All Issue

2024 Vol.34, Issue 4 Preview Page

Research Article

Particle-Size-Specific Contamination and Removal Efficiency of Heavy Metals in River Sediment Containing Mine Tailings

광물찌꺼기 유입 하천퇴적토의 입도별 중금속 오염 특성 및 물세척법 저감 효율 평가

Cha Won Kang12†
,
Taeyong Kim1†
,
Jae Yong Song3
,
Ji Yoon Jung4
,
Minjune Yang56*
,
Minhee Lee7*
강 차원12†
,
김 태용1†
,
송 재용3
,
정 지윤4
,
양 민준56*
,
이 민희7*
1Ph.D. Student, Major of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Division of Earth Environmental System Sciences, Pukyong National University
2General Manager, SanHa Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.
3Managing Director, SanHa Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.
4Director, SanHa Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.
5Associate Professor, Major of Environmental Geosciences, Division of Earth Environmental System Sciences, Pukyong National University
6President, Wible Co., Ltd.
7Professor, Major of Environmental Geosciences, Division of Earth Environmental System Sciences, Pukyong National University
1국립부경대학교 지구환경시스템과학부 지구환경과학전공 박사과정
2(주)산하이앤씨 부장
3(주)산하이앤씨 전무이사
4(주)산하이앤씨 이사
5국립부경대학교 지구환경시스템과학부 환경지질과학전공 부교수
6(주)와이블 대표이사
7국립부경대학교 지구환경시스템과학부 환경지질과학전공 교수
*Corresponding Author
†These authors equally contributed to this study as first author.
31 December 2024. pp. 649-658
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

The contamination of river sediment with heavy metals caused by the release of mine tailings has emerged as a critical environmental issue, significantly impacting water quality and ecosystems. Although previous studies have investigated the spatial distribution and seasonal variations of heavy metals in river sediment and their particle-size-specific characteristics, research into heavy metal concentrations across particle size fractions and the reduction of heavy metals after soil washing remains insufficient. This study aimed to evaluate the heavy metal contamination of different particle-size fractions of river sediment containing mine tailings and analyze the reduction in heavy metals after applying a soil washing method. River sediment above the Andong Dam in the Nakdong River basin was classified into four particle-size fractions (2.00~1.00, 1.00~0.25, 0.25~0.075, and <0.075 mm) to measure the heavy metal concentrations. The results indicate that smaller particles have higher concentrations of heavy metals, with As exceeding warning limit (As > 150 mg/kg) in all size fractions. After applying the soil washing method, the heavy metal concentrations decreased by an average of 35.6% across all particle size fractions, with the highest reduction efficiency (mean 46.29%) being observed in the 1.00~0.25 mm fraction. The results suggest that soil washing is an economical and effective remediation technique for reducing heavy metal contamination in river sediment containing mine tailings. The findings will contribute to the restoration of contaminated river sediment and the development of sustainable management strategies.

Keywords
mine tailings
river sediment
soil contamination
soil washing
particle size analysis

광물찌꺼기의 유실로 인한 하천퇴적토의 중금속 오염은 수질과 생태계에 심각한 영향을 미치는 환경 문제로 대두되고 있다. 선행 연구에서는 하천퇴적토 내 중금속의 공간적 분포 및 계절적 변화, 입도별 중금속 농도 특성 등 다양한 연구가 수행되었으나, 입도별 중금속 농도 특성과 물세척법 적용 전 ‧ 후의 저감 효율을 분석한 연구는 부족한 실정이다. 따라서, 본 연구는 낙동강 상류 안동댐 유역에서 광물찌꺼기 유입 하천퇴적토를 대상으로 입도별 중금속 농도를 평가하고, 물세척법을 적용하여 중금속 오염 저감 효율을 분석하였다. 하천퇴적토를 4개의 입도 구간(2.00~1.00, 1.00~0.25, 0.25~0.075, <0.075 mm)으로 분류하여 중금속 농도를 분석한 결과, 입자가 미세해질수록 중금속 농도는 증가하는 경향을 보였으며, As는 모든 입도구간에서 토양오염대책기준 2지역 대책기준치(As > 150 mg/kg)을 초과하는 것으로 확인되었다. 물세척법을 적용한 결과, 모든 토양 입도 구간에서 중금속 농도가 평균 35.6% 감소하였으며, 특히, 1.00~0.25 mm의 입도 구간에서 가장 높은 저감 효율(평균 46.29%)을 보여주었다. 본 연구는 물세척법이 광물찌꺼기 유입 하천퇴적토의 중금속 오염 저감에 있어 경제적이고 효율적인 정화 기술로 활용될 수 있음을 보여주었으며, 하천퇴적토의 효과적인 복원과 지속 가능한 관리 전략 수립을 위한 기초 자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

키워드
광물찌꺼기
하천퇴적토
토양 오염
물세척법
입도 분석
References
1

Arunakumara, K.K.I.U., Zhang, X., 2008, Heavy metal bioaccumulation and toxicity with special reference to microalgae, Journal of Ocean University of China, 7(1), 60-64.

