REMEDIATION Imadtion, at these conditions (low pH), normally pH neutralisation, Remediation mort heavy metalsare mobile and the ects through an adjustment ofp by the decanttherelore containsclevatedlevels addition oa basie/alaline reagent leading ofbeavy metlsand adioactveclements gas inp an thus wo precipitation ofthe COnthasenstanceswwhere the orebodyis metals in solution, This treatments also able loaetve, such ain the Wiewatersaad to emove some sulphate, normally through asin). Surface-hased limes dams ie precipitation as gypsum. However due to dumps ofwaste slurry formed from crushed ability consraints, even afer complete rock) arealso sulphate rch, and rsrofiom precipitation the sulphate load remains at those dumps may sigiieaniycontbutet—4pproximately 100m. Thus wis most {he contamination ofthe groundvacer. metals removed, ther isawaysa residual Thisactc upwelling of groundwater sulphate concentration (Gaiown.as acid mine drainage, or AMD) cepa ‘could decent ino surface watercourses, and current poses sigiieant treat Jobuannesbury, Where decant has ready ‘bogunin dhe Western Basin (towards Krogersdorp west of loannesbr) the pl anges from 2-9 and te sulphate ‘ocenralon is around 3500 ppm. Ths, the legacy of overa century af mining sctitis ily has real and signiieane price tg, which wns certainly not envisaged Jn 1880 when die vaterop of go was ist cexploted. ‘microbes orboth). The mechanism of sulphate removal may be via dssiilatory sulphaie emoval (DSR), whieh san anaerobic process. ISK proceeds according ta the folowing eaetion 80, (ag) +2C10 {aq} > 11S (ag/) +2110 (aq) In South Aric, there are many examples of biologically emediated AMD, which ince the Biosure process which was developed at Rhodes Une, blceactors consieucied ‘wetlands. ano coors the nat pi of aeration would classi ax some for of bioremediation, The limitation with Frisia na biologiealy-enabed remediation isthat classified Inco tree pes. These include __Knetesareslow physical, chemical and biological eaten fore combination athe tree, as tells: ‘oes dilerencesin The wea’ of acd mine drainage beingtahen serious and a response at government eve isangoing,Acallabarative team of experts the physical properiesbetween anions and wer to enact somekind of separation. The roca oth an of cet ara Se ee eerie Tt peewee kis iastectesactd be leptin Lic all ‘reverse osmosis (RO), nano- filtration, ion- ‘and its initial recommendations for the ara eh nuranim ad galt ‘rttung guiding ocarcal,_ Wivatesand an DERE. and eutectic freeze crystallisation. Anglo teoretiolanen(revondy nowman would proven dear he entonment Johaanerburg)otret coaliekd based AMD. be further treated by aligh density sludge Currendy 25m 1/d AMD Is berg ueated © _processHDSP) new potable tandards and this sbeing used 0 remove heavy metals, butsome sulphate ‘pplement he municipal wate supply ‘would remain). In IDS, Lime ls added to the “as thename AMD andaporion ofthe sludge produced is gests chemical weatment relies on recycled ‘hemical weaesions tele tresiment alse the acidhy and ber 2013 wwrw.dcotoday.cemn 31Acids from ores Pyrite in the mined ore comes into contact with oxygen-rich water: 2F 0S) +70, +24,0 >2Fe + a4 480" ‘The ferrous ron groceeds o react with oxygen end acidity to protuoe fern ron FO 40, 14H > 4F0 + 2,0 The feric ton subsecuvnt reacts with ron pyrite and water and ‘his reacton produces the majonty ofthe aca FoS, + 14Fo + 8H,0 > 15F 9! + 250,84 18H" To aid to the prooiem, tnese reactions can also be microbiotgically catalysed + ingress control = to reduce the rte of Booting and th even ual deeant volume. “This would be achieved by sealing as faras posse poinssof rhe ingress into the subsurface agile (sich a8 sealing old mine shafts} and + ater quality management -the water pump fom de aquifer would be aid, however instead of uncontrolled acide can the mine drainage would bo within ‘manageable system and would therefore be treatable Subsequently, a shor-.erm sludon hasbeen Implemented by the Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) which hasbeen instrcted by he Ministry