BUREAU OF MINES RESEARCH ON LIQUID EFFLUENTS.

Environmental concerns influence and may inhibit the extraction of metals and nonmetallic minerals from both ores and mineral-based wastes. By devising safe, cost effective methods of alleviating waste disposal problems, such as those associated with liquid effluents, the Bureau of Mines can make available technology that helps assure continued use of domestic sources for nonfuel minerals. This technology often produces the added benefit of recovering valuable products from waste materials. Liquid wastes under investigation by the Bureau result from minerals processing and hydrometallurgical operations. Filtration, flocculation, precipitation, and electrowinning are some of the techniques currently considered for processing these wastes. The article summarizes two specific research projects.