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Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

Reagent treatment of fluorin-containing wastewater from the processing industry

Authors:
Yuliya D. Peresunko1
Anastasiya A. Pisareva2
Sergei V. Azopkov3
Evgenii N. Kuzin4
Nataliya E. Kruchinina5
About authors
  • 1 — Engineer Dmitry Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia ▪ Orcid
  • 2 — Engineer Institute of Comprehensive Exploitation of Mineral Resources RAS ▪ Orcid
  • 3 — Ph.D. Head of Laboratory Dmitry Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia ▪ Orcid
  • 4 — Ph.D., Dr.Sci. Head of Department Dmitry Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia ▪ Orcid
  • 5 — Ph.D., Dr.Sci. Dean Dmitry Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia ▪ Orcid
Date submitted:
2025-01-31
Date accepted:
2025-10-09
Online publication date:
2025-12-10

Abstract

Fluorine‑containing wastewater is one of the main problems of the mining and processing industries. Mining, dressing, and sulphuric acid digestion of apatite concentrate – all these processes are accompanied by the generation of vast amounts of wastewater with elevated fluoride content, which pose a serious threat to the environment. Conventional methods do not always allow achieving the required discharge standards, which in turn necessitates the search for alternative reagents. The main objective of this work is to assess the possibility of using waste from the mining and smelting sector (phosphochalk, magnesia scrap, dust from gas cleaning units) as precipitating reagents for the first stage of fluoride ion removal, followed by tertiary treatment with complex titanium‑containing coagulants. We conducted experiments to select reagents and their dosages, the use of which will allow achieving the lowest residual fluoride concentrations in water. We found that using calcium/magnesium hydroxides does not allow meeting the standards for residual fluoride anion content. To achieve maximum precipitation efficiency, a 30 % excess of precipitating reagents is required. The study confirms that large‑volume mineral waste can serve as precipitating reagents for fluoride ion, with treatment efficiencies of 94 % for phosphochalk, 90 % for magnesia refractory scrap, and 99 % for gas cleaning units. We proved the effectiveness of complex titanium‑containing coagulants for water defluorination in comparison with conventional coagulants (aluminium oxychloride/aluminium sulphate). The use of a complex reagent not only significantly reduces coagulant consumption and minimizes residual fluoride anion content, but also substantially intensifies precipitation (by 1.5-1.75 times) and filtration of coagulation sludges (by 1.25-1.5 times). The developed conceptual diagram for wastewater defluorination using large‑volume waste and complex titanium‑containing reagents allows significantly reducing the level of negative environmental impact and taking a step towards implementing the circular economy concept.

Область исследования:
Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
Keywords:
wastewater mining industry fluorides defluorination chemical precipitation titanium containing complex coagulants
Online First

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