Membrane System for Selenium Removal in a Mining Application

In this work, a full-scale 2.9 MGD open-platform (UF) system was implemented as pretreatment to an RO system for selenium removal from a mine-influenced surface water. Multiple concepts are analyzed including (1) the importance of pretreatment chemistry and understanding contaminant speciation, (2) the value and practical considerations of open-platform UF design, with a highlight of project-specific customization and performance, and (3) creative operational techniques including a unique backwashing strategy to achieve strict final blended permeate/backwash waste selenium concentration below the regulatory standard.