One of the urgent challenges in the field of technosphere safety of the industrial region of Donetsk is the development and implementation of efficient and cost-accessible technological schemes for the purification of aggressive mine waters. The existing purification methods are either cost-inefficient or insufficient for the comprehensive processing of mine waters to be safely supplied for the needs of both the public and industry. Considering the severe water shortage in the region, the Makeevka Scientific Research Institute (MAKNII) is conducting studies to assess the efficiency of available and environmentally friendly materials, including natural and industrially produced calcium carbonate and sodium carbonate-based alkaline agents. The study specifies the optimal dosages of the carbonate chemical agent and the duration of its contact with a simulated solution of mine waters, which were experimentally determined during the operation of a horizontal settler model under laboratory conditions.
The study has identified that the minimum addition of 0.2 g/dm³ of native chalk efficiently purifies the simulated solution from aluminum and iron; 0.6 g/dm³ is sufficient to reduce the concentration of copper and silica. A marginal impact has been observed regarding other chemical contaminants. Soda ash, with the minimum addition of 0.2 g/dm3, efficiently removes aluminum and iron from the water; with the addition of 0.8 g/dm3, it efficiently reduces the concentration of manganese, copper, calcium, and silica in the water; a marginal impact has been observed on the mass of the substance concerning other chemical contaminants. When native chalk is used for the purification of mine waters, an adjustment of the calcium ion content in the water is required; when using soda ash, the sodium ion content should be adjusted. According to studies, when the duration of chemical agent contact with the solution is extended, it leads to a considerable increase in purification efficiency.
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