Alireza Farahani

New Possibilities for Wastewater Treatment with Innovative Reagents

by Alireza Farahani | Jan 23, 2024 | News, Updates

In recent years, wastewater treatment has emerged as a pressing concern for mining companies worldwide. However, a prevailing trend has seen many of these companies adopting an avoidance strategy due to the limited availability of suitable reagents. Among these reagents, lime and its compounds have taken center stage, serving as primary neutralization agents for addressing Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) and acidic water in mining operations.

While lime and sodium hydroxide have proven effective in generating high-pH solutions for acid neutralization, their hazardous nature poses significant challenges. This reliance on potent alkaline substances has resulted in unintended consequences, including a culture of denial, evasion, and avoidance within the mining sector when confronted with the imperative of ARD wastewater treatment.

Consequently, the prevalence of these avoidance tactics has contributed to the establishment of vast water storages, leaving them susceptible to flooding and breach. This, in turn, has led to diminished Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) scores for water stewardship within the industry.

In the following brief paper, we delve deeper into the ramifications of this avoidance strategy and explore potential solutions to address the challenges facing wastewater treatment in the mining sector. Through innovative approaches and a commitment to sustainability, we aim to chart a path towards more responsible water management practices within the mining industry.

PMAP to be presented at Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada

by Alireza Farahani | Jan 15, 2024 | Events

PMAP (Professional Mine Water Action Plan) President and principal engineer will be presenting at Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada on February 13th, 2024. He will be presenting about the possible applications of PMAP in the oil and gas industry: PMAP revolutionizes oil sand tailings treatment by employing an Unmanned Smart Dispensing Vessel (USDV) and eco-friendly reagents for in-situ wastewater treatment. In-situ treatment eliminates the need for utility power, making PMAP a sustainable, cost-effective solution for oil sand tailings, improving environmental impact and water treatment in the oil sand industry. Key technology components include the Unmanned Smart Dispensing Vessel (USDV) and controlled release of innovative neutralization reagents. The USDV optimizes treatment by continuously monitoring water in tailings and injecting the optimum reagent amount through iterative cycles. This adaptive learning process maximizes efficiency and minimizes costs. PMAP eliminates the need for large-scale treatment facilities, hence, reducing CAPEX. In addition, using the USDV cuts operating costs to %50. PMAP efficiently removes metals, including silica, nickel, copper, and cobalt, reducing arsenic, aluminum, and iron to undetectable levels. The PMAP reagent outperforms traditional methods, preventing pH overshoot and reducing sludge volume, boosting ESG scores.

PMAP’s Revolutionary Unmanned Smart Dispensing Vessel (USDV) Hits the Road, Delivery Imminent.

by Alireza Farahani | Jan 5, 2024 | Updates

In a leap towards advancing water treatment in mining, the PMAP Mine Water Unmanned Smart Dispensing Vessel (#USDV), successfully designed and constructed in the latter half of 2023, is set to reach its destination at PMAP’s warehouse in Vancouver in the next couple of days. This state-of-the-art vessel is poised to redefine the way we monitor quality and treat water in tailings ponds.

The PMAP USDV showcases a myriad of features aimed at optimizing water quality through smart surveying and precise chemical dispersion. Key capabilities include:

Smart surveying: employing advanced algorithms, the vessel estimates optimal survey lines on the pond by scrutinizing pond geometry and available information.
Data collection (bathymetry): executing data collection trips on the pond, the vessel gathers comprehensive bathymetric data, enhancing the assessment of water quality.
Optimized reagent dispensing: the PMAP USDV calculates the necessary PMAP reagent amount at each node and determines the optimum injection procedure.
Closed-loop feedback system: the vessel conducts continuous data collection before and after each injection step, leveraging a closed-loop feedback system.

The imminent delivery of the PMAP USDV signifies a significant stride towards an environmentally friendly and precise effluent treatment in the mining industry. The unmanned capabilities and intelligent systems reduce the dependence on human intervention, making it a safer, cost effective, and efficient solution for water management in the mining sector.

Stay tuned for updates on future tests, demonstrations, and on-the-ground deployment of the USDV in the weeks and months ahead.

AI for cost reduction in mining wastewater treatment

by Alireza Farahani | Dec 22, 2023 | Articles

The marriage of artificial intelligence and wastewater treatment in mining heralds a new era of boosted ESG, cost efficiency, and financial benefits. PMAP Mine Water technology stands as a testament to the potential of AI-driven innovations in addressing environmental challenges while optimizing operational processes in the mining industry. In a recent tech brief below, Mohsen Barkh, sheds light on the advantages of utilizing AI in wastewater treatment. By leveraging AI capabilities in monitoring, controlling, and adapting to chemical reactions, PMAP transforms tailing ponds into a network of reaction columns. This innovative approach allows for the individual management of each reactor, treating the entire pond as a unified body of water, all without the need for extensive treatment facilities.

See details in pdf below.