Monitoring of pollutants in an active mining Dump Ema, Czech Republic

Abstract

The mining activities carried out within the area of Ostrava City are responsible for at least six mine dumps of loose materials arising as wastes from mining of mineral resources. In the past there were difficulties with efficient separating of waste rock and tailings from coal and thus high amounts of coal substance remained in the waste, thus being prone to self-ignition. The thermal activity in dumps is responsible for many hazardous substances that pollute the environment and harm human health in the surroundings. Analysing the occurring pollutants in Ema Dump (Czech Republic) using the GC chromatography method, concentrations of CO2 and CH4 were determined in three sampling points during three measurements executed from January to March 2016. The highest measured concentration of CO2 in Ema Dump was 20 722 ppm. The top concentration of CH4 in Ema Dump was 707 ppm. The monitoring of SO2 in Ema Dump was carried out between April 2015 and January 2016. The final concentrations were identified using two measuring methods, namely the thorin method and the method with methylsulfonazo III as an indicator in dependence on different gas flow rates (1.5-3.0 l min(-1)) during sampling. The measured concentrations of SO2 ranged from 7.21 to 31.50 mg m(-3), while the top concentration was taken in January 2016.