ADDED-VALUE METALS IN THE SALADO RIVERS LOCATED IN THE SAMA AND LOCUMBA BASINS (TACNA REGION - PERU) AND THEIR CORRELATION WITH ARSENIC AND BORON

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to identify and quantify potentially marketable added value metals, if recovered or extracted, in two rivers called Salado; one located in the Locumba basin (Salado-Locumba) and the other in the Sama basin (Salado-Sama). In addition, perform a correlation analysis of the arsenic (As) and boron (B) contents present in 14 sampling points located in different water sources throughout the two basins. Total and dissolved metals (49) in samples were analyzed using ICP-MS. Robust statistical methods were applied in the correlation, association and reduction analysis of variables. The identified value-added
metals were: Li, Rb, Cs and Ge in concentrations of 1,818±0,415 mg/L, 0,248±0,048 mg/L, 0,361±0,104 mg/L and 0,005±0,002 mg/L in the Salado-Locumba river, and 1,950±0,544 mg/L, 0,343±0,090 mg/L, 0,401±0,096 mg/L and 0,005±0,002 mg/L in the Salado-Sama river, respectively. It was determined that the correlation between the concentrations of the added value chemical elements Li, Rb, Cs and the elements As and B present in 14 sampling points located in different water sources along the two basins the two basins, are statistically significant, positive and high (r > 0,7 and p < 0,01).