The system by Envirogen Technologies employs a fluidized bed reactor to treat selenium-laden coal mining waters flowing from less than 100 to far more than 3000 gallons per minute.

Mine operators using the equipment can reduce wastewater selenium levels to lower than 5 micrograms per liter, even in the presence of high levels of nitrate.

The company says the remotely monitored units can be delivered in standard ISO containers and can be relocated as treatment goals evolve on site.

Envirogen vice president David Enegess said the system’s mobility suited coal mining’s demand for equipment flexibility.

“Coal mining is a very dynamic activity, often conducted in rough, remote terrain,” he said.

“Sometimes it is impractical to pipe all the selenium-containing mining waters to a single, centralized facility from both cost and logistics standpoints.”

“These systems become an asset that may be relocated if treatment locations vary on one site or across multiple sites through time.”

Envirogen specializes in process water treatment, hydrocarbon processing, byproduct recovery and chemical purification.

The company’s fluidized bed reactor technology has been deemed the “best in class” for performance and cost effectiveness by an independent study for the North American Metals Council.