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兴关注污染物（CEC）。在本研究的背景下，矿井废水中的CEC包括四类：1）新污染物（如Mn，Se，Sb）; 2）常见污染物（如As，Cu，Zn），但在敏感环境中的目标浓度非常低，如寒冷气候; 3）难以处理的污染物（如硫酸盐，盐度）;和4）含氮化合物（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CEC处理的操作挑战，包括复杂的化学性质、持久性、氧化或还原条件的要求、缺乏经过验证的最佳环境评估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，这些标准将难以遵守。因此，矿业公司在水资源管理方面的未来优先事项应该：1）改进/开发CEC的可持续处理技术; 2）限制残余盐度的产生; 3）产生稳定的污泥。该研究旨在提高对矿井废水的表征和CEC处理过程的性能改进的认识，围绕3个目标：O1）彻底表征4种活性胺的废水，用于CEC鉴定; O2）CEC处理，重点是浓度和温度; O3）在处理含有CEC的实际矿井废水之前和之后，评价水生毒性。方法学将包括实际废水的特性，随后用模拟和实际废水进行可处理性测试，以及最佳性能解决方案的毒性评估。一个具体的目标是发展准确的形态分析和治疗CEC的协议。通过对技术和环境方面的深入了解，所取得的成果将有助于在工业合作伙伴的场地和加拿大其他地方更好地大规模应用。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 thecharacterization and treatment of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in mine effluents. In the context ofthis 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 toxicityassessment. Specific discharge criteria are expected in the near future, but they would be difficult to complywith 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 tothe optimal efficiency conditions with mixtures of contaminants and variable effluent quality. Thus, futurepriorities of mining companies in water management should: 1) improve/develop sustainable treatmenttechnologies for CECs; 2) limit residual salinity creation; and 3) produce stable sludge. The study, which aimsknowledge advancing on the characterization of mine effluents and performance improvement of CECstreatment processes, is centered around 3 objectives: O1) thorough characterization of effluents from 4 activemines 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. Themethodology will consist of characterization of actual effluents, followed by treatability testing with mock andreal effluents, and toxicity evaluation of the optimal performance solution. A specific goal is to developprotocols for accurate speciation analysis and treatment of CECs. The results obtained would allow, through anadvanced understanding of the technological and environmental aspects, better potential applications on a largescale, on the sites of the industrial partners and elsewhere in Canada. The project will train 3 PhD and 2 PDF.