Environmental pollution control at the AMAX-Homestake lead smelter

Conference · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Trace Subst. Environ. Health; (United States)

OSTI ID:6241321

Kearney, W M ^[1]; Gale, N L; Wixson, B G

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1. AMAX-Homestake Lead Tollers, Boss, MO

Since operations began in 1968, AMAX-Homestake and the University of Missouri-Rolla have cooperated to assess and monitor environmental impact of heavy metals in the vicinity of the lead smelter at Boss, Missouri. Installation of a number of pollution abatement practices and devices have significantly reduced dissemination of lead, zinc, copper and cadmium into the surrounding ecosystem. Fugitive emissions have been a major problem in the past and various control techniques using baghouses, wet scrubbers and an electrostatic precipitator have been employed with varying degrees of success. A redesigned material handling system is presently under construction to contain fugitive dusts associated with the return sinter crushing circuit. The new design will include total enclosure, dedicated baghouse collector and internal cleaning equipment. Sulfur dioxide has been controlled by a network of ambient monitors used to measure SO/sub 2/ concentration. Plant process emission control improvements have significantly reduced vegetation damage. Studies of metal concentrations in stream sediments and forest leaf litter over the past 12 years indicate a decrease in metal contamination of Crooked Creek and the surrounding forest as a result of alterations in wastewater treatment technology and stack emission controls. Core samples taken from wastewater impoundments indicate that the impoundments are performing an excellent job of trapping metal-rich materials associated with runoff from the smelter workyard. Historical trends and data from 1972 to present indicate a reduction in ambient air Pb concentrations at sampling stations downwind of the smelter. A reduction in Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd is also documented for decomposing leaf litter within a one-half to one-mile radius around the smelter. Studies are continuing to meet projected ambient air standards and to protect the environment.

• OSTI ID: 6241321
• Report Number(s): CONF-8106251-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Trace Subst. Environ. Health; (United States) Journal Volume: 15
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510200 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CADMIUM
CHALCOGENIDES
COPPER
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
EXTRACTIVE METALLURGY
FEDERAL REGION VII
LEAD
METALLURGY
METALS
MISSOURI
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
PYROMETALLURGY
SEDIMENTS
SMELTERS
SMELTING
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
ZINC