of Water Affe to assist. The ‘TCTA bassate owned enterprise noomlly responsible for bling dams and eas continental pipelines. The short-term solution ‘oasis of pumping the ager water 0 ‘mainain groundwater levels at the BCL and "his wate sto Be teat using HDSP. The capital ens ofthis process sarge = RAZ (088825) followed by longterm running costs to purchase me teat 2m V/d, 37m and 42rd in the Western, (Cental and taster basins respetvey 82 wwwteetoday.com september 2019, where next? Unfortunately, the LIDSP doesn’teduce sulphate levels toes than 400 mg/d as consequence, in excess of 50m 1/do this ‘water wll be rleased into the rivers in and around Johannesbarg. OF curse the quality ‘lth eater certainly mach better than ‘unreued aide deca. Howevet aglculkurl wers downstream may potentially not be able {use this water or irigadon due to more sStslngent legislation in receiving mackets such as those in the EU. In addition, te sudge produced by the HDSP may be radioactive (since the ore body beneath Johannesburg ‘otal uraniam and some mine drainage hs uranium presen ateonceatraonsin excess of5 mg) and therefore bere may be significant cifleuhies with he handling ofthe sludge prxtuce. ‘Our mult-disetpinary research group. she Indusiial and Mining Water Kescareh UUni(IMA), based at the Unione ofthe Wisvaterrand, curently bas astite ofreseach projects targeted towards considering ways ether of replacing the lime, crf teatingthe esa sulphate concentrations. We ae researehing the poteatal use of base oxygen famaoe slag, the use of constructed wetlands aswell as ‘Menilying other earbon sources eletron donors for DSR. Unfortunately there fs much research which news be conducted and if novel processes are found there are sll ‘substantial dime lags hetween demonstrating prootoFconceptinalaboratary and success scale-up. ‘Thelong-term soluionto the problem faced in South Afi and hen much wl cost hasyet tobe determined, Forwnately ‘wehave many highly eompetent people ‘working on and ee hope that our solution ‘may potentially help ober miningenuntries (sichas the US, Ausall, Sout America and Russia) facing sila problems with sulphide ores. te Graig Sheridan (caig.heridan@ vit. 1ac-za)'s a co-founder ofthe Industria and Mining Water Research Unit, and seaior lecturer tha School of Chemical and Metalugical Engnesring, Univeraty ofthe \Wiveataerand,ohemnesburg ther reading 1. line water managerient in the Witwatersrand Gold Feld with pecial ‘emphasis on acid mine drainage, oportto the inter minister commie on ackl ine Arnage, 20:0, buoy 152a0 Mc 2.Yermeulen, A, "Tackling the Witwaterscand AMD problem’ Mining Weel, upc Iyriexuvov S.MeCarthy, T The decanting of acd mine ator in he Gauteng CI Regan, GCRO report Septomber2010, hae /bitly/1e3?madSt Figure 1: The gasification process ep on the GAS Gasification could be the answer Ashislag to keeping the world supplied > with eneray; Alison Kerester : explains how ond why ppt PN eres re a ee erie eer tree gasification: in a nutshell Put simply tao covers any carbon-based ae such 2 coal petroleum coke biomass and msicipal sold ware aio {energy without harming Instead converts the materi inna gas bycreatinga chemicsltesction.Thisreaccion combines thos carbon- Kl > based material (or feedstocks) with small amounts ofairot oxygen, breaking them down ino simple molecules primarily a misture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen - and removing aay impuntes or ppollants. What Ieftsa lean synthesis ga (or sens) thar ean be Converted lcci, chemical, ertlers abot natial a, {su wasportaon fel (ee Pg) Topower Toprodts trig cans ter omgenorat cae hee “yal ont eva poles eke ety wastes Lomas snp sold waste (MSW), wastewater treatment biosolids, and blends ofthese ‘maova Gases hat use open que ani separsion itt rovide he arco men. This geeralyntco-cfective ak {healer sales used by waste sation pas A-ha gest pal so waste twee oxen in deal forthe asllcaton evens Tefor catering he este oi fecieact a pend ng sal Pcs wile gids and panes sre Ted det. Then acontled e@ Smountofairor oxen injected noth