Geochemical Approaches to Environmental Engineering of MetalsIt is not long ago that scientists realized, our study and understanding of most environmental problems call for a cross-sectional, more holistic view. In fact, environmental geochemistry became one of the legs to stand on for such a required interdisciplinary approach. Geochemists do not only describe the elemental composition and pro cesses of natural systems, such as soils, ground or surface waters, but they also establish the methodology to quantify material rates and turnover. Today, geochemical expertise has become indispensable when monitoring the fate of noxious chemicals, like-metallic pollu tants released to the environment. To know how trace metals will be have and react in complex systems under changing conditions, might provide us with a more realistic estimate of what is really acceptable in terms of quality standards. This would ease the formulation of ade quate environmental objectives, strategies and criteria to handle emerging pollution situations. Moreover, to take notice of geochemi cal principles will support our endeavor to improve the way we deal with limited and nonrenewable resources. It is exactly here, i. e. at the interface between natural elemental processes and the way we use them, that geochemical approaches meet the demand of technical at tempts to minimize the impact of environmentally relevant activities, like mining, waste handling, or manufacturing. The consideration to include geochemically derived concepts into the search for technical solutions is not really new, but has a long tradition during the evolution of modern societies. |
Contents
PART | 9 |
Testing Metal Mobility in Soils by Elution Tests | 15 |
3 | 22 |
Copyright | |
11 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Geochemical Approaches to Environmental Engineering of Metals Rudolf Reuther No preview available - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
acid active sediments Amount Andersson aquatic Baccini benthic Benthic uptake Berlin Heidelberg Bioaccumulation biological biomass biouptake buffering carbon catchment chemical clay Conc contaminated copper smelters curves Default value deposits dissolved ecosystems effects elements elution test emissions environment environmental fallout final storage fly ash Förstner fraction geochemical geochemical engineering Głogów groundwater H₂O Håkanson heavy metals Heidelberg New York Hg-concentration humic humic acids Idrija km² Lake liming lake water landfill gas layer leachate leaching Legnica lignite loam long-term mean annual mercury metal concentrations methanogenic mg/kg mg/l minerals mining areas mining lakes mobility organic outflow rate oxidation particulate partition coefficient pelagic perch fry pH-values phase phytoplankton pike plankton potential predator prey processes redox reduce release remedies residues retention Schuiling sediments selenium Sensitivity tests sludge soil samples solid waste soluble solution speciation struvite sulphide surface Table tion toxic zinc