Valorization of coal mine effluents - Challenges and economic opportunities

Nikhil Dilip Pawar*, Steve Harris, Krzysztof Mitko, Gijsbert Korevaar

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
32 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Coal-mine effluent treatment has the potential to both reduce the environmental impact of the effluent and provide economic opportunities by recovering valuable minerals and clean water. In this study, we modeled a novel treatment process, which includes nanofiltration (NF), two-step crystallization, reverse osmosis (RO), electrodialysis (ED), multi-effect distillation (MED), and a NaCl crystallizer, and performed a techno-economic analysis of its full-scale implementation, using a circular economy approach. We estimated the thermal and electrical energy consumption to be 745.5 kWhth/tonNaCland 565.1 kWhel/tonNaCl(or 13.6 kWhthand 10.3 kWhelper m3of feed effluent), respectively. The levelized cost of the NaCl salt that accounts for the revenue from the plant's co-products (Mg(OH)2, CaSO4and, pure water) was estimated to be 203 USD/tonNaCl. The economic viability of the treatment chain can be improved by using renewable electricity sources, reducing the total expenditure on NF and RO, and integrating alternate technologies into the treatment plant
Original languageEnglish
Article number100179
JournalWater Resources and Industry
Volume28
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Keywords

  • Circular economy
  • Coal mine effluent
  • Electrodialysis
  • Mineral recovery
  • Wastewater treatment
  • Zero brine

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