A comprehensive assessment of gold leaching wastewater through pollution and water quality indices. Case study: Small scale extraction facilities in the department of Caldas—Colombia
This study introduced a comprehensive methodology (the Six-Indices method for Water Pollution Assessment) to evaluate the quality of gold leaching effluents. Sampling was conducted for 14 months in small-scale gold mining facilities in the department of Caldas, Colombia. 23 physicochemical parameter...
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Elsevier
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Results in Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123024015147 |
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| author | Guillermo H. Gaviria Miguel-Ángel Gómez-García Izabela Dobrosz-Gómez |
| author_facet | Guillermo H. Gaviria Miguel-Ángel Gómez-García Izabela Dobrosz-Gómez |
| author_sort | Guillermo H. Gaviria |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study introduced a comprehensive methodology (the Six-Indices method for Water Pollution Assessment) to evaluate the quality of gold leaching effluents. Sampling was conducted for 14 months in small-scale gold mining facilities in the department of Caldas, Colombia. 23 physicochemical parameters were selected based on environmental regulations, standards of use for agricultural purposes and WHO recommendations. They covered general characteristics of effluents and critical inputs of the leaching process. 15 (pH, COD, TSS, CN−, Cl−, SO42−, S2−, Cd, Zn, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ni, Ag, and Pb) of them exceeded permissible limits. Multivariate statistical analysis (Person's correlation and hierarchical clustering analysis) and six Wastewater Quality Indices (WWQIs: Arithmetic Weighted Water Quality Index, WAWQI, Synthetic Pollution Index, SPI, Index of Water Pollution, WPI, Comprehensive Pollution Index, CPI, Heavy Metal Pollution Index, HPI, and Degree of Pollution, Cd) were used to comprehensively assess the effluent contamination. Key pollutant interactions (hydrocarbons & fats and oils, Zn & CN−, Cu & Cl−, as well as CN− & COD & SO42−) were revealed guiding targeted mitigation strategies. CN− and heavy metals were the main pollutants, posing serious environmental risks due to their high levels. The calculated HPI value was above the critical level of 100, indicating that the artisanal gold leaching operations in the studied area could be hazardous to human health. This study provides a starting point for developing effective and sustainable strategies to manage wastewater in mining regions in Colombia and other areas with similar mining practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c7aa5fe577764a97ab21892ba2fbd0c7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2590-1230 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Results in Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-c7aa5fe577764a97ab21892ba2fbd0c72025-08-20T02:52:16ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302024-12-012410326010.1016/j.rineng.2024.103260A comprehensive assessment of gold leaching wastewater through pollution and water quality indices. Case study: Small scale extraction facilities in the department of Caldas—ColombiaGuillermo H. Gaviria0Miguel-Ángel Gómez-García1Izabela Dobrosz-Gómez2Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Manizales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Arquitectura, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Grupo de Investigación en Procesos Reactivos Intensificados y Materiales Avanzados (PRISMA), Laboratorio de Materiales y Procesos Reactivos (LM&PR), Campus La Nubia, Manizales 170003, ColombiaUniversidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Manizales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Arquitectura, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Grupo de Investigación en Procesos Reactivos Intensificados y Materiales Avanzados (PRISMA), Laboratorio de Materiales y Procesos Reactivos (LM&PR), Campus La Nubia, Manizales 170003, ColombiaUniversidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Manizales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Física y Química, Grupo de Investigación en Procesos Reactivos Intensificados y Materiales Avanzados (PRISMA), Laboratorio de Materiales y Procesos Reactivos (LM&PR), Campus La Nubia, Manizales 170003, Colombia; Corresponding author.This study introduced a comprehensive methodology (the Six-Indices method for Water Pollution Assessment) to evaluate the quality of gold leaching effluents. Sampling was conducted for 14 months in small-scale gold mining facilities in the department of Caldas, Colombia. 23 physicochemical parameters were selected based on environmental regulations, standards of use for agricultural purposes and WHO recommendations. They covered general characteristics of effluents and critical inputs of the leaching process. 15 (pH, COD, TSS, CN−, Cl−, SO42−, S2−, Cd, Zn, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ni, Ag, and Pb) of them exceeded permissible limits. Multivariate statistical analysis (Person's correlation and hierarchical clustering analysis) and six Wastewater Quality Indices (WWQIs: Arithmetic Weighted Water Quality Index, WAWQI, Synthetic Pollution Index, SPI, Index of Water Pollution, WPI, Comprehensive Pollution Index, CPI, Heavy Metal Pollution Index, HPI, and Degree of Pollution, Cd) were used to comprehensively assess the effluent contamination. Key pollutant interactions (hydrocarbons & fats and oils, Zn & CN−, Cu & Cl−, as well as CN− & COD & SO42−) were revealed guiding targeted mitigation strategies. CN− and heavy metals were the main pollutants, posing serious environmental risks due to their high levels. The calculated HPI value was above the critical level of 100, indicating that the artisanal gold leaching operations in the studied area could be hazardous to human health. This study provides a starting point for developing effective and sustainable strategies to manage wastewater in mining regions in Colombia and other areas with similar mining practices.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123024015147Artisanal miningGold leachingHeavy metalsStatistical analysisWastewater quality index |
| spellingShingle | Guillermo H. Gaviria Miguel-Ángel Gómez-García Izabela Dobrosz-Gómez A comprehensive assessment of gold leaching wastewater through pollution and water quality indices. Case study: Small scale extraction facilities in the department of Caldas—Colombia Results in Engineering Artisanal mining Gold leaching Heavy metals Statistical analysis Wastewater quality index |
| title | A comprehensive assessment of gold leaching wastewater through pollution and water quality indices. Case study: Small scale extraction facilities in the department of Caldas—Colombia |
| title_full | A comprehensive assessment of gold leaching wastewater through pollution and water quality indices. Case study: Small scale extraction facilities in the department of Caldas—Colombia |
| title_fullStr | A comprehensive assessment of gold leaching wastewater through pollution and water quality indices. Case study: Small scale extraction facilities in the department of Caldas—Colombia |
| title_full_unstemmed | A comprehensive assessment of gold leaching wastewater through pollution and water quality indices. Case study: Small scale extraction facilities in the department of Caldas—Colombia |
| title_short | A comprehensive assessment of gold leaching wastewater through pollution and water quality indices. Case study: Small scale extraction facilities in the department of Caldas—Colombia |
| title_sort | comprehensive assessment of gold leaching wastewater through pollution and water quality indices case study small scale extraction facilities in the department of caldas colombia |
| topic | Artisanal mining Gold leaching Heavy metals Statistical analysis Wastewater quality index |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123024015147 |
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