A cyanide-containing slag tailing pond groundwater environment risk early warning system

Abstract

The application discloses a cyanide-containing slag tailing pond groundwater environment risk early warning system, a groundwater monitoring well subsystem comprises a plurality of groundwater monitoring wells; a timing sampling control subsystem is used for controlling the pumping time, flow and frequency of a water pump in each groundwater monitoring well; a color reaction subsystem comprises a color developing device and is used for monitoring the color developing reaction of the groundwater sample; a color sensing subsystem comprises a light source and a color sensor, the light source is irradiated towards the color developing device, and the color sensor is used for collecting the emergent light signal of the color developing device after the color developing reaction; a central control platform comprises an early warning subsystem and an emergency disposal response subsystem, the early warning subsystem receives the color sensor signal and divides the risk grade according to the obtained signal; the emergency disposal response subsystem executes corresponding detection and repair responses according to the risk grade made by the early warning subsystem; the application realizes the rapid detection of the cyanide content in the groundwater around the cyanide-containing slag tailing pond and the feedback and early warning of the environmental pollution risk grade.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of environmental pollution monitoring and environmental emergency early warning technology, and more specifically, relates to an early warning system for groundwater environmental risks in cyanide tailings ponds. Background Technology

[0003] Traditional methods for disposing of cyanide residue include landfilling and stockpiling. However, open-air stockpiles of tailings, due to their fine particles, easily generate dust, causing air pollution. Harmful substances in the cyanide residue may be released through leaching by rainwater, polluting soil and water bodies. Furthermore, if the tailings are directly landfilled without proper treatment, residual chemicals, heavy metal ions, and other harmful substances may seep into groundwater through leaching, affecting water safety.

[0004] When a cyanide tailings dam experiences a sudden leak or continuous seepage, toxic and harmful components such as heavy metals, cyanides, and mineral processing reagents from the tailings themselves or within the tailings can enter surface water, soil, and groundwater along with wastewater and leachate. This can cause continuous pollution to the surrounding soil, groundwater, and surface water. The main reasons are as follows: (1) Unreasonable site selection. Due to the early construction of some cyanide tailings ponds, the environmental standards at the time of design and construction were outdated. The sites are located near rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and there are residential areas and production and living facilities downstream. These "three-side ponds" and "overhead ponds" pose a great risk of heavy metal or toxic and harmful substance pollution, and pose a major threat to the life, health and safety of residents and the environment in the area where the tailings ponds are located and downstream.

[0005] (2) Pollutant leakage is caused by reasons such as hydrogeological conditions not meeting the requirements for effective containment. Causes of leakage in the reservoir include faults, karst caves, and the development of rock fissures.

[0006] (3) Low construction standards and inadequate pollution control facilities in tailings dams. Most of the early tailings dams built in my country did not have anti-seepage treatment or only had simple anti-seepage treatment. As the tailings were piled up, tailings leakage accidents were very likely to occur, causing environmental pollution. The early tailings dams had low or no anti-seepage requirements, and facilities such as leachate storage tanks and return water devices were incomplete and lacked water treatment systems, resulting in a large number of "old and dangerous" dams, which posed a great environmental risk to the surrounding environment.

[0007] In arid or semi-arid regions, cyanide in soil and tailings decays very slowly under natural conditions. Four years after the dam collapse, the highest cyanide concentration in tailings was still 279 µg / g, and the highest concentration in soil was still 1.35 µg / g. Studies have shown that the cyanide content in deep tailings is 20 times higher than that in surface tailings. Based on this, the environmental risk of cyanide tailings is quite prominent. In a gold mine in Gansu, the groundwater downstream of a cyanide tailings dam had arsenic, lead, and cyanide levels exceeding standards by 8.23, 1.7, and 10.48 times, respectively. Research confirmed that this was mainly caused by leachate leakage from the tailings dam contaminating the downstream groundwater.

