MiningWater – Mining water recovery using innovative technologies for saving fresh water

Initial situation

Rising water demand due to population growth and industrial development is leading to increasing conflicts over the use of limited water resources combined with inadequate wastewater treatment.  In phosphate mining, there are losses of water and valuable materials due to wastewater collection in tailing ponds. Previous solutions have not been technically or economically successful due to the complex and varying composition of the wastewater.

Project objectives

  • Reduction of freshwater demand through water recovery from mining wastewater using the example of phosphate mining
  • Increased added value by recycling of occurring concentrates
  • Water savings potential: 3 million m³ of water per year and mine – factor 40 if transferred to phosphate mines in Middle East and North Africa
  • Partial decoupling of production and freshwater by use of combination of innovative and robust process technologies

Innovative approaches

  • Separation of phosphate-containing solids in µm range in corrosive wastewater using energy-efficient ceramic flat sheet membranes with high permeate fluxes
  • Separation of polyvalent ions (e.g. sulphate) using new types of suitable resins and selective nanofiltration membranes
  • Separation of chlorides using low-cost polymer membranes or flexible membrane-assisted capacitive deionisation (MCDI)
  • Additional value creation through valorisation of phosphate-containing solids and sulphates from concentrates produced

Benefits for the industry

  • Reduction of fresh water requirements through water recovery
  • Increased added value through utilisation of the resulting concentrates

About the project

  • Project duration: 07/2021 – 06/2024
  • Project Management Agency: Projektträger Karlsruhe (PTKA) – Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
  • Funding provider: Federal Ministry of Education and Research
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