MINING EFFLUENT VALORISATION: HOW A PROBLEM BECOMES A VALUE RESOURCE Estanislao Martínez Martínez CEO AGQ Labs & Technological Services Manuel José García Gómez CEO AGQ Mining & Bioenergy
Jan 20, 2016
MINING EFFLUENT VALORISATION: HOW A PROBLEM BECOMES A VALUE RESOURCE
Estanislao Martínez Martínez CEO AGQ Labs & Technological Services
Manuel José García Gómez CEO AGQ Mining & Bioenergy
MINING
Geological Exploration, Mining and Metallurgy Analytical Characterization
Metallurgical Tests Assays
Environmental Solutions: feasibility, diagnosis, monitoring and rehabilitation studies
BIOENERGY
Biomass production, with an environmental or energetic purposes, employing effluents and/or contaminated lands.
Based on a great knowledge of agronomic process and by application of advance techniques for water and soils treatment, an environmental concern can be solved and also goods production achieve. It can be a biomass fuel production, or a landscaping or an environmental
HUELVA
RIOTINTO MINING AREA BETWEENRIVERS TINTO AND ODIEL
Tarthessus original habitants
Phoenicians
Romans
Visigothic
Moorish
British / French
Spanish
Differents Civilizations involved in Mining Operations since ancients times
Cu and Ag
Pyrite (sulphuric acid)
Pyrite, Cu, Au,…
A HUGE LANSCAPE ALTERATION
ORIGIN OF THE PROBLEM
ACID MINE DRAINAGES
NATURAL ORIGN (RiverTinto)
LIQUIDS WASTE AND EFFLUENTS OF METALLURGICAL PROCESSES
ConcentrationRiver Tinto37º40´21”N 6º32´29”W
River Odiel37º35´45”N 6º50´37”W Units
pH 2.57 2.90 Ud
C.E. 3208 1518 microS/cm
As 0.295 0.005 mg/L
Cd 0.528 0.043 mg/L
Cu 19.12 2.58 mg/L
Fe 324.5 6.3 mg/L
Mn 16.17 119 mg/L
Ni 0.277 0.106 mg/L
Pb 0.078 0.015 mg/L
Zn 21.7 11.3 mg/L
SO4 2118 503 mg/L
Typical River Odiel and River Tinto quality comparison, in the proximity abandoned of mining operations and in the coordinates given
CHEMICAL WATER TREATMENT
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
Neutralization with alkaline hydroxides
Separation of colloids and precipitates
Acidification to pH=6.5
FERTILIZATIONTREATMENT
Ammonium salts
Potassium salts
REAL FERTILIZER SOLUTION
FROM ACID WATERS TO REAL FERTILIZER SOLUTIONS
Treated acid mine waters
Concentration UnitspH 6.50 udC.E. 3150 microS/cmSO4 1440 mg/LCl- 130 mg/LNO3
- 30 mg/LPO4H2
- 70 mg/LCa2+ 440 mg/LMg2+ 122 mg/LNa+ 40 mg/LK+ 0.3 mg/LCu2+ 0.5 mg/LZn2+ 0.8 mg/LB- 0.2 mg/L
TESTING SITE
The research area was located in Burguillos (Sevilla, SW Spain), 37º35´41”N 5º58´55”W.Soils are very calcareous, alkalines (pH: 8 - 8.4), with low organic matter content (<1.5%).
The research plot area was of 1 Ha with a planting density of 3330 plants for Ha.
Each line was equipped with a series of irrigation emitters with a designed flow of 1.6 L/h and spaced 1 m apart (Total irrigation flow of 10.6 m3/h/ Ha).
Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus camaldulensis
* Monitoring and control of crops under technified irrigation
* Optimization of fertilizer solution use and water requirements
* Optimization of the leaching fraction (Minimize environmental impact)
Focus
Controlled Production
Differential
Objective
QUALITY
TECHNIFIED CROPS WITH AN AGRONOMIC CONTROL
SOIL-PLANT-WATER SYSTEM
The roots absorb soluble ions from soil solution
Samples CE pH PO4H2- Cl- SO42- NO3
- NH4+ Ca2+ Mg2+ Na+ K+
mS/cm25ºC (ppm) (meq/L) (meq/L) (meq/L) (meq/L) (meq/L) (meq/L) (meq/L) (meq/L)
Real Fertilizer Solution 3050 6.7 68.1 3.86 28.86 4.86 2.27 21.87 10.45 1.80 1.83
S.Probe at 20 cm 3332 7.6 28.9 4.98 24.52 3.43 0.66 24.33 11.50 2.21 1.08
S.Probe at 40 cm 3550 7.8 17.9 7.20 24.91 2.21 <0.14 25.43 11.25 3.96 0.71
S.Probe at 60 cm 3890 8.2 8.2 10.81 24.98 0.53 <0.14 28.30 11.30 6.28 0.22
Sampling Program Results in May 2010
Samples CE pH PO4H2- Cl- SO42- NO3
- NH4+ Ca2+ Mg2+ Na+ K+
mS/cm25ºC (ppm) (meq/L) (meq/L) (meq/L) (meq/L) (meq/L) (meq/L) (meq/L) (meq/L)
Real Fertilizer Solution 3250 6.4 70.1 3.86 31.22 6.54 3.67 20.45 11.21 1.80 2.25
S.Probe at 20 cm 3112 7.5 38.9 4.78 30.12 4.53 0.45 23.42 10.30 2.11 1.12
S.Probe at 40 cm 3093 7.5 27.9 5.20 29.91 1.75 <0.14 24.56 10.98 2.87 0.54
S.Probe at 60 cm 2920 7.5 0.3 6.81 28.15 0.76 <0.14 28.15 11.30 3.54 0.10
Sampling Program Results in Septembre 2010
Foliar analysis
Eucaliptus leaf levels %N vs. Grow rate
In both cases is observed:
A.- High plants absorption, by means of consumption, of main nutrients ions (N, P, K).
B.- A relevant water absorption was found in the first sampling is observed, with no absorption effect of ions, especially Cl- and Na+; with a possible toxicity risk comprehend with N and K concentration. As result an increase of salinity due to the low irrigation flow is observed, and as consequence, a minor metabolic activity is reached.
C.- In the second sampling analysis such a problem is minimized after increasing the flow coefficient. Is also observed in less concentration of toxic elements, Cl y Na, in foliar analysis.
D.- An increase of Ca2+ in soil depths by limestone dissolution and a buffer effect with high pH. A more favorable Ca/Na relation in second sampling and less peptization risk.
F.- In both cases the chemical composition of solution at high depths is not pollutant and has no environmental restriction.
- Valorization of industrial effluents: chemicals, agrofood, mining, etc...
- Development and monitoring in energetic crops (Biomass, Biofuels)…
AGQ Experience
- Assessment of more than 600.000 hectares in Mediterranean area, North Africa, Caribbean, California and South America.
- Monitoring, control y rehabilitation of contaminated lands.
- Recuperation projects of saline soils in Spain (Ca/Na), River Nilo/Egypt, Copiapó (B) y Arequipa (Ba, Sr)
…
- Green areas.
HOW A PROBLEM ...
... BECOMES A RESOURCE
VIA ENERGETIC CROPS AND MONITORING CONTROL
VALORIZACIÓN EXCEDENTE DE AGUA Ciclo Completo
MiningOperations
Effluentfrom Process
or AMD
TreatedEffluent
EnergyGeneration
Agronomic ProjectEnergetic CropsBiomass
Fuel
Electric EnergyThermal Energy
Restoration
VALUE
Self EnergyClean EnergyReduction CO2
Image/Social
ADVANTAGES
• SOLUTIONS OF EFFLUENTS AND DEGRADED MINING AREAS
• ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
• ECONOMIC BENEFITS FROM ENERGY PRICES AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY
• POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CO2 EMISSIONS REDUCTION
• IMPROVING GLOBAL IMAGE OF MINING ACTIVITIES
• SOCIAL BENEFITS, EMPLOYMENT GENERATION, ALTERNATIVES OF OTHER ACTIVITIES.
KEY ISSUES
• WATER TREATMENT PROCESS
• MANAGING AND CONTROL OF SYSTEM WATER - SOILS - PLANT IN ENERGETIC CROPS
• BIOFUEL MANAGEMENT
Irrigation Water
Energy Production 1 MWe
0.60 Hm3
7400 MWh/y
Energetic CropsLands
250 Ha
Biomass
Annual estimation
10000 t/y
emissions reductions5800 t/y CO2