Characterization and treatment of comtaminants of emerging concern in mine effluents

该项目涉及三所大学、一个研究中心和四个采矿业合作伙伴，旨在**表征和处理矿山废水中的新出现问题污染物(CECs)。在**这项研究的背景下，矿山废水中的CEC包括四类：1)新污染物(例如，锰、硒、锑)；2)**常见污染物(例如，砷、铜、锌)，但在寒冷气候等敏感环境中的目标浓度很低**；3)难以处理的污染物(例如硫酸盐、盐度)；以及4)氮化合物**(氨、亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐)。其中一些污染物目前通过水生毒性**评估进行监测。预计在不久的将来会有具体的排放标准，但由于CECs处理的操作挑战**，包括复杂的化学成分、持久性、**氧化或还原条件的要求、缺乏已证实的Batea，以及对**污染物混合物和可变出水质量的最佳效率条件的了解不足，这些标准将很难遵守。因此，矿业公司未来在水管理方面的优先事项应该是：1)改进/开发CEC的可持续处理**技术；2)限制剩余盐度的产生；3)产生稳定的污泥。这项研究旨在**了解矿井废水的特性和CECs处理工艺的性能改进**，围绕3个目标：O1)彻底表征来自4个活跃的**矿山的废水以鉴定CECs；O2)CECs的处理，重点关注浓度和温度；以及o3)**对含有CECs的实际矿井废水进行处理前后的水生毒性评估。**方法将包括对实际流出物的表征，然后用模拟和**真实流出物进行可处理性测试，以及对最佳性能解决方案的毒性评估。一个具体的目标是为CECs的准确形态分析和处理制定**方案。通过**对技术和环境方面的**深入了解，所取得的成果将使**能够在工业伙伴现场和加拿大其他地方更好地**实现潜在的应用。该项目将培养3名博士和2名PDF。

This project involves three universities, one research center, and four mining industry partners, and aims at the**characterization and treatment of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in mine effluents. In the context of**this study, the CECs in mine effluents include four categories: 1) new contaminants (e.g. Mn, Se, Sb); 2)**common contaminants (e.g. As, Cu, Zn), but with very low target concentrations in sensitive environments,**such as the cold climate; 3) difficult to treat contaminants (e.g. sulfate, salinity); and 4) nitrogen compounds**(ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates). Some of these contaminants are currently monitored via aquatic toxicity**assessment. Specific discharge criteria are expected in the near future, but they would be difficult to comply**with because of the operational challenges for CECs treatment, including a complex chemistry, persistency,**requirements of oxidizing or reducing conditions, lack of a proven BATEA, and insufficient knowledge as to**the optimal efficiency conditions with mixtures of contaminants and variable effluent quality. Thus, future**priorities of mining companies in water management should: 1) improve/develop sustainable treatment**technologies for CECs; 2) limit residual salinity creation; and 3) produce stable sludge. The study, which aims**knowledge advancing on the characterization of mine effluents and performance improvement of CECs**treatment processes, is centered around 3 objectives: O1) thorough characterization of effluents from 4 active**mines for CECs identification; O2) treatment of CECs, with focus on concentration and temperature; and O3)**evaluation of aquatic toxicity, before and after treatment of actual mine effluents containing CECs. The**methodology will consist of characterization of actual effluents, followed by treatability testing with mock and**real effluents, and toxicity evaluation of the optimal performance solution. A specific goal is to develop**protocols for accurate speciation analysis and treatment of CECs. The results obtained would allow, through an**advanced understanding of the technological and environmental aspects, better potential applications on a large**scale, on the sites of the industrial partners and elsewhere in Canada. The project will train 3 PhD and 2 PDF.