Electrochemical Oxidation of Ammonia-Laden Wastewater in the Mining Industry

Ammonia is a common contaminant in municipalities where human waste causes nitrification of local water bodies. In mining, ammonia contamination occurs as a by-product of biological water treatment, from the use of ANFO in explosives, and from the exposure of ammonia rich soils during the excavation process. In particular, gold mine effluents represent a significant source of Ammonia and Nitrogen based contaminants. Current biological and abiotic treatment processes are difficult to employ at the scale required at mine sites due to the high operating costs, or are limited in effectiveness due to a lack of natural resources required for effective treatment. This paper evaluates the use of electrooxidation treatment as a cost effective method for Ammonia treatment, which overcomes the limitations faced by biological and chemical methods.