A Simplified Model to Simulate pH and Alkalinity in the Mixing Zone Downstream of an Acidic Discharge
(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
- Nhantumbo, Clemencio LU ; Larsson, Rolf LU ; Larson, Magnus LU ; Juízo, Dinis LU and Persson, Kenneth M. LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2018-09
- 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}}, }