Potential Technologies for the Removal and Recovery of Nitrogen Compounds From Mine and Quarry Waters in Subarctic Conditions

Many technologies currently available for nitrogen removal are not suitable for the treatment of mine and quarry wastewaters containing nitrogenous compounds, particularly in cold environments, due to high treatment costs or stringent operating parameters. A combination of geochemical sorption and electrochemical techniques is potentially most suitable for the treatment of large volumes of wastewater containing multiple nitrogenous compounds. Electrochemical processes utilizing enhanced ammonia stripping coupled with sorption techniques to preconcentrate nitrogenous compounds potentially suits a large volume wastewater stream with low total nitrogen concentration, requires only low electrical potential for operation, and may result in an ammonium product for reuse.