Abstract
Mining operations commonly treat mine water prior to discharging it to the environment. Results of biological toxicity tests and Toxicity Identification Evaluations have shown that environmental risks can still exist for these highly treated waters. We present examples for mine waters that were treated using high density sludge–microfiltration–reverse osmosis and brine concentration processes. While such treatment substantially reduces the primary toxicity of the water, three key factors that could affect environmental consequences may arise or persist: (1) residual contaminants may still be at toxic concentrations, (2) the bioavailability of residual contaminants may increase, and (3) the treated water may be nutrient or major ion deficient. Appropriate strategies for the management of these treated waters should consider that toxicity or other water quality risks may still exist and that these will differ from those of the untreated water.
Zusammenfassung
Bergwerke reinigen normalerweise ihr Grubenwasser bevor es in den Vorfluter abgegeben wird. Die Ergebnisse von toxikologischen Tests sowie von Untersuchungen zur Toxizität zeigen, dass diese gut gereinigten Grubenwasser nach wie vor Umweltrisiken darstellen können. Wir präsentieren Beispiele von Grubenwässern die mittels Dickschlamm-Mikrofiltration-Umkehrosmose sowie weiterer Aufkonzentrierung des Konzentrats gereinigt wurden. Diese Prozesse verringern die ursprüngliche Toxizität des Wassers deutlich. Es kann jedoch dazu kommen, dass drei wichtige, umweltrelevante Faktoren entstehen oder bestehen bleiben: 1) Restverunreinigungen können in noch toxischen Konzentrationen vorliegen, 2) die Bioverfügbarkeit der Restverunreinigungen wird erhöht und 3) das Wasser kann einen Mangel an Nährstoffen oder Hauptionen aufweisen. Entsprechende Strategien für das Management dieser gereinigten Wässer sollten daher berücksichtigen, dass diese nach wie vor Toxizität oder Risiken aufweisen können, die sich von denen des ungereinigten Wassers unterscheiden.
Resumen
Las operaciones mineras usualmente tratan las aguas de minas antes de su descarga en el medio ambiente. Los resultados de ensayos de toxicidad biológica y evaluaciones de identificación de toxicidad (TIE) han mostrado que los riesgos ambientales pueden seguir existiendo en las aguas altamente tratadas. En este trabajo presentamos ejemplos sobre aguas de minas que fueron tratadas usando lodo de alta densidad-microfiltración-ósmosis reversa (HDS/MF/RO) y procesos de concentración de salmuera (BC). Mientras que tales tratamientos reducen substancialmente la toxicidad primaria del agua, tres factores principales que podrían traer consecuencias ambientales pueden persistir: 1) contaminantes residuales pueden aún estar en concentraciones tóxicas, 2) la biodisponibilidad de los contaminantes residuales puede incrementarse y, 3) el agua tratada puede ser deficiente en nutrientes o en iones. Estrategias apropiadas para el manejo de estas aguas tratadas deberían considerar que la toxicidad o los riesgos de calidad de agua pueden existir y que ellos diferirán de los que tiene el agua sin tratamiento.
抽象
采矿产生的矿井废水必须经过处理达标才能向环境排放。但是,生物毒理试验和毒理识别评价(TIE)表明矿井废水经深度处理后可能仍存在环境风险。本文研究了矿井废水经过高密度污泥-微滤-反渗膜(HDS/MF/RO)和卤水浓缩(BC)深度处理后的生态毒理学特征。虽然该处理工艺已经大幅消除了废水的毒性,但是处理后废水可能产生环境影响的三个关键因素仍然存在:(1) 残留污染物浓度可能仍处于毒性范围;(2) 残留污染物的生物药效可能增大;(3) 被处理水可能富含营养也可能主离子缺失。合理的水处理方案应该考虑水的毒性或其它水质风险依然存在,应该考虑处理前后毒理的变化。
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Acknowledgments
We thank the past and present eriss technical team members (Melanie Trenfield, Kim Cheng, Claire Costello, Caroline Camilleri, Niki Lee) for their performance of the laboratory work, and past and present ERA and Rio Tinto team members; (Greg Sinclair, Michelle Iles, Nicole Jacobson, James Kepui, Robyn Overall, Anna Zonneveld, Nicole Jarvie, Mark Coghill, Tony Milnes, David Parry, and David Klessa) for providing water samples and technical advice about the water treatment processes.
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Harford, A.J., Hogan, A.C., Jones, D.R. et al. Ecotoxicology of Highly Treated Mine Waters: Lessons from an Australian Mine. Mine Water Environ 34, 75–86 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-014-0282-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-014-0282-8