<![CDATA[PT X implements the geotube method to treat mine water from the sump containing total suspended solids (TSS) of approximately ±6500 mg/l. This concentration significantly exceeds the environmental quality standard (EQS), which is set at 100 mg/l. Therefore, the water must undergo a treatment process before it can be safely discharged into the environment. The geotube method was selected to reduce the use of alum, which has previously contributed to the reduced service life of the settling pond. Through this method, Settling Pond 11 is expected to be utilized for a longer operational period. This study employed experimental and observational methods focusing on the use of chemical additives in the sludge separation process prior to entering the geotube. Several aspects considered in this study include land availability, the effectiveness of chemical products, slurry pump discharge, and the volume of sludge processed into the geotube system. The chemical used in this study was the flocculant Kemira Superfloc A1300 HMW. With a land area of 1 hectare, the site is capable of accommodating nine geotube units, with a target sludge pumping capacity of 55,000 m³ within 20 days. Based on the observations, the geotube method has proven to be effective, rapid, and efficient, and demonstrates advantages compared to conventional methods such as pump and haul. However, the installation process requires a longer preparation time of approximately 2–3 weeks and involves higher initial costs. The geotube method is capable of handling a larger volume of sludge, reaching 55,000 m³ within 20 days, whereas the conventional method can only handle approximately 18,000 m³ within the same period. Furthermore, the environmental impact of the geotube method is relatively lower due to the minimal risk of leakage compared to the conventional method, where leakage frequently occurs in mudco. In addition, the solid material produced from the geotube process also has potential for further reuse.]]>
Copyrights © 2025
