov R.; Koumanova B.
    Acid drainage wastewaters (pH 2.6 - 2.8) contaminated with Fe 200 mg/l, Cu 25 mg/l, Zn 25 mg/l, and As 15 mg/l were treated in a laboratory-scale installation. The installation design includes an anaerobic sulfidogenic bioreactor, a chemical reactor, an aerobic activated sludge reactor, an anaerobic biofilter and a vertical flow constructed wetland reactor, connected in series. Sulfate-reducing bacteria were adhered in biofilm, which is immobilized on zeolite particles in the anaerobic bioreactor. The bacteria were cultivated on a medium containing lactate as a source of carbon and energy. The influence of TOC/SO42- ratios 0.43, 0.54 0.64 on the rate of the microbial sulfate-reduction was determined. Pollutants removal was achieved in a chemical reactor by sedimentation with microbially produced H2S. SEM/EDS data and X-ray diffraction analyses proved that the precipitated heavy metals are mainly in forms of relevant insoluble sulfides. The design of the lab-scale installation makes possible efficient removal of the residual organic compounds and hydrogen sulfide as well as the processes of nitrification and denitrification to occur. The reported treating method allows the removal of heavy metals, COD, N and P from wastewaters below the permeable level for water intended for use in the agriculture and/or industry.