For smaller flows and metal loadings, or for other situations where the installation of a bioreactor is not justified due to either technical or economic reasons, BioteQ has developed and commercialized the ChemSulphide^TM process which uses chemical sulphide reagents to remove and recover metals from contaminated water. The following schematic flowsheet shows that following metal precipitation in the contactor, the flowsheet and process operation is the same as in the BioSulphide® Process.

In the ChemSulphide™ Process, chemical sulphide is added to the contactor tank where it mixes with the water to be treated under controlled conditions to selectively precipitate metals as a metal sulphide. The precipitated metals and water are pumped to a clarifier tank where the clean water is separated from the metal solids and discharged or recycled. The metal solids are filtered to remove excess water, producing a high grade metal sulphide product suitable for refining. To recover separate metal sulphide products, separate contactor and clarifier tanks are set up in series.

Metals that can be recovered into valuable products include copper, zinc, nickel and cobalt. Toxic metals such as arsenic, antimony, lead, cadmium, and manganese are also removed from the water.

BioteQ’s ChemSulphide™ Process is used to treat acid mine drainage, leach solutions, industrial wastewater, water in mineral processing operations, and contaminated groundwater.

BioteQ is presently operating a ChemSulphide™ plant at the Raglan mine site in Quebec owned by Xstrata. New ChemSulphide™ plants are in construction in Australia, China, and the US. Click here for more information about BioteQ’s operations and developing projects.

Benefits of BioteQ’s ChemSulphide™ Process:

• Eliminates or reduces the environmental liability caused by metal-contaminated water.
• Metal recovery rate is greater than 99%; recovered metal products are high grade and suitable for refining.
• Recovered metals can generate revenue to offset water treatment costs.
• Produces high quality treated water that can be discharged safely to the environment.
• Saves money compared to alternative processes.
• Suitable for small flows and lower grade solutions.