Membrane technologies and applications in mining processes

In mining, membranes are used in different areas such as treatment of mining wastewater, precious metal recovery from wastewater, the concentration of loaded leach solutions and recovery of precious metals, Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) treatment, acid, caustic, and cyanide recovery. In mining, membranes are preferred because of their low cost, easy operation, environmentally friendly, selective, high removal efficiency, and take up less space. In this study, the membrane applications used by the mining industry in the world and our country have been evaluated in light of the latest developments in membrane technology. According to these evaluations, critical properties of membranes such as cost and clogging problems have been improved with the development of innovative membrane processes. Membrane costs and operating pressures have decreased significantly, and the problem of clogging and contamination has become controllable. Thus, its use for different purposes in the mining industry on a global scale has become widespread and an ideal method. In our country, along with ongoing studies, it is foreseen that this technology has recently become widespread in mining. © 2021 Union of Chambers of Engineers and Architects of Turkey. All rights reserved.