ule The ermperatres in s a gr for coal or ptrleum coke pically ange im 701 53°C v 2 The emoeratue oe MSW yl rnge om A-S2-Regdess Steam a Hydrogen tor ofthe leedstock, the sys produced ina gases cons pinay 3 eats ‘ot ydmgen and carbor monodde he bake ulin bloksfor eg foes Power Consumer ‘Caren lang-scale ors are capable of paces up 0 3,000 SYNGAS ee co edtck carvetng 70-65 of carbon ithe oedtock to 7938 ‘Some downstream proceses quis thatthe yng a cleaned of race doves oflmpuries. Trace minerals paral alps mercury ad uiconvered carbo canbe removed to very low evs Site OCESS——angpenttion cau ‘common tothe chemical and rening dusts Moe than 95% ofthe ‘tek aura gee epee = & Mh clean syngas ean be sent oa bale internal eombuscion engine prep Cin ‘orgs turbine to produee power orfribereonveredinioehemical, fetisers, and anspor fel. soplombor 2013 www lesleday.com 33| tce | GASIFICATION without change. Tncineraion canto contol these processes, andl eat-up occurs alter eommbusdon. One ofthe imporant advantages ofgasileaton Is {that contaminants in gygts ea be removed prior tots use, elisnating many ypesof ‘ost combustion emission contol systems bay i 20 Pam 2018 8 Constuston 2015) i os 1 Open 2019 seo 100 0 : oH [Eee In gasification the waste Is nota fuel, itis a feedstock for a high temperature chemical conversion process. Gasification converts waste (feedstock) into a usable synthesis gas. And this syngas can be converted into higher level products. 84 wwwrteetoday.com september 2013, ‘required by ineincraion plants. The dean sgygascan be used reiprocasing engines or fas eurbinesto generate electricity or farther ‘processed to price hyagen and other ‘valuable products (se Figure 2). Gasification s sigaiicanty diferent fom andeaner than incineration the high temperate environment {nguslfleation anger mcecules, such plates, are completely broken dow Inco the comporents of syngas nich ean be dleaned ‘and processed beloe futher te; ‘dioxins and furans necd sufilen xygen {o form or reform, and the oxygen-deicient atmosphere in gisifie does nx provide the ‘environment needed fr dion and furan cae wnt ‘mess ' seo ' omer gasification is not ee incineration clus ned ine metal particulate in Gasifcationisafundamentaly diferent the exhaust efor, and syngas from process fominetnerton, Ieneration fgsfeation istypcallyclesned ofpariculates Tieratly means to render ash. Incineration before being used ‘ses MSW as fel, uring iit high ‘ingasiication facts that use he syngas telumesofairto form carbon dioxide and to produce producti fet chemicals and heat Inawaste-co-energy plant thas wes ferliers the syngastsquicly quenched, 0 Incineration these ot gesare used make that heres ao sufietomtwesldonce dime at steam, whichis then used to make electricity, the vemperasre where dioxins could reforms; COnecftheconcrnscnerinnenaion and twat isthe ormationandrlormason ashen the syngas ise primary as losis and ans, expel fom fuel for making ea tear be deaned PVC-continigplasics These txinscan before combamton this cannot ocarin etd upin deat servis dee lncinerath, ats decomposition, as smaller pars Ullarger maecues'ty etorming when ciclvcmnoes in gasification smaller molecules combine together;and/ Conventional above-ground gasfiation ‘orby simply passing through the incinerator has been used worlwide on a comnceia 000 ‘mPannes 2018) moonsneion 2019 ae = Cpeang 2018) ‘oa ooloum as Paco "Biomass Worttwice gasification by pxirary feodstockConventional above-ground gasification has been used worldwide on a commercial eo scale for more than 75 years by the chemical, refining and fertiliser industries and for more than 35 years by the electric power industry. ‘Figure 3: Advances in underground cow gestation tectnolagies offer incressea envronmenta protection, and higher processing efciocies scale formore than 75yarsby tho chemical, steam) Into the eol seam tonite tho fefining snd fertiiser industries andfor more gesificaton reaction, The second well ised than 35 years bythe lectrlepowerindustry. _toeulluet the syngas that formed from dhe ‘Now, gasfeauion has a