Noves methods for controlling zinc in mine effluents

Objective

There is a pressing need for SMEs active in mining to develop simple, inexpensive methods for removing eco-toxic metals from mine effluents. One particularly problematic metal is zinc, which is currently difficult to remove from neutral-pH effluents at reasonable cost. Zinc is particularly a problem in the effluents from lead-zinc and/or fluorspar mines, many of which are now worked by small, local SME mining companies, which are vital sources of local employment, and yet too small to maintain their own RTD capacity. This project aims to devise some simple, reliable approaches to minimise zinc impacts from such mines by developing strategies including (i) diversion and storage of zinc-rich waters within mine voids until such time as flows in receiving streams are high, and (ii) passive treatment of effluents in simple gravity-feed geochemical reactors, using one of three possible new approaches (co-precipitation with calcite, sorption onto ochre, anaerobic sulphate reduction in the presence of organic acids).

Fields of science

• natural sciences › chemical sciences › organic chemistry › organic acids
• natural sciences › chemical sciences › inorganic chemistry › transition metals
• social sciences › economics and business › business and management › employment

Programme(s)

• FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998

Topic(s)

• 0104 - Safety and reliability of production systems

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

EAW - Exploratory awards

Coordinator

Durham Industrial Minerals Ltd.

Address

DL13 2TJ Frosterley
United Kingdom