CONTACT

Dr. Graeme Spiers
Director
gspiers@mirarco.org
(705) 675-1151 x. 5087

1. Acquisition of an Inductively Couple Plasma Atomic Emission System
2. Pedological Impacts of Metals on Regional Soils
3. Analytical Centre for Environmental Sciences
4. Investigation of Anthropogenic Metal Distribution within Surface Soils and Vegetation within the Sudbury Smelter Footprint
5. Regional Background Metal Concentrations in Soils within the Sudbury Smelter Footprint
6. Metal Speciation in Selected Sudbury Area Soils
7. Development of Sensitive Techniques for the Chemical Analysis of Aerosolic Particles
8. Particulate Airfall Monitoring within the Sudbury Smelter Footprint
9. Sudbury Soils Project
10. Feasibility Assessment of Aerobic Bioreactor For Digestion of Agricultural, Municipal and Forest Industry Waste Materials
11. The 4 000 Lakes Project
12. Pedological Impacts of Metals in the Sudbury Basin
13. Regional Aerosol Fallout Investigation
14. Investigation of Fluid Replacement Guidelines in Mine Operating Equipment
15. Applications Development for Prototype Automated Microwave Sample Digestion System
16. Remote Monitoring Station (REMOST) for Harsh Environments

Acquisition of an Inductively Couple Plasma Atomic Emission System

The installation of this upgraded instrument will provide Laurentian University researchers with analytical capabilities equivalent to, or even in advance of, those obtained from new equipment costing many times the value of this innovative rebuild which includes:

• The Questron Spectrometer Data Acquisition System and Spectrochemical controller, complete with SpecWin2000 operating software, installed in one of the several Jarrell-Ash ICP 1100 systems recently donated to CEM;

• The Questron Axial Plasma retrofit, also to be installed on the Jarrell-Ash ICP 1100 system;

• The installation and moving of specialty channels in the instrument to allow monitoring of plasma parameters during analysis, and will enable acquisition of crucial total dissolved carbon data from micro-samples.

Utilising the upgraded ICP-AES instrumentation is one of the core applied research directions of CEM. In this research program, specialised sampling equipment for effluent streams and remote pristine waters is being developed under the European Space Agency Harsh Environment Initiative research funding. Conventional analytical research will focus on routine analysis for the acquisition of accurate and precise data for environmental survey research programs.

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Pedological Impacts of Metals on Regional Soils

The metal mining and smelting industry in the Sudbury, Ontario, area began before the turn of the century and grew to be one of the largest metal producing complexes in the world, with massive atmospheric emissions of sulphur and heavy metal particulates composed primarily of minute iron-rich fly-ash spherules containing intergrowth of nickel, copper and other trace metals.

The result of the atmospheric washout of this massive gaseous release was a denuded landscape, with acidified soils contaminated with metals such as nickel, copper, cadmium and mercury. This massive environmental insult makes the Sudbury region one of the best natural laboratories in the world to study the effects of acidification and metal additions on the chemistry and mineralogy of the regional soils.

The research program will provide information on the effects of this acidification on both the mineralogical materials in the soils, and on the chemistry of the soils themselves. Particular attention is being paid to explaining the controls on metal retention and release by the soil materials as a result of the seasonal freeze-thaw processes.

This data is expected to aid in understanding some of the peaks in metal load documented in regional streams and lakes. The research program will also provide data pertinent to the sustainability of the ongoing regional regreening programs.

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Analytical Centre for Environmental Sciences

The development of an Analytical Centre for Environmental Sciences at Laurentian University is a crucial step in support of development of research programs within the environmental sciences. The core new instrument crucial for current and proposed research CEM programs is a 'Renaissance', an Inductively Coupled Plasma Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer manufactured by Leco Instruments.

The instrument package includes the Renaissance TOF-ICP-MS spectrometer, a water chiller recirculator, computer, operational software and internal high speed modem to allow remote operations or monitoring of the instrument.

The TOF-ICP-MS instrument represents a relatively new development in the field of elemental mass spectrometry. One unique facet of the instrument is that ions of all m/z values are transmitted to the mass analyzer where they are accelerated through a flight tube to a detector.

The entire mass spectrum is generated from ions that were created simultaneously in the plasma. The TOF system generates a complete mass spectrum more than 20,000 times every second. This rapid data acquisition capability means the instrument has potential for high sample throughput and, importantly for the planned research program, has the capability of excellent transient signal analysis.

Thus the instrument is ideally suited to analysis of solutions from the micro-samplers being designed within CEM which will require either specialised low uptake rate nebulizers, or specially micro-sample injection systems being developed locally for use with the ITV units.