numer of new ssfcaton reaction and to pipe tothe appications incuding plasma gasietion, surface for altional processingand ise (soe ‘undecground coalgasiexion, biomass and) Figure). Apairof wells cans las 3 ong as ‘wast gasification. yeas. The UCG reactions are managed by plasma gasification coiling dhe rate of oxygen orale hat Plasma gasers operate at much higher Jsinjeced ino the coal scam trough the emporaturesand pressures Plasma isan injection well, The proces ishelted hy fonisedgasthat formed whenanlectical stopping the injection ofthe oxygen or alc Aischarge pases trough yas Hghuning sft the eval s converted to syngusina fnexampe found inratue, Plasmatorches _ paticular locaton, the remaining cavity and arescan generate temperatures upto (which wll contain the etovr aah or slag 5598°C. When used in agasifeaton plant, from he coal, as wll as other rock mater) plasms torches and ates generate thisintense may be flooded with saline water and the beste nates and supplements ‘wellsarecappec. However therelsa grovring ‘he gasification eactions and can even Interest in using these cavities to stor carbon, Increase therateofthoce reactions, making diode that could be captured from the {sification more efcient. Because the show grand srs processing Once a feedsocksreacting within the gasierare particular coal seam fsexhaustec, new well converted into hei dase lestens, even ae dled to nate the gaan eacion hivardoosvintehecomesausefilsyngns _naddlfornt section ofthe eoal seam. Plasma technologieshivebbeen used foroverUCG operates pressures below tha of ‘years ina yarley of industries, including the chemical and metalindusties prmaely te destroy hazardous waste, buts use inthe co woae-o-enengy industry much newer underground coal mm gasification Inundergound cal psifeation (UC), the actual gasification process takes place as 2 its name suggests, underground - gencrally 5 10.40 1aPereoa 2018) i Corsiton 2015) sm Opersteg 201) below Os km, Recent advances in we Arllingwechnologiesare now enabling UOG evelopment of oasis the 1.2-1.8km Apts range, ith nerd environmental protection and proces eficeney benefit ‘these depths. The undergound setting Provides both the feedstock source (he coal) 2 ell pressure comparable to Gat of SESPPPPRESPPPLESI SPE SEE an above-ground gasifier With most UCG facies wells ae diet on :80 oppose (Camuletve worldwide gaifeston capac and growth siceso an underground col seam. One well Isused inject aro oxygen (and sometimes soplombor 2013 www leoleday.com 35ES GASIFICATION Gasification in practice Duke Energy's Edwardsport generating station tn Je 2019 Duke Energy stated phe fst now US integrated ‘asifestion combined ect (1560) in over 25 years cated a Eehardspor ncane, the S16 RAW coal OCC ple represents a szaoup tem the Frevious 240M tect. Tre scale Up lvoe ovecomag signcant ‘yreetng changes and eqapment redeeign inelusing mproverentsto the eegivector ane gas: INEOS Bio ‘On 1 August 2013 INEOS Bio ‘announced the commercial ‘operation af its 300 Us dry waste biomass as feedstock and innovative ‘gastication tachnology, te pnt wil produce 36m ly of ti-genoration ‘osthanol and 8 MW of power, Reliance Jamnagar refinery project Feeeeserel Jamnagar refinery complex is tho iargestin the word. As ont of Iseflors oun iarnagar toa ‘Pottomess refer. he conpery ie mplamentng a major gaifeston ‘jet over wo oases. Whon Complete, 12 gciers wil conver ‘mound 2320 ot paren coke! ‘arnt 272 KN of yrgea! ‘sf: The syngas wile covered to abtnvte natu posto roplce UNG, supply forthe reining Frocteaing, and CO to te eet ach Bert Linc Energy Linc Energy has constructed ‘nd commissioned an Underground coal gasification {U6} facity in Quoensand, ‘Australia. The facity hosts a serie of ‘scobssve UOG gases to produce ‘syngas for power, and iesel anc ‘aviation fuss 26 wwwrteetoday.com september 2019, the natural coal seam pressure, thus ensuring that materials arenot pushed out inta the surrounding formations This isin sharp entra oliydaule acting operations Imollard gos production, where pressures significantly shove natural formation