Grant: Engage Grants Program

This collaboration focuses on developing ""green"" processes to treat mining effluents. In these processes the effluent is treated with a sustainable bioadsorbent and the ""spent"" adsorbent can ideally be used in soil amendment. Traditional methods to remove contaminants from tailings include chemical addition, ion exchange, membranes, biological processes, and adsorption. Ion exchange and membrane systems require specially developed resins/membranes increasing costs associated with the systems. Chemical addition is costly in terms of toxicity of the chemicals and disposal of generated sludge. Biological processes can be operationally and economically prohibitive due to processing time and inability to treat metals. Adsorption processes are attractive alternatives in remote or rural areas where costs associated with transport of chemicals/supplies are high and disposal options limited. This work seeks to use ""green"" processes to cost effectively remove the NH3 and As. Using biochar as an adsorbent is an example of treating one by-product stream with an underutilized by-product from another operation (biochar from pyrolysis of forestry residues). Further, the ""spent"" biochar can potentially be integrated into the existing tailing management program. This work would have potential application to other mining operations, benefiting the region and industry as a whole.*