Distribution and Mobility of Heavy Metal Materials in Settling Ponds Post Laterite Nickel Mining

摘要

The formation of waste matter sedimentation in settling ponds, along with accumulation of heavy metals, such as Nickel (Ni), Chrome (Cr₃₊ and Cr₆₊), manganese (Mn) and Cobalt (Co) and elements or compounds in laterite soil. These heavy metals will concentrate in different environmental geochemistry, which are laterite sediment layers pre- and post-mining. The purposes of this study are to identify changes of heavy metal distribution in settling ponds and analyze heavy metal mobility in settling ponds. The research methods were qualitative and quantitative methods. Laboratory research used AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer) which was studied, analyzed, and synthesized comprehensively. Data processing technique used SPSS v.21 software and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method. The result showed that distribution of heavy metals Fe and Cr relatively strengthened constantly. The graphs of Fe and Cr were interpreted as similar mobility and mechanism of transportation os elements which can form chemical compounds. Meanwhile, metals Ni and Co had similar graph which was relatively flat constantly. This was interpreted as similar mobility of heavy metals in settling ponds. The mobility of heavy metals Fe and Cr were mostly concentrated to form ferrochrome compound in the sediment of settling ponds compared with Ni with its low mobility and Co with its very low mobility.