| Title: | Characterization of Mining-Related Aromatic Contaminants in Active and Abandoned Metal(loid) Tailings Ponds |
| Author(s): | Zhang Y; Wang F; Hudson-Edwards KA; Blake R; Zhao F; Yuan Z; Gao W; |
| Address: | "School of Energy & Environmental Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 30 Xueyuan Road, 100083 Beijing, China. Environment and Sustainability Institute and Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, U.K. The Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Yale University, 210 Whitney Avenue, 06511 New Haven, Connecticut United States" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1520-5851 (Electronic) 0013-936X (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "This study reports on the compositional diversity of organic compounds in metal(loid)-bearing tailings samples from both active and abandoned tailings ponds. Tailings samples were qualitatively analyzed by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC x GC-TOFMS). In addition, the priority PAHs (16), PAEs (6), and phenols (2) were quantitatively analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We attribute the presence of some of aromatic organics in studied tailings ponds to particular sources. Mineral floatation reagents are likely the major sources of small-ring aromatics in tailings ponds, and products from metallurgical processing and burning of fossil fuels in the mining area or further afield are also possible contributors and might be the main source of large-ring aromatics. We found that tailings ponds abandoned for decades can still have organics concentrations at levels of concern. Large-ring aromatics are generally more toxic than other contaminants, and these were more abundant in abandoned tailings ponds. This suggests that these large-ring organics do not readily decompose or biodegrade into less toxic byproducts, as do volatiles and many other organic compounds. Our aromatic contaminants database provides an important starting point for researchers to investigate and compare similar contaminants that might be also present in other tailings ponds and emphasizes the necessity of considering their transformations over time" |
| Keywords: | Metals/analysis Mining Organic Chemicals *Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/analysis *Ponds GC x GC-TOFMS PAEs PAHs organic chemical flotation reagent tailings; |
| Notes: | "MedlineZhang, Yiyue Wang, Fei Hudson-Edwards, Karen A Blake, Ruth Zhao, Furong Yuan, Zhimin Gao, Wei eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2020/11/11 Environ Sci Technol. 2020 Dec 1; 54(23):15097-15107. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c03368. Epub 2020 Nov 9" |
