Study of the Feasibility of Reverse Osmosis Membrane Process for Selenium Removal and Water Reuse of Mine Water in Cold Climates

考虑到采矿活动中水的综合利用，矿山废水中可能含有高浓度的硒酸盐和亚硒酸盐。即使石灰沉淀后，作为常规处理方法，硒浓度也大于200µg.L-1。为了解决这一问题，人们广泛研究了沉淀法、离子交换法、电絮凝法和零价铁法等不同的化学、生物和物理方法，但这些方法在经济上都不可行。此外，未来的法规倾向于迫使矿业减少对周围环境的有害影响。事实上，水的再利用将是实现零废物开采的一种有趣且经济可行的方法。反渗透是一个有吸引力的选择，它可以满足这两个要求。在此背景下，Thetis环境公司开发了新一代反渗透（RO）技术，能够有效地将高含盐量矿物分离成纯水渗透液和浓盐水。由于他们正在与其他工业部门合作，调查包括矿业部门在内的其他市场对公司来说非常有促进作用。在这一尝试中，他们倾向于与CTRI合作，以展示和验证他们的反渗透技术在矿山废水中去除硒的效率，特别是在寒冷气候下。为了在规定的期限内实现项目目标，该项目将受益于多学科团队和运营研发基础设施；在规定期限内实现项目目标的基本要素

Considering versatile utilization of water in mining activities, huge amount of contaminated effluent that may contain high selenate and selenite concentration in mine effluent. Even after lime precipitation, as a conventional treatment method, selenium concentration is more than 200 µg.L-1. In order to resolve this problem, different chemical, biological and physical process such as, precipitation, ion exchange, electro-coagulation and zero valent iron have been widely investigated, yet, none of them is economically feasible. Furthermore, future regulations trend to force mine industry to reduce detrimental effect on the surrounding environment. Indeed, water reuse will be an interesting and economically viable approach toward zero-waste mining. Reverse osmosis is an attractive option, which could meet both of those requirements. In this context, Thetis Environmental has developed a new generation of reverse osmosis (RO) capable of effective separation of high salt content minerals into pure water permeate and concentrated brine. As they are collaborating with other industrial sectors, investigating other markets including mine sector is very promoting for the company. For this attempt, they tend to collaborate with the CTRI to demonstrate and validate the efficiency of their RO technology for selenium removal in mine effluents especially in cold climate. For achieving the project's objectives within the given deadlines, this project will be profited from a multidisciplinary team and an operational R&D infrastructure; essential ingredients for achieving the project's objectives within the given deadlines