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Investigation of Anthropogenic Metal Distribution within Surface Soils and Vegetation within the Sudbury Smelter Footprint

This research program will develop a detailed understanding of the concentrations and distribution of anthropogenic metals in the surface soils within the Sudbury smelter footprint. Specifically the program will provide information on the inter- and intra-site variability in metal content for representative sites, especially as influenced by catenary redistribution processes, site stabilisation and revegetation. One key component of this program is to construct a complete database of all historic soil and vegetation chemical compositional data currently available in the public domain. The database information will be presented as a series of distributional maps for environmentally sensitive analytes such as As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, S, Se, Sn, Sb and Tl.

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Regional Background Metal Concentrations in Soils within the Sudbury Smelter Footprint:

The objective of this research initiative is to complete a detailed review of all available literature to provide an informed description of background metal concentrations in the parent materials of the soils within the Sudbury smelter footprint. Specifically, this project will provide:

• Soil parent material data to fill major gaps in geological and/or geographical scope of published data;
• Sediment data to provide estimates of erosion rates and anthropogenic loadings for selected watersheds;
• A detailed bibliography of reports, publications and maps describing background concentrations of metals in regional soil parent materials within the Sudbury smelter footprint;
• A detailed summary of the above documents as an independent report;
• A geo-referenced database of all pertinent background metal level information;
• A detailed sampling program to obtain soil parent material chemical data;
• A series of isopleth maps to describe regional background metal levels in soil parent materials.

The results of this program will enable the development of a sound scientific description of the true effects of historical mining activity on regional soils and landscapes.

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Metal Speciation in Selected Sudbury Area Soils

This proposal addresses the initiation of a new phase in the collection of data describing levels of potentially phytotoxic metals in soils of the Sudbury region. The research initiative focus is on developing an understanding of solid phase speciation within the regional surficial materials, as well as potentially phytoavailable metal species which could be released to the soil solution for either plant uptake or for translocation to either ground or surface waters of the region through either recharge or interflow.

The research program is also examining the potential for release of ingested metals to gut fluids of either vertebrates or invertebrates should appropriate procedures be defined as necessary. This latter approach will provide information on the potential for metal absorption through the gut membranes should surficial materials be ingested.

Examination of potential for either phytoavailability or gut membrane transfer is be based on selective chemical extractions which allow operationally defined estimates of the amounts of potentially toxic elements in soil or sedimentary materials. These estimates provide information on chemical species in various soil reservoirs which can be mobilized under changing environmental conditions such as acidification, salinization, or change in vegetation cover as a result of climatically induced effects such as wildfire or desiccation.

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Development of Sensitive Techniques for the Chemical Analysis of Aerosolic Particles

The goal of the methodological development program using the home-built EMMA XRF system is to provide detailed non-destructive chemical analyses, with detection limits in the 1–5 ug gm-1 range. The advanced prototype EMMA instrument, using a monochromatic X-ray source based on a Mo fine focus X-ray tube installed in a vintage Phillips PW1410 generator, a Baltic Scientific detector and a specially designed of pulse-processor card, was constructed on site and tested with a range of soil and geological reference materials prior to application to the analysis of whole filters and particle separates. The system was developed to enable chemical analyses for heavier elements of both materials on either intact, or sub-samples of air-filters, and for single particles of size 20 µm or greater.

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Particulate Airfall Monitoring within the Sudbury Smelter Footprint

The development of a specialised microbeam XRF analyzer has provided the impetus to develop a particulate airfall-monitoring program within the Sudbury smelter footprint region. The unique program is based on non-destructive analysis of total metal concentrations of materials on air sampling filters, together with selected individual particle analyses. The information obtained will be supplemented with morphological information collected by electronoptical examination. Results from the proposed monitoring program will provide the following information:

• Regular cost effective data on both mass and elemental concentrations of particulate fallout within the Sudbury smelter footprint;
• Accurate data on the metal and metalloid concentrations of the individual particle types within the fallout suite;
• Detailed morphological examination of the individual particle types within the fallout suite;
• Comparison with historical particulates collected in regional lake sediment and peat core research programs.

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Sudbury Soils Project
Partners: Inco Limited, Falconbridge Limited, Ontario Ministry of the Environment

The goal of the Sudbury Soils Project was to obtain a comprehensive set of soil samples from undisturbed sites within one hundred kilometers of the active smelter complexes of Inco and Falconbridge, as well as from the inactive Coniston smelter.

