Electrochemical remediation of mine tailings waters: Proof of concept

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The Ruttan Mine Site (RMS) is located 980 km north of Winnipeg, MB (midway between Thompson and Lynn Lake, MB), and approximately 23 kilometers east of the Town of Leaf Rapids. The mine and mill operated for approximately 30 years until closure in 2002. The previous owner, Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting (HBM&S) completed all of their closure obligations by 2005. As part the HBM&S closure plan, on-site acid mine drainage (AMD) was directed to the open pit. The pit reached capacity in 2014. Accordingly, site remediation and a method to treat the water have become a much higher priority. Kontzamanis, Graumann, Smith and MacMillan Inc. (KGS Group) was contracted by the Manitoba Mines Branch in November 2011 to develop a comprehensive Remedial Action Plan (RAP) for the abandoned RMS. Part of the RAP is develop methods to remediate AMD waters at the RMS. Due to the large volume of AMD existing at RMS, a cost effective AMD treatment method is desirable to reduce costs and time to remediate the site. Here Fayek and KGS propose to investigate (proof of concept) electrochemical techniques to remediate AMD by, (1) creating a hydrogen generating cell that can remove dissolved metals from solution using reduction-oxidation (redox) reactions and (2) Deionization by Shock Electrodialysis (DSE), which will create two fluids from the AMD; one fluid which will contain metal concentrates and a second fluid (water) that is a cleaner, and can be inexpensively treated (neutralized). The expected outcome is to develop a technique that converts AMD waters into potable water. Electrochemical treatment of the water will benefit KGS because it will reduce the costs related to water remediation at the RMS.