Over the last decade, the mining industry has been transforming with increased focus on achieving more sustainable operations by looking for higher removal efficiencies, new separation technologies to enable resource recoveries from waste, and implementing mine water management practices to improve the social-economical life in the communities surrounding the mines.  In particular, water has been one of the key resources being discussed in the mineral market because of the high level of consumption in the mining process. Water is critical to both the mining operation and also enabling ore removal. As a result, mining companies are focusing more closely on membranes to evaluate water reuse options to improve their water efficiency.  Not only is the environmental impact considered in water usage, but also the economic aspects due to the cost of water in arid locations. Today, there is legislation and regulations concerning mining and mined land reclamation in almost all countries to minimize the environmental impact to mined lands.  In addition to efforts focused on water reuse, the mining industry has also been increasing focus on evaluating new membrane treatment technologies to remove and/or enable recovery of waste residual matter.  This paper will address some of the recent technology efforts in tailored nanofiltration membranes and optimized operational control which are enabling technology advancement in mining reclamation for recovery of solutions and improved water treatment technologies to enable water reuse and contaminant removal in waste streams.

Recovery of clean water and critical materials from mining wastewater and solutions using nanofiltration

248th National Meeting (2014)

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