Centre for Studies, JSC “Uralelektromed”, Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Russia:

V. R. Kurdiumov, Manufacturing Engineer of Research Center, e-mail: kvr@elem.ru
K. L. Timofeev, Chief Hydrometallurgist of Engineering Department
G. I. Maltsev, Chief Specialist of a Centre for Studies

UMMC Technical University, Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Russia:

A. B. Lebed, Head of a Chair of Metallurgy

Spent mines are the sources of water, contaminated by non-ferrous metals, manganese, iron, silicon, calcium, etc. The possible way of treatment of a weakly mineralized mine water with elevated contents of ions of nickel, manganese and hardness salts is ion exchange using Lewatit Monoplus TP 207 resin in combination with a chemical softening, microfiltration and disinfection. The laboratory studies of mine water treatment were carried out on the pilot plant with the flow rate of 5 dm³ per hour. The initial mine water has the following composition, mg/dm³: 9.8–11.4 Si; 1.8–2.30 Mn; 0.19–0.28 Ni; 53.8–73.0 Na; 0.02–0.20 Cu; 0.01–0.07 Zn; 0.01–0.06 Fe. At the same time, the total hardness is 7.5–8.4 mmol/dm³ and pH is 7.2–7.4. The following results of treated water composition were attained, mg/dm³: 8.1–9.9 Si; 0.005–0.009 Mn; < 0.005 for Ni; 102.0–167.0 Na; < 0.005 Cu; < 0.005 Zn; < 0.005 Fe. The total hardness is 2.0– 5.7 mmol/dm³ and pH is 6.5–8.3. The content of other impurities is below the detection limit. The treated mine water meets the quality requirements for potable water. The sulphuric acid regeneration of ionite was carried out after its saturation by non-ferrous metals. The obtained nickel and copper containing eluate may be used in technology of nickel and copper sulphate production.

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