WATER PEACE AT HOME WATER PEACE IN THE WORLD

General

Membrane-based water treatment & reuse in mining

 

Mining ​companies ​already use ​water treatment ​and desalination ​to manage brine ​and brackish ​water, but ​current thermal ​solutions ​require high ​levels of ​energy usage ​and only ​recovers 80% of ​brine. MAXH2O, ​a membrane-​based water ​solution from ​IDE Technologies,​ can increase ​recovery up to ​98% and uses ​only 25% of the ​energy, ​reducing costs ​and lessening ​environmental ​impact. ​

IM  caught ​up with Gilad ​Cohen, CEO of ​IDE Americas, ​to get some ​insight into ​the subject: ​

Q What are ​the biggest ​issues ​regarding water ​management and ​reuse in the ​mining sector? ​

When looking ​on the mining ​sector we ​differentiate ​between water ​negative mines ​and water ​positive mines. ​Water negative ​mines are ​typically ​challenged with ​acquiring new ​sources of ​water using ​seawater ​desalination ​and maximising ​reuse. The ​amount of water ​available, and ​its quality, ​will impact ​directly the ​ore recovery ​rate of the ​mine, hence its ​performance. On ​the flip side, ​water positive ​mines do not ​have water ​sourcing issues ​and the ​challenges ​would typically ​be handling the ​discharge water ​streams from ​the mine, ​making sure it ​meets all of ​the compliance ​requirements ​and minimising ​the environmental ​impact. ​Regulatory ​compliance in ​general is also ​a significant ​challenge ​across the ​board when ​discussing ​water mining ​solutions. The ​ideal solution ​varies based on ​type of problem ​to be solved, ​type of ore ​being recovered,​ and location ​of the mine. ​Mine operators ​absolutely must ​look at each of ​these factors ​while choosing ​water reuse ​solutions. The ​ability to ​maximise the ​recovery of ​clean water and ​minimise the ​amount of brine ​is a key ​component in ​the ability to ​meet the mine ​treatment ​objectives, ​while ​minimising the ​overall cost. ​

Q As ​mining ​commodities ​have crashed ​and governments ​are providing ​stimulus ​dollars, what ​are other ways ​mining ​companies can ​look to save ​money? ​

Mining ​companies ​certainly need ​to focus on ​cutting costs, ​especially as ​the COVID-19 ​pandemic is ​causing ​disruption ​across nearly ​every industry ​and every ​region. ​Fortunately, ​mining ​companies are ​widely using ​water reuse ​methods already,​ which is a ​great start. ​However, the ​important ​factor mining ​companies must ​consider is ​what type of ​reuse is being ​used and how ​efficient it is.​ Efficiency in ​the water ​treatment ​system could be ​an effective ​cost reduction ​source. Better ​efficiency can ​be achieved by ​implementing ​solutions with ​lower energy ​and chemical ​footprints, ​while also ​focusing on the ​ability to ​adapt to ​changes in the ​water feed ​source. ​

Q What are ​the downfalls ​with thermal ​desalination, ​and what are ​other options? ​

Thermal ​desalination ​has existed for ​over 60 years ​and has ​absolutely ​benefitted the ​mining sector. ​However, ​thermal ​solutions have ​a high CAPEX ​and OPEX price ​tag attached to ​them. In the ​past few years, ​new technologies,​ such as ​membrane-based ​applications, ​were introduced ​into the market,​ and are able ​to reach high ​recovery of ​water, ​replacing the ​majority of the ​role that ​thermal ​technologies ​played in ​treating the ​discharge ​effluent ​streams of the ​mine. IDE ​Technologies’​ MAXH2O ​Desalter is a ​membrane-based ​reverse osmosis ​process that ​operates by ​recirculating ​treated water ​through RO ​systems and a ​fluid bed ​reactor, ​continuously ​precipitating ​supersaturated ​salts from the ​recirculated ​brine until ​maximum ​recovery is ​achieved and ​the membranes ​are at their ​limit of ​osmotic ​pressure. ​Through this ​process, ​effluent ​streams and ​brine recovery ​can be as high ​as 98%, while ​avoiding the ​use of thermal ​technologies. ​When comparing ​the cost, the ​energy of the ​membrane-based ​solution is 5-​10 times lower ​than a standard ​thermal ​solution. ​

Share Your Comments

Only members can comment, Click here to sign up for free right now

(Your e-mail address will not be published)
Submit Review
No Comments Yet