In Situ Ammonia Treatment Feasibility Evaluation and Barrel Trails

project overview

Integrated Sustainability supported evaluation of in situ treatment strategies for ammonia in the tailings impoundment area by conducting a phased assessment followed by controlled barrel-scale trials. The initial feasibility study identified ammonia assimilation as the most practical option and was followed by custom testing at our facility to refine dosing, timeframes, and geochemical effects. These efforts provide a defensible foundation for scaling the technology toward implementation.

project deliverables

• Performed a site-specific feasibility assessment of in situ ammonia treatment options to assess suitability of mSource-based assimilation.
• Developed a technology maturation roadmap and summarized technical risks, implementation timelines, and potential next steps should in situ treatment be viable.
• Completed selenium speciation analysis using targeted samples to identify cause and form of selenium increases, and linked findings to source control or treatment strategies.
• Designed and executed barrel-scale trials with tailings and water to test ammonia assimilation.
• Conducted jar-scale trials under controlled laboratory conditions to refine dosing requirements, validate temperature-specific responses, and target early-stage treatment kinetics.
• Evaluated time to treatment, residual nutrient impacts, and changes in tailings geochemical stability; incorporated microbiological and algal community profiling along with real-time nutrient tracking.