Selection of the best desalination technology for highly saline drainage water from coal mines in southern Poland

摘要

Black coal excavation from most coal mines in Poland is accompanied by discharge of highly saline drainage water to the surface waters. To avoid this ecological hazard, various technologies were considered during 1990-92. Technical requirements, presented in this paper, led to the choice of technology of thermal desalination with the carnallite method. Advantages of this method have been presented including low salinity of treated water and the possibility of practical application of the process by-products as substrate for the chemical industry. Authors discuss possible risk associated with this method such as negative impact of energy production (for purposes of desalination) on the natural environment or surpassing of desalination by-products.