Liquid and Solid Wastes from Mineral Processing Plants

Abstract

Many liquid and solid substances, inorganic and organic, can be discharged from mineral processing plants. Many of these substances are toxic and must be either removed from various streams or rendered non toxic. Proper recycling of water and/or proper placement of wastes can reduce waste disposal problems. Remediation methods for liquid wastes and substances dissolved in water or other liquids includes the proper use of tailings ponds, use of solids reduction or removal processes, flocculation of fine solids, base or acid addition, precipitation and co-precipitation of metals from solution, adsorption, bioremediation methods, flotation, and oxidation/reduction processes. Proper solids disposal depends usually on the proper construction and management of tailings impoundments. Agglomeration and other physical binding treatment of solids are potential aids in the disposal of reactive wastes such as those containing sulfides. These various technologies are discussed and listings are made of approximate quantities of various substances potentially discharge from mineral processing operations. Estimation is also made of the relative toxicities of some of the materials potentially discharged.