A hierarchical grid-sampling plan was developed with 2km X 2km cells centered on the three smelters, increasing to 4, 8 and 16 km with distance. A random sample site was then placed within each of the cells. Where there were historical Inco sampling stations, however, these were reused. Filters were also applied to avoid having sites within 400 m of primary roads or 200m from secondary roads, railways and power lines. Two distinct soil sampling methods were employed: one which followed the Ministry of the Environment’s (MOE) sampling guidelines, and one based on a more conventional pedological horizon sampling protocol. The second sampling method was chosen to counteract the implicit error in the MOE method that tends to mix the LFH layer, following removal of fresh litterfall, with underlying mineral soil. A pilot project completed by CEM indicated that the LFH contained in excess of 98% of aerosolic fallout metal-rich particles.

Samples were dried, sieved and ground prior to shipment to Lakefield Ltd. for analysis. Samples collected using the pedological approach were dried and stored for future analysis.

This project will provide a comprehensive database of regional contamination for the soils of the Sudbury smelter footprint for use in the upcoming Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) and the Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA). The resultant data will be provided in an Access database format to allow different users access. In essence, field data including photos and soil profile diagrams, analytical results, data interpretation and a G.I.S. style presentation of the spatial data will be available for interested users.

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Feasibility Assessment of Aerobic Bioreactor For Digestion of Agricultural, Municipal and Forest Industry Waste Materials
Partners: Materials and Manufacturing Ontario, Gagnon Renewable Resources

To alleviate pressure on landfill sites, many communities are turning to composting technology to recycle organic material. On Manitoulin Island, new compost technology is being investigated to address their landfill pressures. Gagnon Renewable Resources has developed an aerobic, in-vessel Bioreactor that composts material in a considerably shorter period of time than conventional methods. Aquaculture is a growing industry on Manitoulin Island producing a considerable amount of waste. At present, our MMO/Gagnon project is researching composting of fish wastes in this Bioreactor. We are the scientific component of this project providing: monitoring, sampling, analytical, technical and interpretive support to ensure this new technology produces viable compost that meets all environmental guidelines. Preliminary data shows very positive results, but further research necessary.

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The 4 000 Lakes Project
Partners: Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, Inco Limited, Elliot Lake Research Field Station, GeoLabs, Freshwater Co-Operative Research Institute.

Approximately 4 300 lakes within the Sudbury smelter footprint were sampled in a collaborative project with the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. MNDM collected sediment samples and recorded in situ measurements of conductivity, dissolved oxygen and pH in the water column as part of Operation Treasure Hunt. At the request of CEM, MNDM also collected lake water samples from all sites. These samples were filtered through a 0.45 mm filter and analyzed by ion chromatography, ICP-AES and ICP-MS to determine the concentrations of anions and metals (approximately 70 elements analyzed). A new method for the analysis of total dissolved phosphorus was developed in association with the Elliot Lake Research Field Station using USN-ICP-AES. Material collected on the filter paper will be analyzed by XRF.

The results provide the largest and most detailed “snapshot” of water quality ever undertaken in this area. The results will be used as a component to assessing water quality recovery in the area; to identify trends in contaminant mobility; to identify areas best suited to projects that focus on specific contaminants and used as a component to model metal mobility.

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Pedological Impacts of Metals in the Sudbury Basin
Partners: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

The metal mining and smelting industry in the Sudbury, Ontario, area began before the turn of the century and grew to be one of the largest metal producing complexes in the world, with massive atmospheric emissions of sulphur and heavy metal particulates composed primarily of minute iron-rich fly-ash spherules containing intergrowth of nickel, copper and other trace metals. The result of the atmospheric washout of this massive gaseous release was a denuded landscape, with acidified soils contaminated with metals such as nickel, copper, cadmium and mercury. This massive environmental insult makes the Sudbury region one of the best natural laboratories in the world to study the effects of acidification and metal additions on the chemistry and mineralogy of the regional soils.

The research program will provide information on the effects of this acidification on both the mineralogical materials in the soils, and on the chemistry of the soils themselves. Particular attention will be paid to explaining the controls on metal retention and release by the soil materials as a result of the seasonal freeze-thaw processes. This data is expected to aid in understanding some of the peaks in metal load documented in regional streams and lakes. The research program will also provide data pertinent to the sustainability of the ongoing regional regreening programs.

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Regional Aerosol Fallout Investigation
Partners: MIRARCO, Inco Limited

Snowfall was collected in plastic buckets during the 2002 winter period to study the distribution and quantity of morphologically and chemically different airborne particles that fall within the Sudbury smelter footprint. These particles were collected when the ground was frozen to minimize contamination from remobilized soil and material from tailings. Buckets, used to collect snowfall, were retrieved every two to three weeks from approximately 60 sample stations. The snow was melted, homogenized and one litre of water was filtered through a 0.45 mm membrane filter. The residue on the filters will be analyzed by XRF with a rotating stage, single particle XRF and SEM.

