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Siemens, Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg Develop Innovative Solutions For Mine Water Problems
June 16, 2008
Warrendale, PA — Siemens VAI and the TU Bergakademie Freiberg Technical University for Mining and Technology have formed a cooperation to develop innovative solution concepts for the mine water problem. The research team connects fundamental as well as applied knowledge from laboratory and pilot scale to the scale of mining operations and creates new interfaces between different areas of science that can help to find new solutions for old problems.
Mining operations often expose large surfaces of bedrock containing sulphides and iron. In combination with water from precipitation or mining operation and oxygen an acid solution is formed. This so called acid mine drainage (AMD) or acid rock drainage (ARD) is typically characterized by high sulphate and toxic metal contents. The whole process is promoted by microorganisms like Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans which are living on pyrite by the metabolism of iron and sulphur to sulphuric acid. Forming of AMD does not stop once the mining operation shuts down. The acidification process can run for years and poses a threat to the environment. Thus a big number of areas polluted with AMD remain from historic mining activity. Today state of the art mining operations are designed to minimize the impact on the environment during operation as well as providing management and monitoring measures for the abandoned site. This is promoted through stricter mine operating requirements and enforced environmental standards. The technological development offers a broad scope of activities in the different scientific disciplines. Microbiologists (Chair of Environmental Microbiology, Prof. M. Schlömann) currently perform studies on the optimization of bioreactors treating mine waters with sulphate reducing bacteria that can neutralize acidic mine waters by generation of alkalinity and immobilize dissolved metals by precipitation as sulphides. Hydrogeochemists (Chair of Hydrogeology, Prof. B. Merkel) work on design and testing of sensors for the online monitoring of mine and process waters in particular for sulphate, carbon dioxide.and the redox potential. Chemists (Chair of Analytical Chemistry, Prof. M. Otto) perform investigations on micropollutants in mine waters with respect to inorganic but also in particular organic compounds. On the one side target compounds will be identified and on the other side cost effective monitoring techniques will be developed. Engineers (Chair of Thermal and Environmental Engineering, Prof. G. Härtel) are investigating new approaches to treat mine waters. Especially dissolved sulphate gained a new interest in the treatment since future regulations concerning water quality standards will be stricter than before. Therefore a wide range of water treatment technologies was searched for appropriate treatment devices and membrane technology was found to meet the necessary requirements. Still in the pipe is a Service Centre for Mine Water Technology that will assist customers with an on-call-service for any mine water related problems.
TU Bergakademie Freiberg
The TU Bergakademie Freiberg, founded in 1765 as school of mines, is one of the oldest academic institutions for mining and metallurgy in the world. Here such famous scientists as Alexander von Humboldt studied. Nowadays the TU Bergakademie developed to a university with four core themes — Geosciences, Materials, Energy and Environment. It belongs to the ten best research-focussed universities in Germany. In 2007 it obtained 23 million Euros in third-party funding. Within the scope of the ‘Centre of Knowledge Interchange' (CKI) the TU Bergakademie Freiberg and Siemens AG agreed in September 2006 to establish long-term and close cooperation in the areas of science and engineering. This particularly applies to research and development trends which are of great strategic importance to both partners. This places the TU Bergakademie Freiberg among the few universities worldwide with which Siemens AG exercises this very close cooperation in the fields of research and development. In this way the university possesses attractive possibilities to promote junior scientific staff. Contact: Prof. Dr. B. Merkel TU Bergakademie Freiberg - Department for Geology Gustav-Zeuner-Str. 12 • 09596 Freiberg/Sa. E-mail to: merkel@geo.tu-freiberg.de.
