A STUDY OF TRACE ORGANIC EMISSIONS AND THEIR CONTROL
IN MINING AND MILLING WASTEWATER
Alan J. Callier, Sanitary Engineer
Environmental Protection Agency, Region VII
Kansas City, Missouri 64108
J. Charles Jennett, Chairman
Civil Engineering Department
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York 13210
INTRODUCTION
Trace organics resistant to removal by conventional water and wastewater treatment
are often the cause of taste, odor, color and toxicity problems [ 1 ].   Effluent from secondary wastewater treatment plants may contain up to 10 times more refractory than
degradable organics [2].   Furthermore, treated water from a conventional water treatment plant may contain more trace organics than the raw water supply [3,4],
The primary sources of trace organics in natural waters are the decomposition of natural products, industrial and domestic wastes, and agricultural runoff.   Generally, industrial
wastes contribute the largest number and volume of trace organic compounds to fresh
water [5].
The primary objective of this investigation was to study the refractory organic levels
in the discharged effluent of a treated industrial waste and the concomitant increase of
trace organics in the receiving body of water.   However, because of the large number of
sources and types of trace organics which may be present in streams, it was virtually impossible to evaluate complex multiple effluent systems and it was, therefore, necessary to
find an isolated area for study.   The "Viburnum Trend" or "New Lead Belt" of southeast Missouri was such an area.   This area was the site of the largest lead mining region
in the world and was located almost wholly within Clark National Forest; there were no
other industrial sources of pollution, and there were a number of streams available to
serve as controls whose only trace organic input was from natural runoff and leaching.
In order to accomplish the primary objective, a lead-zinc (Buick mine and mill, owned
and operated by AM AX Lead Company of Missouri and Homestake Mining Company)
and a lead-zinc-copper (Fletcher mine and mill, owned and operated by St. Joe Minerals
Corporation) mining and milling operation in the New Lead Belt, both of which were
known to use toxic organic reagents in their processes, were studied.   Normal water quality parameters were not applicable in evaluating these wastewaters [6] and there was little,
if any, information available relative to the trace organic levels released to the environment by this particular industry.   The solvent extraction method (SEM) as described by
ASTM  was used to evaluate the trace organic levels of these wastewaters prior to and
following treatment, and also to evaluate those of a control stream.
THE EFFECTS OF ORGANICS IN MINING AND MILLING WASTEWATERS
Since the beginning of lead, zinc and copper production in the "Viburnum Trend" of
southeastern Missouri, researchers have studied the environmental impact on the streams
receiving discharges from the mining and milling industry.   Abnormally excessive growths
of bottom-coating mats of algae and bacteria have been reported in some of the streams
receiving treated mine and mill effluents [6,7].   Studies have also shown that some algal
and bacterial consumer organisms, such as snails, crayfish, tadpoles and various aquatic
insects which are common in Ozark streams were absent or were rarely found in streams
below the discharge point of mine and mill effluents [8].   Some investigators have concluded that the discharge of effluents containing residual amounts of toxic flotation
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