Electrochemical remediation of mine tailings waters: Proof of concept

Ruttan矿址（RMS）位于温尼伯以北980公里处（汤普森湖和林恩湖之间），距离Leaf急流镇以东约23公里。矿山和工厂运营了大约30年，直到2002年关闭。前业主哈德逊湾矿业和冶炼公司（HBM&S）在2005年完成了所有关闭义务。作为HBM&S关闭计划的一部分，现场酸性矿井排水（AMD）被引导到露天矿。2014年达到产能。因此，场地修复和处理水的方法已成为更高的优先事项。孔察马尼斯-格劳曼-史密斯-麦克米伦公司(KGS 2011年11月，马尼托巴矿业分支与该集团签订合同，为废弃的RMS制定全面的补救行动计划。RAP的一部分是制定在RMS修复AMD沃茨的方法。由于RMS存在大量AMD，因此需要一种具有成本效益的AMD处理方法来减少修复现场的成本和时间。在这里，Fayek和KGS建议调查（概念验证）电化学技术来补救AMD，通过（1）产生氢产生电池，其可以使用还原-氧化（氧化还原）反应从溶液中除去溶解的金属，和（2）通过冲击电渗析（DSE）去离子，其将从AMD产生两种流体;一种流体含有金属精矿，第二种流体（水）是清洁剂，可以廉价地处理（中和）。预期成果是开发一种将AMD沃茨转化为饮用水的技术。电化学处理水将有利于KGS，因为它将降低RMS水治理的相关成本。

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.