Dexing, China

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BioteQ operates a water treatment plant at the Dexing Mine, an active copper mine in China, in a 50-50 joint venture with Jiangxi Copper Company. The plant applies BioteQ’s ChemSulphide® process to treat wastewater produced by mine drainage from waste dumps and low grade stockpiles, removing dissolved copper and ferric iron, and producing treated water that is re-used at the mine site. BioteQ operates the plant on behalf of the joint venture.

The plant has a capacity of 1,000 m3/h, and has been operating since early 2008. Annual production capacity is expected to gradually ramp up to 3.6 million pounds of copper.

Design and construction of a second water treatment circuit is underway at the site, applying a novel ion-exchange process developed by BioteQ to concentrate dissolved cobalt and nickel for recovery.

BioteQ’s water treatment processes deliver lower life cycle costs for water treatment, and enhance environmental performance at the Dexing site. For example, in 2009, the Dexing plant treated 5.5 million m3 of water and removed close to 1.7 million pounds of copper from the environment. The plant generated an operating profit for the joint venture, ensuring that the water treatment plant is both economically and environmentally sustainable.

Construction of the plant improved overall site water management and protected an important wetland from heavy metal pollution. BioteQ has also assisted the owner with the design and operation of two high density sludge lime plants on the large site.

The Dexing water treatment plant won the 2008 China Mining Environmental Protection Award, recognizing BioteQ’s sustainable technology and Jiangxi Copper Company’s leadership in protecting and preserving the environment.

Project Benefits

The application of BioteQ’s technology at the Dexing Mine has economic and environmental benefits. The plant:

  • Removes heavy metals from the environment, producing saleable metal products that can be recycled into useful products, offsetting the cost of water treatment.
  • Produces clean water that is recycled at the mine site.
  • Reduces the production of sludge at the site’s lime treatment plant.
  • Reduces the environmental liability associated with metal-contaminated water.
  • Reduces the overall cost of water treatment at the site.