New regulations that limit sulphates in surface water discharges along with increased interest in the  re-use of mine water for beneficial purposes are drivers for seeking improved methods for sulphate reduction.

Veolia Water Technologies has developed LoSO4, a proprietary process that removes sulphate from mine water while minimising reagent inputs to generate a clean water effluent for reuse or discharge. 

Veolia’s patented solution uses a two-stage precipitation process enhanced by Veolia technologies – Multiflo™ and Turbomix® – to reduce sulphate in mine water to <100 mg/l.

The effectiveness of the process relies upon the complete mixing, solids settling and sludge recirculation of the combined Turbomix and Multiflo technologies at each stage of the treatment train.

For high flow rates with lower sulphate concentrations, nanofiltration can be implemented, with LoSO4 applied to the membrane reject. This option minimises flow to the LoSO4 process and thereby reduces the cost.