Headworks International has extensive experience in treating mining wastewaters, including gold mine operations.
The mining industry uses large amounts of water in remote locations. There is a strong incentive to reuse a large portion of the wastewater generated in mining operations. Headworks International has implemented many projects in the gold mining operations to treat and reuse wastewater. In gold mining and leaching operations, the ActiveCell MBBR process degrades toxic compounds such as cyanide, metal-complexed cyanide, thiocyanate, and cyanate into non-toxic ammonia. Subsequently, ammonia is removed by nitrifying bacteria before the water is reused. Headworks International has expertise in using specialized cultures of autotrophic bacteria in degrading toxic cyanide and cyanate compounds.
Another source of wastewater in mines (including gold, copper, and other metals mines) is the tailing pond wastewaters which can contain high concentrations of ammonia and nitrates. Headworks International has implemented many projects for the nitrification of high concentrations of ammonia prior to discharge to surface waters. In addition, BOD, cyanates, thiocyanates and ammonia-nitrogen from gold mining wastewaters can be removed by using the Headworks Aerobic MBBR process, stand-alone, or as a follow-up of anoxic MBBR process.
Mining operations typically generate wastewater typically with high total dissolved solids (TDS) in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 mg/l. Headworks International has expertise in acclimating bacteria in high TDS environment using MBBR technology. In addition, Headworks International has expertise in designing mechanical equipment to prevent scaling from the high TDS. MBBR is especially suited for mining wastewaters due to its resiliency to toxic compounds in wastewaters. Other advantages include minimal attention by operators so clients can focus on their core production processes.
MBBR Retrofit Provides an Increase in Capacity Without Interrupting Mining Operations.
