Results and experience with a biological wastewater treatment plant in copper refining

摘要

Implementing engineered bioreactor systems in the process configuration of metallurgical sites can optimise existing metallurgical operations. For instance, metals can be recovered safely and economically from process and waste streams using biogcnic sulphide. This paper focuses on full-scale applications of high rate biotechnology in copper refining. Biogcnic sulphide production for metal removal and recovery from wastewater streams will be described. Two full-scale wastewater treatment system based on the removal of metals with biogcnically produced sulphide were started up at copper refineries. The plants are situated as end-of-pipe wastewater treatment systems: One for a bleed stream treatment and one for all major wastewater streams originating at the site. The final effluent concentration of heavy metals meets the new high standard discharge criteria for all metals. In this paper the principles and results of these installations will be described and operational data will be presented on the performance of the installations. Also a description will be given of the possibility to use biogenic sulphide as produced in this installation in process configurations in metal refining.