Modern technologies for radium removal from water – Polish mining industry case study

Chałupnik, Stanisław; Wysocka, M.; Chmielewska, Izabela; Samolej, Krzysztof

doi:10.1016/j.wri.2020.100125

Cited by 14 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…In Poland, regulators are more concerned about discharge of salts (chloride and sulphate) in minewaters to rivers [137]; these are very challenging to remove by treatment [138]. Other problematic parameters, such as barium or radium, can be more readily removed by treatment [139,140].…”

Section: Minewater Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of the Performance of Minewater Heating and Cooling Systems

et al. 2021

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As the decarbonisation of heating and cooling becomes a matter of critical importance, it has been shown that flooded mines can provide a reliable source of low-carbon thermal energy production and storage when coupled with appropriate demand via an appropriate heat transfer technology. This paper summarises the potential resource represented by a long legacy of mining operations, the means heat can be extracted from (or rejected to) flooded mine workings, and then considers the risks and challenges faced by minewater geothermal energy (MWG) schemes in the planning, construction, and operational phases. A combination of site visits, interviews and literature reviews has informed concise, updated accounts for many of the minewater geothermal energy systems installed across the world, including accounts of hitherto unpublished systems. The paper has found that a number of previously reported MWG schemes are now non-operational. Key risks encountered by MWG schemes (which in some cases have led to decommissioning) include clogging of system components with mineral precipitates (e.g., ochre), uncertainty in targeting open mine voids and their hydraulic behaviour, uncertainty regarding longevity of access to minewater resource, and accumulated ongoing monitoring and maintenance burdens.

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Section: Minewater Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of the Performance of Minewater Heating and Cooling Systems

et al. 2021

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“…Apart from salt and minerals recovery, the removal of radioactive radium isotopes from coal mine water has been studied. The underground radium removal plants have been in operation in two coal mines since 1999 and 2006 [ 44 ].…”

Section: Coal Mine Water Utilizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Membrane-Based Solutions for the Polish Coal Mining Industry

Mitko

Turek

2021

Membranes

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Poland still relies largely on coal for energy generation, which creates environmental problems connected to the mining process, particularly the issue of saline waste water discharge. Membrane-based zero liquid discharge systems can be employed to recover important resources from coal mine waste waters, such as demineralized water, salt, magnesium hydroxide, and gypsum. In this paper, we present a historical overview of proposed membrane-based solutions for the Polish coal mining industry and discuss possible further areas of research.

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“…The precipitates (barium/radium sulfate) are challenging to retain by filtration. Therefore, it is common practice to co-precipitate radium with other more abundant species, e.g., during bulk neutralization or together with the precipitation of arsenic by ferric chloride [56]. In all precipitation processes, the precipitate is managed as radioactive waste, which requires a proper disposal strategy.…”

Section: Chemical Precipitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The removal rates with membrane filtration processes have been in the order of 90-99.9% for uranium [56] and for radium in the order of 43-99% (strongly dependent on the initial concentration) [13,56,85,90]. At Savannah River Site, uranium concentrations were reduced by 99% in the filtrate or treated effluent by microfiltration [91].…”

Section: Membrane Filtrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are two reactor configurations commonly used for carbon adsorption systems: the pulsed or moving bed and the fixed bed (most widely used for adsorption from liquids) [100]. Granular activated carbon can be used for radionuclides such as uranium and radium-226 (also, cobalt-60, ruthenium-106, and polonium-210); for organics contaminants and some inorganics as well [56,92].…”

Section: Adsorptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mitigation of Uranium Mining Impacts—A Review on Groundwater Remediation Technologies

Dinis

Fiúza

2021

Geosciences

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Groundwater contamination is one of the most concerning issues from uranium mining activities. Radionuclides cannot be destroyed or degraded, unlike some organic contaminants (and similar to metals). Besides, sites, where radionuclides may be found, are mainly radioactive and mixed waste disposal areas, and therefore many other contaminants may also be present in groundwater. The state-of-the-art of environmental technology is continually changing, and thus a review on technologies application is of utmost relevance. This work gives an overview of the available remediation technologies for groundwater contaminated with radionuclides resulting mainly from uranium mining. For each technology, a theoretical background is provided; the state of development, limitations, efficiency, and potential adverse effects are also approached. Examples of application and performance monitoring of remediation progress are described, and criteria for the selection of the appropriate remediation technology are given. The most effective remediation technology will always be site-specific as a result of the multitude of geographic and operational factors that influence the effluent quality and impact the technical feasibility of treatment methods. Ion exchange, chemical precipitation, and membrane filtration have been considered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) as best demonstrated available technologies for radium and uranium removal. Several factors have been demonstrated to influence the selection of a remediation technology (technological aspects and non-technical factors), but even for the technologies demonstrated or industrial proven, two important challenges remain; the (still) mobile radionuclides and the generation of secondary wastes. Besides, remediation technologies are constantly evolving, but future advancement depends on rigorously monitored, documented efficiency, and results achieved. Therefore, the technologies approached in this paper are by no means exhaustive.

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Modern technologies for radium removal from water – Polish mining industry case study

Cited by 14 publications

References 15 publications

A Review of the Performance of Minewater Heating and Cooling Systems

A Review of the Performance of Minewater Heating and Cooling Systems

Membrane-Based Solutions for the Polish Coal Mining Industry

Mitigation of Uranium Mining Impacts—A Review on Groundwater Remediation Technologies

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