Neutralization Pond Optimization at a Zinc Plant in Belgium

Location: Northeast Belgium

Region: Europe-Africa

Service Offering: Analytics & Research, Engineering & Design, Environmental Planning & Management

Market Sector: Natural Resources & Mining, Industrial & Commercial

Status: Complete

The plant produces about 75,000 tons of dry Goethite tailing materials and 75,000 tons of dry neutralization sludge that have been stored in ponds along with other tailing materials since the early 1970s. A neutralization pond on the site used a wet-disposal technique that had become outdated and was nearing its capacity. The client wanted to optimize the total storage capacity of the neutralization pond for future disposal of tailing and wastes, including the Goethite, wastewater treatment plant residues and flotation tailing materials.

The study developed a plan for simultaneous consolidation and final cover of part of the neutralization pond while continuing tailing disposal in other parts of the pond. The plan included solutions that would ensure the stability of external dams on the neutralization pond and adjacent ponds during and after the works; ensure lifetime stability of the final rehabilitated neutralization pond; prevent leachate from seeping into the ground; create an environmentally sustainable site with vegetation; and prevent additional negative environmental impact.

The team prepared two mechanical treatment scenarios, one that would treat the Goethite and neutralized residues separately; the other would treat them together. The proposed operational disposal plan used the internal dikes to divide the pond into four cells so wet residues could be pumped to the treatment facility and where dry residues can be stored in an empty cell. By reinforcing the internal dikes (making them higher and wider) a clear separation between wet and dry residues was created, allowing installation of the final cover in four phases to facilitate leachate control.

MWH then worked closely with the client to prepare conceptual design, completed detailed engineering of the plant, tender documents, bid evaluation and cost estimates. The treatment plant is composed of a dredging device to pump old residues from the neutralization pond to the treatment plant, residue conditioning, dewatering by filter presses, stockpiling and compaction of dewatered residues in the neutralization pond, filtrate management for reuse and treatment, and a management plan for stockpiling treated residues.