[0008] According to the "Administrative Measures for the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution from Tailings" (2022) and the "Standard for Pollution Control of Storage and Landfill of General Industrial Solid Waste" (GB 18599-2020), the current environmental monitoring requirements for groundwater in tailings ponds are that enterprises conduct their own monitoring at least once per quarter, with an interval of no less than one month between monitoring sessions. This results in a long monitoring cycle, poor timeliness, and high costs, reflecting insufficient environmental supervision and monitoring capabilities. Furthermore, current methods for detecting cyanide-containing wastewater mostly involve sampling and then using cyanide detection equipment to determine if the wastewater exceeds standards. This not only incurs high initial and maintenance costs for the equipment but also has a long testing cycle, making on-site testing less convenient. Moreover, tailings ponds are generally located in remote areas, far from towns, making sample collection inconvenient and costly due to the high cost of manual sampling. Therefore, a real-time online monitoring system is urgently needed. Summary of the Invention

[0009] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a groundwater environmental risk early warning system for cyanide tailings ponds. It is mainly applied to the environmental monitoring of both in-production and historically existing cyanide tailings ponds (piles), enabling rapid detection of cyanide content and environmental pollution risk levels in the groundwater surrounding cyanide tailings ponds.

[0010] The technical solution adopted is as follows: A groundwater environmental risk early warning system for cyanide tailings ponds includes: The groundwater monitoring well system includes multiple groundwater monitoring wells installed in the upstream, downstream and lateral diffusion areas of the cyanide tailings dam to be monitored; A timed sampling control subsystem is electrically connected to each of the groundwater monitoring well subsystems and is used to control the pumping time, flow rate and frequency of the pumps in each of the groundwater monitoring wells. The colorimetric reaction subsystem includes a colorimetric device connected to a pump in each of the groundwater monitoring wells to receive the extracted groundwater samples and perform colorimetric reaction monitoring on the groundwater samples. The color sensing subsystem includes a light source and a color sensor. The light source illuminates the color display device, and the color sensor is used to collect the emitted light signal after the color display device has reacted. The central control platform includes an early warning subsystem and an emergency response subsystem. The early warning subsystem receives signals from the color sensor and classifies the risk level based on the obtained signals. The emergency response subsystem executes corresponding detection and repair responses based on the risk level determined by the early warning subsystem.

[0011] Furthermore, the early warning subsystem divides the signals acquired by the color sensor into three levels: a color signal score of 1-10 indicates a low-risk level, a color signal score of 11-50 indicates a medium-risk level, and a color signal score greater than 50 indicates a high-risk level.

[0012] Preferably, the colorimetric device contains chloramine-T and isonicotinic acid solution, and the water pump is controlled to draw groundwater into the colorimetric device in a timed and quantitative manner.

[0013] Furthermore, each of the groundwater monitoring wells is equipped with a level gauge, which is connected to the timed sampling control subsystem and used to control the pumping volume of the water pump.

[0014] Preferably, the color sensor collects the solution color development signal of the groundwater sample from the upstream groundwater monitoring well, and subtracts the obtained signal value as the background value of the groundwater sample color development in the downstream groundwater monitoring well to obtain the actual color development signal presented to the outside world.

[0015] Preferably, the color sensor is positioned directly in front of or above the object being measured, and the color sensor is arranged parallel to the object being measured.

[0016] The technical solution of the present invention has the following advantages: A. The groundwater environmental risk early warning system for cyanide tailings ponds provided by this invention covers the entire process from monitoring and early warning to emergency response, forming a complete integrated intelligent system. By controlling the pumping volume of the pumps in a timed and quantitative manner, the extracted groundwater samples react with the colorimetric device to produce a colorimetric reaction. The colorimetric light signal is then obtained through a color sensor, and the risk level is classified. Based on the risk level, the cyanide tailings pond is detected and repaired. It can realize online sample collection and colorimetric reaction, quickly obtain the cyanide content and environmental pollution risk level in the groundwater around the cyanide tailings pond, and solve the problem, greatly reducing the detection cost. B. This invention, through automatic sampling and automatic setting of monitoring frequency, can be used for routine supervision and high-frequency emergency monitoring and analysis during special periods (such as rainy seasons), accurately obtaining the environmental pollution status of the cyanide-containing tailings pond under test; and has an intelligent colorimetric chemical reaction subsystem and color sensing subsystem, which can efficiently identify the characteristic pollutant cyanide and determine the risk level, and carry out remediation and treatment of the polluted area according to the detected risk level, with higher response efficiency.

[0017] C. The system of the present invention is easy to operate, requires no direct human intervention in sampling, and generates a colorimetric reaction between the reagent in the colorimetric device and the extracted water sample to quickly obtain the detection results, rapidly identify environmental risks, and reduce emergency response time. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the specific embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a system connection structure diagram provided by the present invention; Figure 2 This is a block diagram showing the connection relationships between the various subsystems provided by the present invention.

