Geochemical Approaches to Environmental Engineering of Metals

This book provides basic geochemical data on principles, criteria, methods and current practices with regard to the treatment of contaminated systems and materials, like soils, surface waters and solid residues. The main emphasis is on the investigation, control and recovery of ecosystems contaminated by metal mining and waste disposal operations. This book will help to close the gap existing between the use of geochemical methods and their successful implementation within environmental engineering measures. It is of interest to environmental engineers, responsible authorities in industry, as well as scientists working at universities on environmental issues.

It is not long ago that scientists realized, our study and understanding of most environmental problems call for a cross-sectional, more holistic view. In fact, environmental geochemistry became one of the legs to stand on for such a required interdisciplinary approach. Geochemists do not only describe the elemental composition and pro cesses of natural systems, such as soils, ground or surface waters, but they also establish the methodology to quantify material rates and turnover. Today, geochemical expertise has become indispensable when monitoring the fate of noxious chemicals, like-metallic pollu tants released to the environment. To know how trace metals will be have and react in complex systems under changing conditions, might provide us with a more realistic estimate of what is really acceptable in terms of quality standards. This would ease the formulation of ade quate environmental objectives, strategies and criteria to handle emerging pollution situations. Moreover, to take notice of geochemi cal principles will support our endeavor to improve the way we deal with limited and nonrenewable resources. It is exactly here, i. e. at the interface between natural elemental processes and the way we use them, that geochemical approaches meet the demand of technical at tempts to minimize the impact of environmentally relevant activities, like mining, waste handling, or manufacturing. The consideration to include geochemically derived concepts into the search for technical solutions is not really new, but has a long tradition during the evolution of modern societies."

This book addresses the study and control of metal pollutants by means of geochemically designed methodological approaches. It comprises recent developments to trace, evaluate and manipulate heavy metals and their fate and behaviour in both natural and man-made systems.