This paper considers the impact of copper mining-influenced water and metallurgical wastewater on the surface water in the Bor area, Serbia. Sampling, realized through the four campaigns (2020–2021), confirmed that both types of water, discharged without appropriate treatment in the Bor River, had a signific impact on the concentration of metal ions, pH and electrical conductivity on the watercourse in the Bor area. The highest concentrations of the following metal ions, Cu—271 mg/L, As—25,991 μg/L, Ni—13,856 μg/L, Cd—2627 μg/L, and Pb—2855 μg/L, were registered in the metallurgical wastewater samples. After changes occurred in the copper production process by stopping the discharge of untreated wastewater into the Bor River, the concentrations of monitored elements were drastically decreased. In the period 2022–2024, the concentration values for Cu, As and Pb ions were below the maximum allowable value, and the concentration values of Ni and Cd ions were also decreased. The values for pH and electrical conductivity were in the maximum allowable range. The return of wastewater to the copper production process would lead to both a reduction in the primary water consumption and reduction in the negative impact on the environment.

The influence of the multi-stage electrostatic separation (ESS) of mechanically treated and magnetically separated waste electronic material and the pyrolysis of the selected ESS fraction on the distribution of metal elements (MEs), elements contained in refractory oxides (EROs), bromine (Br), and rare-earth elements (REEs) contained in waste electronic material was studied. The concentration of MEs, Br, and EROs in the tested samples was determined by X-ray fluorescence analysis, and the concentration of REEs and uranium was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The analysis of the distribution of elements during the multi-stage ESS showed that MEs were predominantly distributed in the conductive fraction and Br, EROs, and REEs were distributed in the nonconductive fraction. The nonconductive fraction (NC2) of the two-stage ESS was subjected to a low-temperature vacuum pyrolysis (T = 550 °C, p = 10 mbar). The distribution of pyrolysis products of the NC2 fraction was determined. The main products of the vacuum pyrolysis experiments were the solid residue phase (54.4 wt.%) and oils (35.4 wt.%). It has been proven that pyrolysis can significantly increase the concentration of MEs, EROs, and REEs in raw materials, thereby providing a method for cost-effectively obtaining of REEs from waste printed circuit boards.

Mine waste dump Oštreljski Planir was formed by disposal of overburden from Bor open pit in the period from 1975 to 1980. Aim of this study was to determine chemical and phase composition of eight randomly chosen samples from Ošreljski planir by using x-ray fluorescence (XRF) and x-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analyses, and to compare results of these two methods. It was found that copper concentration in samples from waste dump was in the range from 0.017 % to 41.77 %. Copper minerals (covellite, chalcopyrite and enargite) were detected in samples 1, 2, 3 and 4, while copper minerals in samples 5, 6, 7 and 8 were not detected. The following gangue minerals have also been detected in samples: quartz, albite, dickite, gypsum, siderite and pyrite. Correlation coefficient between XRF and XRD analytical results is close to one (R2=0.9821), which implies that correlation between results is satisfactory.

The paper provides an overview of the physico-chemical methods used for testing mining waste. The mining industry is a large generator of waste, and examining mining waste can help assess any risks and assess and plan the measures needed to reduce the negative impact on the environment. The physico-chemical methods that are most often used for the characterization of mining waste are: XRD analysis, SRPS EN 12457-2:2008- LP test, METHOD EPA 1311 - TCLP, SRPS EN 15875:2013 Waste characterization - static tests for determining the acid neutralization potential of sulfide-containing waste, Humidity Cell Test (HCT) ASTM D5744-13:2018, and NEN 7375 Monolithic Tank Test.

The impact of copper mining and metallurgy activities on the quality of surface water in the Bor Area during the period September 2019-September 2021 has been taken into consideration in this paper. The pH value and electrical conductivity were monitored through the eight sampling campaigns. The pH values during each sampling campaign were low for the acid mine drainage, metallurgical wastewater, and water from the Bor River and Bela River. The pH values for the rivers without the impact of mining and metallurgical activities had the neutral values. Electrical conductivity for metallurgical wastewater had a value higher than the maximum value of the instrument.