Treatment and management of mine water

负责任地管理水资源是当今世界范围内的一项重大环境挑战。与水管理和处理有关的问题在采矿项目的每个阶段都是至关重要的，从最初旨在评估其社会可接受性的公众协商到封闭场地的长期管理。拟议的7年研究计划是上一届加拿大第二层(2011-2021年)研究主席在矿井水处理方面开始的工作的继续，有6个具体目标：1)改善矿井水中新出现的令人关注的污染物的表征和处理，重点是关键和战略矿物(CSM)的提取；2)通过受控的混合和分离，改善矿井水管理，以降低成本和对接收天然水的影响；3)在循环经济范围内，利用剩余材料改善工艺性能和矿井水处理固体中污染物的稳定性；4)优化矿井水回用和绿色能源回收，实现液体零排放目标；5)在水处理设计和管理战略中整合扩大(实验室-试点-现场)效应；6)优化水管理和处理战略，以在气候变化的情况下实现采矿的长期环境可持续性。这项原创和创新的研究计划依赖于：i)优化利用矿场附近可获得的剩余材料，以降低运输成本和残余污染；ii)将规模效应和气候不稳定性纳入处理系统和水管理战略的设计和运行标准，以提高其稳定性，增加其耐用性，并降低其故障风险；iii)将处理污泥和卤水用于污染控制和绿色能源生产；iv)开发适合负责任开采CSM的方法和实践。考虑到UQAT在大型矿区中心的战略位置、其在战略计划中这一重大研究主题上的专业知识和国际声誉、工业和政府合作伙伴的支持、最先进的设备和经验丰富的员工的存在以及水质问题的社会重要性，该计划至关重要，将培训至少35-40名高素质人员。这些发现有望改善矿井水处理系统的设计和长期效率及其可持续管理。

Responsible management of water resources is nowadays a major environmental challenge worldwide. Questions relating to water management and treatment are critical in every stage of a mining project, from the initial public consultations aimed at assessing its social acceptability to the long-term management of closed sites. The proposed 7-year research program, as a continuation of the work started in the previous Canada Research Chair, Tier 2 (2011-2021) in mine water treatment, has 6 specific objectives: 1) improve the characterization and treatment of contaminants of emerging concern in mine water, with an emphasis on critical and strategic minerals (CSM) extraction; 2) improve mine water management, through controlled mixing and segregation, to reduce costs and impacts on receiving natural waters; 3) improve process performance and contaminants stability in solids from mine water treatment with residual materials, within a circular economy; 4) optimize mine water reuse and green energy recovery towards zero liquid discharge goal; 5) integrate upscaling (lab-pilot-site) effects in water treatment design and management strategies; 6) optimize water management and treatment strategies for the long-term environmental sustainability of mining in a changing climate. This original and innovative research program relies on: i) the optimal use of residual materials, available near mining sites, to reduce transportation costs and residual pollution; ii) the integration of scale effects and climatic instabilities in the design and operation criteria of treatment systems and water management strategies, to improve their robustness, increase their durability and reduce their risk of failures; iii) the use of treatment sludge and brines for pollution control and green energy production; iv) the development of methods and practices adapted to responsible mining of CSM. Considering UQAT's strategic location in the heart of a large mining region, its expertise and international reputation on this major research theme in the strategic plan, the support of industrial and government partners, the existence of state-of-the-art equipment and experienced staff, and social importance of water quality issues, this program is of critical importance and will allow the training of at least 35-40 highly qualified personnel. The findings are expected to improve the design and long-term efficiency of treatment systems for mine water and its sustainable management.