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Qin S, Li X, Huang J, Li W, Wu P, Li Q, Li L. Inputs and transport of acid mine drainage-derived heavy metals in karst areas of Southwestern China. Environ Pollut 2024; 343:123243. [PMID: 38154773 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metal pollution caused by acid mine drainage (AMD) is a global environmental concern. The processes of migration and transformation of heavy metals carried by AMD are more complicated in karst areas where carbonate rocks are widely distributed. Water, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediments are the crucial media in which heavy metals migrate and it is important to elucidate the geochemical behavior of AMD heavy metals in these environments. This study tracked AMD heavy metals from release to migration and transformation in a natural river system in a karst mining area. AMD directly impacted the hydrochemical composition of the karst water environment, but the carbonate rock naturally neutralized the acidity of the AMD. AMD heavy metal concentrations decreased gradually after the tributaries from the mining area entered the main river, with the metals tending to accumulate in SPM and sediments. The forms in which heavy metals were present were influenced by pH and their relative concentrations. Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy of sediments from the mining area suggested that the presence of an iron phase plays an important role in the fate of AMD-derived heavy metals. It is, therefore, necessary to elucidate the mechanisms of iron phase precipitation from sediments in order to control AMD-derived heavy metals in karst mining areas. This study improves our understanding of the geochemical behavior of heavy metals in karst environments and provides direction for the prevention and control of AMD in affected areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shichan Qin
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, China
| | - Xuexian Li
- Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment（Guizhou University），Ministry of Education, Guiyang, 550025, China; College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, China
| | - Jiangxun Huang
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, China
| | - Wei Li
- Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Pan Wu
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, China; Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment（Guizhou University），Ministry of Education, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Qingguang Li
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, China; Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment（Guizhou University），Ministry of Education, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Ling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, Guiyang, 550081, Guizhou, China.
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