[0020] The meanings of the symbols in the image are as follows: 1-Groundwater monitoring well; 11-Water pump; 12-Level gauge; 2-Color display device; 3-Central control platform; 4-Color sensor; 5-Waste liquid collection device; 6-Storage device; 7-Electric outlet valve. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, this invention provides a groundwater environmental risk early warning system for cyanide tailings ponds, including: a groundwater monitoring well subsystem, a timed sampling control subsystem, a colorimetric reaction subsystem, a color sensing subsystem, and a central control platform. The central control platform 3 is connected to each subsystem. The groundwater monitoring well subsystem includes multiple groundwater monitoring wells 1 respectively installed in the upstream, downstream, and lateral diffusion areas of the cyanide tailings pond to be monitored, providing a hardware foundation for comprehensive collection of typical groundwater samples from the surrounding area. The timed sampling control subsystem is electrically connected to each groundwater monitoring well subsystem. Parameters such as the start time, start duration, and start interval of the pumps 11 can be set in the timed sampling control subsystem to control the pumping time, flow rate, and frequency of the pumps in each groundwater monitoring well. Two monitoring methods are illustrated below: During routine monitoring: Every week (7 days), 10 mL of groundwater sample is drawn from each groundwater monitoring well into the colorimetric device. The pump flow rate can be set to 1 mL / s, the pumping time is 10 s, and the frequency is 7 days / time. During rainfall or rainstorm monitoring: Groundwater samples are taken from each groundwater monitoring well every day for testing. For each test, the pump flow rate can be set to 1 mL / s, the pumping time is 10s, and the frequency is once a day.

[0023] In addition, a level gauge 12 is installed in each groundwater monitoring well 1 to effectively prevent dry pumping. The pump 11 used is preferably a micro pump. The colorimetric reaction subsystem includes a colorimetric device 2, which is connected to the pump in each groundwater monitoring well 1 to receive the extracted groundwater samples and monitor the groundwater samples through colorimetric reactions. Reaction reagents are prepared in a storage device 6 and transported to the colorimetric device 2. The colorimetric device 2 contains reaction reagents such as chloramine T and isonicotinic acid solution. Groundwater samples are extracted periodically and quantitatively and enter the colorimetric device 2. If a leak occurs at the bottom of the cyanide tailings dam, the groundwater contaminated by the tailings will contain cyanide. The cyanide in the extracted groundwater reacts with chloramine T in the colorimetric device 2 to generate cyanogen chloride. Cyanogen chloride reacts with isonicotinic acid and hydrolyzes to generate 3-carboxypentenedial. The resulting solution turns orange-red or red. Within a certain concentration range, its color intensity is directly proportional to the cyanide mass concentration.

[0024] The color sensing subsystem includes a light source and a color sensor 4. The light source shines on the color-developing device, and the color sensor is used to collect the emitted light signal after the color-developing reaction of the color-developing device 2. The color-developing device 2 is equipped with two liquid inlets and one waste liquid outlet. After setting the detection frequency and time interval, the reaction reagent and the groundwater sample to be tested are injected quantitatively at the same time, and the color sensor 4 is turned on at the same time. After the color-developing device 2 displays red, the collected signal is transmitted to the central control platform 3. After the color signal is collected, the electric outlet valve 7 at the bottom of the color-developing device 2 is automatically opened, and the waste liquid is discharged from the waste liquid outlet of the color-developing device to the waste liquid collection device 5. The color-developing device 2 waits for the next round of detection.

[0025] In this invention, the color sensor 4 simultaneously acquires the solution color development signal from the groundwater sample in the upstream control well, and subtracts the signal value as the background value for the color development of the groundwater sample in the downstream well to obtain the actual color development signal presented externally. The specific expression for the actual color development signal S of the groundwater quality in the monitoring well is as follows: S = S1 - S0.

[0026] Where: S0 is the colorimetric signal of water quality from the upstream groundwater monitoring well (environmental background value); S1 is the raw colorimetric signal of the water quality in the lateral or downstream groundwater monitoring well; S is the color sensor 4 that outputs the actual color signal.

[0027] The color sensor 4 is preferably placed directly above the reaction reagent, and the color sensor 4 should be as parallel as possible to the object being measured, and both should be kept in a relatively stable state so as not to shake the object or the color sensor 4.

