I. V. Tananaev Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Rare Elements and Mineral Raw Materials of the Russian Academy of Sciences Kola Science Center (ICTREMRM KSC RAS), Apatity, Russia:

I. P. Kremenetskaya, Senior Researcher, e-mail: kremen@chemy.kolasc.net.ru
V. V. Lashchuk, Senior Researcher

S. V. Drogobuzhskaya, Senior Laboratory Assistant Researcher

OJSC “Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company”, Monchegorsk, Russia:

E. Yu. Volochkovskaya, Leading Specialist

Mining Institute of Kola Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russia:

T. A. Morozova, Researcher

Possible uses of a serpentine-based magnesia-silicate reagent for detoxification of natural water bodies located in proximity of the Monchegorsk man-made desert are discussed. The features of the heavy-metal pollution have been analyzed statistically, applying a Tietta application software, factor analysis by the method of principal components combined with regressive analysis. The crucial factor for the state of water bodies was found to be degradation of this naturalman-made system. The package of procedures recommended for localizing the chemical pollution includes land reclamation and immobilization of ecotoxicants within the water bodies. In our experiments, water samples were treated by a magnesia-silicate reagent obtained from the olivinite ore process (sungulite and iddingsite concentrates). The level of solution purification was quite good (about 96–97%). After three months of reagent’s contact with water solutions, the residual nickel concentrations were 10–13 μg/L at pH = 8.4–8.5, which either meets the norms for water quality in fisheries or is close to them. Similar levels of purification have been obtained for copper, zinc and cobalt. Since the reagent is low cost, locally available, does not contain any xenobiotics, and can purify water to the normal level, it can be recommended for “passive” water-treatment technologies.

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