Diffuse dust at Boliden Bergsöe investigated through X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Abstract: Boliden Bergsöe operates a secondary lead smelter for recycling of lead-acid batteries, located in the industrial area of Landskrona. Measurements to monitor levels of airborne particles have been conducted in several locations in Landskrona since 1977. To increase the knowledge of diffuse dust emission sources at Boliden Bergsöe, airborne metal concentrations were measured in ambient air for eight consecutive days using on-line X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Sampling was done with time resolutions of one and two hours during the period 5th - 13th of March. It was first suspected that handling of slag in the area called Slaggplan, was the main origin of diffuse dust. Activities related to slag handling were therefore logged using surveillance footage and compared with measured concentrations to investigate whether this suspicion was justified. The measurements showed that lead (Pb) was the largest constituent of 3 the elements measured at an average of 1464 ng/m . Furthermore, Pb concentrations followed a diurnal trend with large peaks during daytime. Peaks usually coincided with an increase in temperature and decrease in relative humidity, indicating that dust accumulated on the ground during the night and resuspended during the day, after the ground had dried. There was no clear relationship between the Pb concentrations and the slag handling activities, implying that slag handling was not likely the main origin of the airborne Pb. Instead, it was concluded that lead paste and filter dust were more likely origins of diffuse dust, since their element compositions better reflected the measured concentrations at Boliden.