Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Sir Sandford Fleming College of Applied Arts and Technology
$25,000.00
Assessment of Chemical and Biological Treatment Proceeses for the Reduction of Total Dissolved Solids in Tailing Ponds from Gold Mining Operations
FY 2021-22
Summary
Barrick Gold Corporation (Barrick) owns and operates a number of gold mines and processing plants that rely on both cyanide and thiosulphate leaching processes. Thiosulphate leaching is a process known to produce high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS), with high concentrations of them found in tailings ponds. In collaboration with Fleming College's Centre for Advancement of Water and Wastewater Technologies (CAWT), chemical and biological treatment processes will be assessed over a 6-month duration using small scale benchtop experiments for their ability to reduce TDS in tailing pond waters. Since implementing thiosulphate leaching processes over 6 years ago, Barrick's tailing ponds have continued to increase in volume and in TDS concentration. To manage the water balance across the sites, having a method to reduce TDS is imperative. The results of this applied research are expected to provide Barrick with a solution they can scale up and implement in their mining processes, allowing them to reduce contaminants and reuse treated water in their process operations.
Program
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
561232-2020
Name nom
Goodwin, Brett
Department département
Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, School of
Organization id
4915
Institution établissement
Sir Sandford Fleming College of Applied Arts and Technology
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2021
Competition year année de concours
2020
Award amount
25000
Program id
CARD1
Program name en
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée - niveau 1
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1561
Committee name en
Applied Research and Development Grants
Committee name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée
Area of application code
902
Area of application group en
Commercial services
Area of application group fr
Services commerciaux
Area of application en
Waste, waste management and recycling
Area of application fr
Déchets, gestion des déchets et recyclage
Research subject code
1502
Research subject group en
Environmental engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie de l'environnement
Research subject en
Waste water treatment
Research subject fr
Traitement des eaux usées
Installment
inst:1
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Assessment of Chemical and Biological Treatment Proceeses for the Reduction of Total
Dissolved Solids in Tailing Ponds from Gold Mining Operations
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Barrick Gold Corporation (Barrick) owns and operates a number of gold mines and processing plants that rely on both cyanide and thiosulphate leaching processes. Thiosulphate leaching is a process known to produce high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS), with high concentrations of them found in tailings ponds. In collaboration with Fleming College's Centre for Advancement of Water and Wastewater Technologies (CAWT), chemical and biological treatment processes will be assessed over a 6-month duration using small scale benchtop experiments for their ability to reduce TDS in tailing pond waters. Since implementing thiosulphate leaching processes over 6 years ago, Barrick's tailing ponds have continued to increase in volume and in TDS concentration. To manage the water balance across the sites, having a method to reduce TDS is imperative. The results of this applied research are expected to provide Barrick with a solution they can scale up and implement in their mining processes, allowing them to reduce contaminants and reuse treated water in their process operations.
