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A Simplified Model to Simulate pH and Alkalinity in the Mixing Zone Downstream of an Acidic Discharge

Nhantumbo, Clemencio LU ; Larsson, Rolf LU ; Larson, Magnus LU ; Juízo, Dinis LU and Persson, Kenneth M. LU (2018) In Mine Water and the Environment 37(3). p.552-564
Abstract

A modelling methodology was developed that simulates the resulting pH and alkalinity in the mixing zone when acidic water is discharged into a river. The input to the model are the: pH, alkalinity, flow, and temperature of both the river water and the acidic discharge. Two different scenarios were simulated: (1) a change of pH in the acidic discharge, assuming constant flow; and (2) a change in the flow of the acidic discharge, assuming constant pH. The model incorporates the effect of carbonic acid and the modelled values agree well with the laboratory results. The model setup was subsequently used to predict the anticipated effect of contamination of the Zambezi River in Mozambique. The results indicate that the river will be impacted... (More)

A modelling methodology was developed that simulates the resulting pH and alkalinity in the mixing zone when acidic water is discharged into a river. The input to the model are the: pH, alkalinity, flow, and temperature of both the river water and the acidic discharge. Two different scenarios were simulated: (1) a change of pH in the acidic discharge, assuming constant flow; and (2) a change in the flow of the acidic discharge, assuming constant pH. The model incorporates the effect of carbonic acid and the modelled values agree well with the laboratory results. The model setup was subsequently used to predict the anticipated effect of contamination of the Zambezi River in Mozambique. The results indicate that the river will be impacted if the average pH of the water in the tributaries coming from the mining area is below 3. The model could be used by water managers to predict the potential impact of acidic discharges in poorly monitored rivers.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Acid mine drainage, Modelling, River flow, Water quality
in
Mine Water and the Environment
volume
37
issue
3
pages
552 - 564
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85040867010
ISSN
1025-9112
DOI
10.1007/s10230-018-0515-3
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a4a996aa-326a-4475-b606-b9194a19ad0a
date added to LUP
2018-02-05 14:24:31
date last changed
2022-04-25 05:28:11
@article{a4a996aa-326a-4475-b606-b9194a19ad0a,
  abstract     = {{<p>A modelling methodology was developed that simulates the resulting pH and alkalinity in the mixing zone when acidic water is discharged into a river. The input to the model are the: pH, alkalinity, flow, and temperature of both the river water and the acidic discharge. Two different scenarios were simulated: (1) a change of pH in the acidic discharge, assuming constant flow; and (2) a change in the flow of the acidic discharge, assuming constant pH. The model incorporates the effect of carbonic acid and the modelled values agree well with the laboratory results. The model setup was subsequently used to predict the anticipated effect of contamination of the Zambezi River in Mozambique. The results indicate that the river will be impacted if the average pH of the water in the tributaries coming from the mining area is below 3. The model could be used by water managers to predict the potential impact of acidic discharges in poorly monitored rivers.</p>}},
  author       = {{Nhantumbo, Clemencio and Larsson, Rolf and Larson, Magnus and Juízo, Dinis and Persson, Kenneth M.}},
  issn         = {{1025-9112}},
  keywords     = {{Acid mine drainage; Modelling; River flow; Water quality}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{552--564}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Mine Water and the Environment}},
  title        = {{A Simplified Model to Simulate pH and Alkalinity in the Mixing Zone Downstream of an Acidic Discharge}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10230-018-0515-3}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10230-018-0515-3}},
  volume       = {{37}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}