Berkeley Pit Innovative Technologies Project (BPIT)
pknudsen@mtech.edu
The BPIT project focused on bench-scale testing of innovative technologies for remediating the water flowing into and existing in the Berkeley Pit. Individuals or groups with existing remediation technologies were invited to demonstrate the effectiveness of their treatment process for Berkeley Pit water and to write a report summarizing their process and the results of their bench-scale test. A total of eight reports were produced from the different demonstration technologies.
Purity Systems, Inc. and the University of Montana
The goal of this bench-scale demonstration was to use a base to precipitate Fe and Al out of Berkeley Pit water and subsequently speciate and concentrate Cu, Mn, and Zn. Three types of chelator silica gel were used to achieve the speciation process. The bench-scale project was successful in recovering high purity, high concentration Cu, Mn, and Zn.
Final Report
GEO-2 Limited
This innovative technology attempted to remediate Berkeley Pit water to an extent that is was suitable for agricultural use. It was theorized that the dissolved metals within the deep waters of the Berkeley Pit could be reacted with one another under the right set of conditions to form a mineral precipitant. Limestone and lime were used in three different experiments and reduced the heavy metals concentrations of the water, while increasing the pH.
Final Report
SPC International and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
This demonstration utilized the Azolla biofilter to attempt removal of Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Pb from Berkeley Pit water. Target concentrations were 0.5 mg/L for Cu, < 0.02 mg/L for Pb, 0.05 mg/L for Cd, 0.05 mg/L for Cr, 10 mg/L for Al, and 10 mg/L for Fe. The process was capable of meeting these concentrations.
Final Report
Technical Assistance International, Inc. and the Group of Scientists Moscow State University
This demonstration used a combination of technologies to reduce metals concentration of Berkeley Pit water, while recovering metals of commercial value. The technologies employed ion exchange to increase pH, reduce metals concentrations, achieve metals separation, and polish the processed water.
Final Report
Hydroplus Technologies Research, Inc.
This demonstration used an ionic state modification chamber (ISM) to reduce metals concentrations in Berkeley Pit water. After residence time in the ISM, the water went through a series of base additions and vacuum filtering to remove metals to target levels.
Final Report
International Hydronics
Soluble silica addition was used to remove metals from Berkeley Pit water and a zeolite gel was produced in the process. Copper recovery from the resultant zeolite gel was possible.
Final Report
GEO2 Limited, Demonstration of the Green Precipitate (GP) Process
Geo2 of Melbourne, Australia used their Green Precipitate (GP) process to reduce metals concentrations of Berkeley Pit water to levels that were suitable for agricultural use. Water from the 200-foot level of the Berkeley Pit was stirred under a blanket of nitrogen, keeping the GP in suspension. When the stirring process was complete, the GP was siphoned from the water and produced a filter cake which was suitable for economic minerals recovery.
Final Report
Metre General, Inc.
Metre General used a combination of conventional technologies, along with the commercial product OctoligTM, to reduce heavy metals concentrations in Berkeley Pit water. OctoligTM is manufactured by immobilizing ligands (amines and imines) on a silica gel substrate, and the result is the product has a very high affinity for heavy metals. OctoligTM was used in combination with conventional precipitation processes to achieve heavy metal removal from pit water.
Final Report
Mine Remediation Services Removal of Metals from Berkeley Pit Water Using KAD Technology
Kaolin Amorphous Derivative (KAD), a suite of minerals produced from clay minerals has high cation exchange and surface area values, as well as inherent basicity. The properties of KAD result in a high metals loading capacity, relatively easy stripping of loaded metals, and an ability to raise solution pH. Additionally, the product is fairly simple to produce and once stripped of metals, it can be re-used.
Final Report
Hydrometrics, Inc. – Demonstration of Sulfate Removal Using the WalhallaTM Process
This technology attempted to cost-effectively reduce sulfate concentrations from 1,000 mg/L to 500 mg/L using the WalhallaTM process. In the WalhallaTM process, a proprietary compound, SX-44, is used after conventional lime treatment in an effort to precipitate sulfate and any residual metals as the mineral ettringite. Contact time, along with SX-44 dosage, control the final sulfate concentrations.
Final Report
Activity IV, Project 7
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