Treatment of Lignite Coal Mine Wastewater Using Reverse Osmosis Membrane

Abstract

Mining is necessary as mineral resources are utilized for national development purposes. After the shutdown of the mine, the area is often left abandoned due to lack of proper rehabilitation management and subsequent environmental impacts. Especially, the formation of the Sump is characterized by the accumulation of water in the open mine as a result of the Sump's low pH value and the high amount of dissolved manganese. The objectives of this study focused on the treatment of lignite coal mine wastewater using reverse osmosis membrane. The results showed that quality of permeate in terms of pH, conductivity, TDS, total Mn and total Fe were 4.4, 0.02 mS/cm, 0.01 ppt, 0.47 mg/L and 0.04 mg/L, respectively. The conductivity, TDS, total Mn and total Fe removal efficiencies were 98.3 %, 98.4 %, 98.4 % and 87.1%, respectively. Permeate quality could meet the standard criteria for surface water. Permeate can be used as an alternative water source. Cost of permeate treatment was 35.26 Baht per cubic meter. It could possibly reduce the operating cost at the amount of 93,091.87 THB/ two years.