Mining Institute of the Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Apatity, Murmansk region, Russia):
Skorohodov V. F., Leading Researcher, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, skorohodov@goi.kolasc.net.ru
Kitaeva A. S., Junior Researcher
Nikitin R. M., Researcher

Wastewater treatment is an important component in a set of measures to reduce the negative impact of man-made factors on water bodies at mining enterprises. The Mining Institute at the Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences has developed a method for industrial effluent treatment with the use of a carbon-mineral sorbent (a highly porous oleophilic material) formed in the heat treatment of vermiculite with incomplete hydrocarbon fuel combustion. The resulting sorbent has the chemical resistance inherent in vermiculite, high mechanical strength and base exchange properties, while carbon deposition triggers hydrophobization of the outer and inner surfaces of the particles. The basic device for the implementation of the new wastewater treatment method is a flotation machine for the separation of minerals in activated aqueous dispersions of air. The operation principle behind this wastewater treatment device is based on the ability of activated gas bubbles to interact with induced hydrophobic flocculated contaminants present in industrial wastewater. The advantages of the new method include improved removal of undesirable impurities from the water treated through the combined implementation of several processes achieved by introducing a modified natural sorbent and activated aqueous dispersions of air into the working area of the device, which ensure increased surface area at the interphase boundary and specific sorption surface area.

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