pressure are used to fore injetans into the Formation, ‘The Ineenaional Energy gency esimates that developing countries vil account for 898 ofthe projected incseaseinglobalene=sy demand and chat global demand for fos fuels nciuding col wil account for over ‘50% ofthe increase is total primary energy demand (se ww Sea.01)-UCG can help ‘ect tis sing energy demand by converting coal to energy and oer products using coal that would otherwise be unavallable. biomass and waste gasification ‘As populations grow word, 0 does the amount of waste tha generated. Ameieans aloe generate about 250m /y of MSW. Much of this wastes disposed ofin ands ovweve this waste whether Biomass, aich as celts, orbourehold ese contains energy. Gascon can help recover the ‘alualeenengy conalned in his wast Biomass and waste gasification plants are senealy smaller in sale than he col! petcoke gasification plants and operate at ver temperate. R&D developments Gasification s nota state echnology. There have heen a namber of significant developments in seen tines (see box, and there aearumber of efforts under way, bow publicend privat, tolmprove the technology and reduce costs For example, the US Deparuneat of Energy's Offec of Fossil Fuels (National Energy Technology Laboratory) has tunderikes research ina number aes ‘coal gasifestion to prove the overall process: Theve elt include: + expanding feedstock fexibiliy tallow for Jow-rank pals and blended feedstocks; + optimising goers o improve relly, ‘ailabty and efficiency, + developing compactand aerate esers: + leaning up syngas to increase the efikency and reduce the coms; + separating gato inereasebyrogen. separation; and + using carbon diode to redues the costs and the enoxsy needed forthe cape. Inaction, the varius gasiicaion technology provers and engineering Kemss Involved in gasification are continually working toimprowe the ficiency and rellablyof te pzocess while reducing the cost. Thi wore inchades improvements tothofeed injectors gasiforrefroctory lining, reducing carbon dioxide capture pares loads and costs and reducing water tse Innovative workisalso under wy to develop new forms of asifeatin, such as Imferowave solar-assied, biomass, waste, ad underground coal gaseston, gasification market ‘These are extent 732 ganers operating ‘wore. wth 382 gc real or planned commercial gasification projects The sasfication market isgrowing but sillereat in North Amevies than in Asia tn North ‘America. the emergence ofabundant and heap naturel gis has een 8 game changer making eal gasification less competitive economical {a addon, the ant-coat Sentimentin the UShas recited in few new cal-based gsifcati projects being panne “Those projets that re proceeding have been reconfigured apie carbon dose and produce multiple product sears general Power urea for feriliserproducton and Carbon dioxide for enbaiced ol recovery. ovwever theres aston interest in waste ‘eseaton, Municipalities faced with Feduced andflspacein many pats f the US an inceasingamount of MSW and higher cos ae evaluating waste gasification technologies stead of paying for wate disposal, city would actualy eeiv a fe for itswastad the waste gasieaton company ‘would use tha: waste asa feedstock produce elect and othex products Several major UUSanl Canadian cies are in the proces of evaluating waste asteaton technologie. In contrast ta Asi (particularly Cana, nl, Mongolia and South Korea), natural gas, in the form of LNG, ireltvely expensive (around UUSs.061). ‘Asa rest arge-seale coal an petoleum coke giciton for power, chemical, fecsers and wansportaton fuels is both competive and proving. nado, dese countries desc to use heir domestic resourer to rode the products for necessiy frowth and to decrease teirsliance on Imposed LNG bs eonrbuting tthe growth of ssieaionnthese marks toe ‘Alison Kerester(akerester2qasificetion ‘2:) is executive director at tne Gasification Technologies Councl, waw-gasticatonog Nong erated in Gasification Ceres ect Ree ee etnInnovative concepts for fossil-based power generation BRU Uae ie Cm eur a Ral crc Answers for energy.