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INTEGRATED BIOREACTOR SYSTEM FOR THE TREATMENT OF CYANIDE, METALS AND NITRATES IN MINE PROCESS WATER
Citation:
Canty, M., R. Hiebert, L. Thompson, P J. Clark*, AND S. Beckman. INTEGRATED BIOREACTOR SYSTEM FOR THE TREATMENT OF CYANIDE, METALS AND NITRATES IN MINE PROCESS WATER. September 2000, MINING ENGINEERING: A PUBLICATION OF SME September:84-88, (2000).
Description:
An innovative biological process is described for the tratment of cyanide-, metals- and nitrate-contaminated mine process water. The technology was tested for its ability to detoxify cyanide and nitrate and to immobilize metals in wastewater from agitation cyanide leaching. A pilot-scale demonstration is described in which a pilot plant was constructed to demontrate the technology on a mine process-waste stream at a mine in Nevada. The biotreatment process was considered successful in destroying cyanide in the mine process water. The process was also determined to be effective in removing metals. The pH was consistently neutralized and nitrates were successfully removed from the mine process water. From the results of these pilot-scale tests, it was concluded that the biotreatment process potentially offers an innovative, cost-effective alternative for the treatment of mining wastewaters.