Reduce the concentration of molybdenum, adjust the pH and comply with the environmental regulations “THE SOLUTION PROPOSED BY DEGREMONT INDUSTRY ALLOWED THE CLIENT TO REDUCE ITS CONCENTRATION OF MOLYBDENUM TO LESS THAN THE ORIGINALLY FIXED RATE, AND MEET THE VERY STRINGENT REGULATIONS IN PLACE IN THE COUNTRY” PAULINA CHINGA DOLAREA, PAMO’s Plant manager
Following the more and more stringent environmental regulations in the mining industry in Chile, our client Codelco had to reduce the concentration of molybdenum contained in the water, and adjust the pH. It was quiet a challenge considering the very high capacity of water to treat (2,5 m3/s). However, the reliable and safe solution proposed by Degremont Industry allowed the discharge to be below the 1 ppm of molybdenum concentration fixed as an objective and respond to the environmental regulations of the country.
Codelco is one of the giants of the global mining sector and is the world’s biggest copper producer. The PAMO site is on the El Teniente mine, 80 km from Santiago. The mine is the largest underground mine in the world, with 2,400 km of tunnels. Conscious of the environmental impact of its business, Codelco has selected Degremont Industry’s expertise in order to design & build, and then operate and maintain the molybdenum treatment plant. The operational challenge lies in managing the very polluted effluents whilst ensuring safety and reliability.
Engineering and procurement The solution proposed by Degremont Industry includes field supervision, functional testing, and technical training. - Inlet tank for incoming flow regulation or bypass - Precipitation and acidification tanks with mechanical mixers - 5 Densadeg™ (physical-chemical treatment ) - Neutralization tanks with mechanical mixers Sludge treatment: - Two liquid sludge storage tanks with thickening type mixers (V = 500 m3) - Three centrifuges (18.5 KW) - Two lagoons for two years final sludge storage Operations, Maintenance and Operational Monitoring The solution proposed by Degremont Industry covers the operation of all systems of the plant, preventive and corrective maintenance of all equipments, effluent monitoring and laboratory management, handling and disposal of sludge generated in the process, as well as the management of spare parts. The industrial wastewater facility is certified ISO-9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001.
Risk management by ensuring compliance and continuous operations Degremont Industry undertook design, build and operation of all the water treatment installation.
Safety and reliability 1,400 days with no accident on site. Preventive maintenance plans ensure the plant’s longevity and optimal asset preservation.