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Investigation of Fluid Replacement Guidelines in Mine Operating Equipment
Partners: Materials and Manufacturing Ontario, Cast Resource Equipment Ltd.

Cast Resource Equipment Ltd, rebuilders and operators of underground mining equipment such as jumbo drills and ore haulage units, have queried the utility and cost efficiency of standard operating practices for unit fluid maintenance. Specifically, the cost of regular, timed changes of engine and hydraulic fluids within their fleet is significant. Current practice is to change underground mining equipment fluids at regular, pre-defined hourly intervals, with minimal attention being paid to degradation of fluid quality or to the presence of non-visible indicators of potentially damaging component wear. Thus, there is a need to provide a brief review of standard operating practices within industries operating equipment with extensive hydraulic components. Industries containing such equipment could include rail, road and marine haulage operations.

Routine operations of rail units, for example, currently sample locomotive fluids at specific points on the rail network for detailed analysis of wear metals to provide early warning indicators of expensive engine or hydraulic system failure. The sampling program is designed to allow essentially immediate analysis of the fluids, with efficient transmission of the results to a maintenance point further along the route being traversed by the unit. This enables an early warning system based on actual fluid condition, rather than on operating hours. The transmission of ‘warning data’ enables the rail operator to remove and replace the unit in the haulage system at the next operating point, efficiently perform the required maintenance and replacements, and return the unit to service immediately with minimum cost and downtime.

Investigation of a similar approach to the maintenance of mining equipment, with monitoring of parameters such as wear metal content, viscosity, degradation of specific fluid components, formation of degradation products, is a logical response to the question raised by Cast Resource Equipment Ltd. The results of a preliminary investigation will lead to a designed monitoring program that will provide considerable savings in equipment maintenance and operating costs, and minimize inefficient downtime.

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Applications Development for Prototype Automated Microwave Sample Digestion System
Partners: Materials and Manufacturing Ontario, Questron Technologies Ltd.

With increasing demands for cost effective sample digestion in the environmental, geological and pharmaceutical industries, the analytical community has focused efforts on efficient sample preparation techniques. High pressure, closed vessel, microwave digestion of samples has, for example, moved in the past fifteen years from an academic curiosity to a mainstream sample preparation technique. There are only about four major suppliers to the international marketplace, with Questron Technologies of Mississauga being the sole Canadian manufacturer. To date Questron has marketed a series of conventional medium- and high-pressure digestion systems.

Recently, however, the company has expended considerable development efforts in producing advanced prototypes of a patented automated Discrete Flow digestion system, with a goal to provide a system to streamline the extractive acid digestion of samples in process and speciality analytical facilities. Unfortunately, they are not able to provide independent methods applications development to prove that their innovative concepts will function in the harsh environments of mining and applications laboratories.

This project will provide key research application methods to digest both organic and inorganic samples to produce solutions for analysis by atomic absorption, inductively coupled plasma emission and mass spectrometers. These methods will provide an independent validation of the innovative Questron digestion systems, and potentially allow the company to develop into a world leader in the automated microwave digestion marketplace.

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Remote Monitoring Station (REMOST) for Harsh Environments

Partners: European Space Agency, Greater City of Sudbury, Laurentian University's Centre for Integrated Monitoring Technology (CIMTEC), the Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit, Inco Limited, Falconbridge Limited, and Science North

Environmental contamination from anthropogenic sources represents a worldwide problem. The development of policies and measures required for their elimination requires solid, reliable chemical data. This data is still lacking.

The critical task and current challenge accepted by the Centre for Environmental Monitoring is to improve our ability to detect, measure, quantify, collect, analyze and display key data from the environment. Although long-term monitoring has revealed important insights into environmental disturbances, there is a pressing need to understand events on shorter time scales than allowed by our current monitoring frequency. Data obtained from continuous monitoring will allow development of the dynamic predictive models crucial for planning and effective environmental stewardship. Technology in support of this objective constitutes the focus of the REMOST program. Assistance in identifying and adapting potential technologies is being provided by the European Space Agency via its Harsh Environments Initiative (www.esa.int/technology).

The approach adopted in the development of the REMOST technology has focused on its application to a local, impacted watershed. Ramsey Lake, at the centre of a dominant watershed within Sudbury, is a “living laboratory” which has survived a century of extreme industrial acid and metal-laden emission impact. With water sources being from groundwater, streams from conservation lands, and runoff from urban infrastructure, Ramsey Lake provides a unique challenge, responsibility and opportunity for environmental monitoring research.

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