Development of Engineering Solutions for Industrial Wastewater Treatment of Alumina Production

Abstract

To reduce the environmental impact of the alumina production sludge storage facility, engineering solutions were developed for the local treatment of wastewater and surface runoff from the industrial storm drainage system. The proposed system prevents the discharge of untreated wastewater into natural water bodies and ensures the return of treated water for reuse in the technological process of alumina and soda byproduct production. It is noted that the implementation of local treatment facilities will allow the accumulation not only of industrial storm drainage wastewater but also of effluents from sludge ponds, thereby preventing their discharge into a technogenic stream in the sludge storage area and ensuring treatment to the established regulatory standards. It is concluded that the return of treated wastewater to the process of nepheline ore processing reduces the withdrawal of fresh water from the river by 14 million m³ per year.