Development of an annamox process for mining effluents

以臭氧化作为预处理的部分硝化（PN）/厌氧氨氧化技术的开发是NSERC联盟使命赠款的两年项目提案的主要目标。该工艺使用特殊的BioCAST生物反应器，由于成本、能耗和固体废物产生显著降低，该生物反应器是魁北克金矿废水中潜在可行的氨氮去除方法。氮和其他成分的高度污染以及高盐度对采矿公司来说尤其成问题。主要目标是：（1）研究PN/Anammox工艺在金矿同时去除氮基污染物方面的潜在应用，（2）评估使用臭氧微泡的预处理，（3）培训矿井水管理方面的高素质人员（HQP），（4）加强采矿和水行业与学术界之间的合作，以采用脱氮工艺。 该项目是Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. Concordia、UQAT和BioCAST系统为未来采矿业就业提供HQP（本科、硕士和博士后水平）培训。该项目包括以下试点阶段：（一）废水流出物的特性;（二）评价微泡臭氧化预处理;（三）评价PN/Anammox处理系统;（iv）评价预处理与生物处理系统的组合，确定影响所开发的处理系统的性能和操作的重要因素，以及（v）技术，对该工艺流程进行环境、社会和经济评估，以将其纳入公司现有的活跃金矿现场废水处理。水处理系统将使采矿公司能够降低运营成本以及能源和污泥需求，提高水再利用的潜力，保护环境，并改善其环境做法和公众形象。这些研究方向将有助于和促进理解加拿大和国际水能源关系的综合方法。

The development of partial nitrification (PN)/Anammox-based technology with ozonation as a pre-treatment is the main objective for this two-year project proposal for a NSERC Alliance Mission grant. The process uses a special BioCAST bioreactor that is a potentially viable ammonia nitrogen removal from gold mine wastewater in Quebec due to significantly lower costs, energy consumption and solid waste generation. High levels of contamination with nitrogen and other components and high salinity are particularly problematic for mining companies. The main objectives are to: (1) investigate the potential application of PN/Anammox process for simultaneous removal of nitrogen-based contaminants from gold mine, (2) evaluate pre-treatment using ozone microbubbles, (3) train highly qualified personnel (HQP) in mine water management and (4) strengthen the collaboration between the mining and water industries and academia to enable adoption of the nitrogen removal processes. The project is a collaboration between Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd., Concordia, UQAT and BioCAST Systems for the training of HQP (undergraduate, Masters, and post-doctoral levels) for future employment in the mining industry. The project includes the following phases at pilot scale: (i) Characterization of the wastewater effluents; (ii) evaluation of an ozonation pre-treatment with microbubbles; (iii) evaluation an PN/Anammox-based treatment system; (iv) evaluation of a combined pretreatment with the biological treatment system dentification of important factors influencing the performance and operation of the developed treatment system, and (v) technical, environmental, social and economic assessment of this process train for its incorporating into the company existing wastewater treatment at active gold mine sites. The water treatment systems will enable the mining companies to reduce operating costs as well as energy and sludge requirements, improve the potential for water reuse, protect the environment and enable the improvement of their environmental practices and their public image. These research orientations will contribute and foster an integrated approach for understanding the water-energy nexus in Canada and internationally.