Situation and prospects of treatment technologies for mine water containing ammonia nitrogen

As the discharge standards for mine water treatment become more stringent, the requirements for effective removal of ammonia nitrogen from mine water are strongly needed. While there are several methods available for treating ammonia nitrogen in wastewater, there is relative scarcity of literature addressing the treatment of mine water specifically containing ammonia nitrogen. To address this issue, this paper conducted a comprehensive analysis of the sources and characteristics of ammonia nitrogen in mine water. It also reviewed various primary technologies used for treating low concentrations of ammonia nitrogen in wastewater, including ion exchange, adsorption, oxidation, membrane separation, and biological methods. The paper aimed to provide technical support for the treatment of ammonia nitrogen-containing mine water in China. The findings of the study reveal that ammonia nitrogen in mine water primarily originates from three sources: Naturally high ammonia nitrogen content in groundwater, the usage of emulsion, dust suppressants, grouting, and gelling materials in the underground coal production process, and the lateral recharge from polluted surface water containing ammonia nitrogen. Ammonia nitrogen-containing mine water is characterized by relatively low ammonia nitrogen content (generally