10.1007/s11802-008-0060-y
2

Choi, S.G., Pak, S.J., Lee, P.K., Kim, C.S., 2004, An overview of geoenvironmental implications of mineral deposits in Korea, Economic and Environmental Geology, 37(1), 1-19 (in Korean with English abstract).

3

Gwon, Y.S., Kim, E.J., 2018, Effects of soil particle sizes on soil washing, Journal of the Korean Society of Urban Environment, 18(1), 53-60 (in Korean with English abstract).

10.33768/ksue.2018.18.1.53
4

Jung, M.C., Jung, M.Y., Choi, Y.W., 2004, Environmental assessment of heavy metals around abandoned metalliferous mine in Korea, Economic and Environmental Geology, 37(1), 21-33 (in Korean with English abstract).

5

Kim, H.G., Kim, B.J., Ko, M.S., 2022a, Geochemical contamination assessment and distribution property investigation of heavy metals, arsenic, and antimony vicinity of abandoned mine, Economic and Environmental Geology, 55(6), 717-726 (in Korean with English abstract).

10.9719/EEG.2022.55.6.717
6

Kim, J., Choi, U., Baek, S.H., Choi, H.B., Lee, J., 2016, A study on chemical compositions of sediment and surface water in Nakdong River for tracing contaminants from mining activities, Journal of the Korean Earth Science Society, 37(4), 211-217 (in Korean with English abstract).

10.5467/JKESS.2016.37.4.211
7

Kim, J.W., Jung, M.C., Lee, H., Kim, H., Heo, H., 2022b, Status and evaluation of characteristics of deposited tailings in the upstream of Andong Dam, Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers, 59(6), 607-618 (in Korean with English abstract).

10.32390/ksmer.2022.59.6.607
8

Kim, J.W., Si, B.L., Ji, H., Lee, H., Jung, M.C., Heo, H., Kim, H., 2023, Evaluation of the seasonal characteristics of sediments and suspended sediments in the upstream of the Andong Dam, Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers, 60(2), 65-77 (in Korean with English abstract).

10.32390/ksmer.2023.60.2.065
9

Kim, K.R., Choi, K.Y., Kim, S.H., Hong, G.H., 2010, Feasibility of present soil remediation technologies in KOREA for the control of contaminated marine sediment: Heavy metals, Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers, 32(12), 1076-1086 (in Korean with English abstract).

10

KS F 2302, 2022, Test method for particle size distribution of soils (in Korean).

11

Lee, J.S., Kwon, H.H., Shim, Y.S., Kim, T.H., 2007, Risk assessment of heavy metals in the vicinity of the abandoned metal mine areas, Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment, 12(1), 97-102 (in Korean with English abstract).

12

ME (Ministry of Environment), 2022, Standard methods for soil contamination (in Korean).

13

ME (Ministry of Environment), 2023, Soil environment conservation act (in Korean).

14

Park, C.K., Kim, J.W., Jung, M.C., Park, H.S., Kim, D.K., Oh, Y.S., 2018, Current occurrence and heavy metal contamination assessment of seepage from mine waste dumping sites in Korea, Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers, 55(6), 588-595 (in Korean with English abstract).

10.32390/ksmer.2018.55.6.588
15

Park, J.J., Kim, K.J., Yoo, S.M., Kim, E.H., Seok, K.S., Huh, I.A., Kim, Y.H., 2012, Distribution of heavy metals and mercury in sediment from the lake An-dong, Analytical Science & Technology, 25(6), 441-446 (in Korean with English abstract).

10.5806/AST.2012.25.6.441
16

Qian, J., Shan, X., Wang, Z., Tu, Q., 1996, Distribution and plant availability of heavy metals in different particle-size fractions of soil, Science of The Total Environment, 187(2), 131-141.

10.1016/0048-9697(96)05134-0
Information
  • Publisher :Korean Society of Engineering Geology
  • Publisher(Ko) :대한지질공학회
  • Journal Title :The Journal of Engineering Geology
  • Journal Title(Ko) :지질공학
  • Volume : 34
  • No :4
  • Pages :649-658
  • Received Date : 2024-12-16
  • Revised Date : 2024-12-24
  • Accepted Date : 2024-12-26
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.9720/kseg.2024.4.649
Journal Informaiton The Journal of Engineering Geology The Journal of Engineering Geology
Online Submission
  • NRF
  • KOFST
  • KISTI Current Status
  • KISTI Cited-by
  • crosscheck
  • orcid
  • open access
  • ccl
Journal Informaiton Journal Informaiton - close