Ovchynnikova N. Mineral waters with increased mineralization (distribution in Ukraine and clarification of their chemical composition by the method of equilibrium chemical thermodynamics)

Based on the new “Classification of Mineral Waters” (2003) and zoning of mineral waters (2009), the distribution of mineral waters with increased mineralization (outdated name: mineral waters without specific components) in Ukraine was characterized. The first “Map of mineral waters without specific components of Ukraine” was built, which was included in the National Atlas of Ukraine. The distribution of mineral deposits with increased mineralization at shallow depths is mainly due to the entry into «the zones of active and significant water exchange» of the waters formed in the lower hydrodynamic floor. The intrusion of mineralized waters into «zones of active and significant water exchange» is due to various reasons, mostly anomalous for the selected area. Most often, intrusion are associated with tectonic disturbances. Among the anomalous factors that form the mineral waters, we can note the presence of salt stocks, litho-facial and tectonic windows, which provide enhanced vertical ascending groundwater flow. Dissertation analyzes the tradition of representing the chemical composition of mineral waters. It is concluded that these traditions are lagging behind the current possibilities of detecting a more complete chemical composition of mineral waters by the methods of equilibrium chemical thermodynamics using a computer program of minimization of Gibbs energy (GEM-Selector v.3.2 [http://gems.web.psi.ch/]). The algorithm of modeling and subsequent calculation of the chemical composition of mineral waters using the program GEM-Selector v.3.2 is proposed. The analysis and interpretation of the obtained results concerning the more complete chemical composition of drinking mineral waters with increased mineralization are given. The investigation of the chemical composition of mineral waters of high mineralization by thermodynamic methods revealed that the concentration content of trace elements can be compared with the content of ionic and molecular compounds formed by macro-elements, and sometimes exceeds their concentrations. The mineral waters of the same type studied by the Gibbs energy minimization method differ in the composition of compounds that form both micro- and macro-elements. The chemical composition of mineral waters "without specific components" does not quite correspond to those classification features that became the basis for their allocation to a separate group of therapeutic waters, and gave it its name. Therefore, it is proposed to call these mineral waters “mineral waters with increased mineralization”. According to the content of most of the trace elements studied, mineral waters are saturated in relation to certain mineral phases, which lead to the formation of solid phases - minerals in the water. The health effects of micro-components in mineral waters of high mineralization are probably underestimated. Among the resulting ion and molecular forms of the refined chemical composition of mineral waters, there are analogues to some homeopathic medicines and their drug concentrations. The possibility of interpreting the healing properties of mineral waters with increased mineralization is shown by analogy with homeopathic preparations of similar composition. Based on the analysis of experiments of the Arbuzov Institute of Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences with highly diluted aqueous solutions of biologically active substances and the conclusions of these experiments, an analogy is made with the processes of formation of mineral waters and the preparation of homeopathic remedies.