[0028] The central control platform includes an early warning subsystem and an emergency response subsystem. The early warning subsystem receives signals from color sensors and classifies the risk level based on the received signals. Preferably, the signal values ​​acquired by the color sensors are divided into three levels: a color signal score of 1-10 indicates a low-risk level (normal range, groundwater quality meets standards, cyanide content is within limits), a color signal score of 11-50 indicates a medium-risk level, and a color signal score greater than 50 indicates a high-risk level.

[0029] The emergency response subsystem executes corresponding detection and remediation responses based on the risk level determined by the early warning subsystem, as follows: When risk level 'a' is indicated as low, increase the frequency of automatic detection. When b indicates a medium risk, manual sampling is conducted and groundwater samples are sent to the laboratory for testing. The test results are confirmed and the cyanide concentration is quantitatively analyzed to identify the cause of pollution and promptly seal the leak point. When the result shown by c indicates a high risk, the test results are manually retested to find the cause of the leak, sealing and stopping measures are taken, nearby residents are notified, the use of nearby groundwater is prohibited, and the polluted area is remediated.

[0030] This invention covers the entire process from monitoring and early warning to emergency response. It is an integrated intelligent system that automatically samples and sets monitoring frequencies. It can be used for daily supervision and high-frequency emergency monitoring and analysis during special weather conditions such as rainstorms. No manual sampling is required. The system generates a colorimetric reaction between the reagent in the colorimetric device and the extracted water sample. The color sensor efficiently identifies the pollutant cyanide and determines the risk level. The system was applied to the monitoring of groundwater downstream of a cyanide-containing tailings dam. The cyanide content in the downstream groundwater monitoring well was 0.19 mg / L, and the colorimetric signal was 38, indicating moderate pollution. The cyanide content in the leachate was 1.74 mg / L, and the colorimetric signal was 80, indicating severe pollution.

[0031] Any aspects not covered in this invention are applicable to existing technologies.

[0032] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. A groundwater environmental risk early warning system for cyanide tailings ponds, characterized in that, include: The groundwater monitoring well system includes multiple groundwater monitoring wells installed in the upstream, downstream and lateral diffusion areas of the cyanide tailings dam to be monitored; A timed sampling control subsystem is electrically connected to each of the groundwater monitoring well subsystems and is used to control the pumping time, flow rate and frequency of the pumps in each of the groundwater monitoring wells. The colorimetric reaction subsystem includes a colorimetric device connected to a pump in each of the groundwater monitoring wells to receive the extracted groundwater samples and perform colorimetric reaction monitoring on the groundwater samples. The color sensing subsystem includes a light source and a color sensor. The light source illuminates the color display device, and the color sensor is used to collect the emitted light signal after the color display device has reacted. The central control platform includes an early warning subsystem and an emergency response subsystem. The early warning subsystem receives signals from the color sensor and classifies risk levels based on the obtained signals. The emergency response subsystem executes corresponding detection and repair responses based on the risk level determined by the early warning subsystem.

2. The groundwater environmental risk early warning system for cyanide tailings dams according to claim 1, characterized in that, The early warning subsystem divides the color signals acquired by the color sensor into three levels: a color signal score of 1-10 indicates a low-risk level, a color signal score of 11-50 indicates a medium-risk level, and a color signal score greater than 50 indicates a high-risk level.

3. The groundwater environmental risk early warning system for cyanide tailings dams according to claim 1, characterized in that, The colorimetric device contains chloramine-T and isonicotinic acid solution, and the water pump is controlled to draw groundwater into the colorimetric device in a timed and quantitative manner.

4. The groundwater environmental risk early warning system for cyanide tailings dams according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the groundwater monitoring wells is equipped with a level gauge, which is connected to the timed sampling control subsystem and is used to control the pumping volume of the water pump.

5. The groundwater environmental risk early warning system for cyanide tailings dams according to claim 1, characterized in that, The color sensor collects the color development signal of the solution from the groundwater sample in the upstream groundwater monitoring well, and subtracts the obtained color development signal value as the background value of the groundwater sample in the downstream groundwater monitoring well to obtain the actual color development signal presented to the outside world.

6. The groundwater environmental risk early warning system for cyanide tailings dams according to claim 5, characterized in that, The color sensor is positioned directly in front of or above the object being measured, and is parallel to the object being measured.

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