Heavy metal ions in the wastewater of the Majdanpek Copper Mine

Abstract

The paper presents the average annual concentrations of heavy metal ions in the wastewater of the Majdanpek Copper Mine filtration plant. Chemical analyses of wastewater samples found an increased content of heavy metal ions (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cd etc.) that exceed the values of the maximum permissible concentration defined by the relevant Regulation of the Republic of Serbia. The obtained results were compared with the permissible concentration limits prescribed by the Regulation of the World Health Organization and Directive 98/83/EC of the European Union as well as with some data from the literature. The final section of the paper provides a suggestion for reducing the concentrations of heavy metal ions in the wastewater of the filtration plant by using ion exchange resin.