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Dessalinização de água da Mina de Sal-Gema em Loulé para usos urbanos não potáveis e reutilização de sal
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| 2.85 MB | Adobe PDF |
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Abstract(s)
O grande crescimento populacional, as alterações climáticas, a industrialização e os atuais padrões de consumo têm gerado uma procura cada vez maior de água em todo o mundo. Cada vez mais pessoas vivem em condições de escassez e a extração de água dos ecossistemas aquáticos naturais tem levado à destruição de habitats e de biodiversidade. Em simultâneo, consome-se muita água tratada para consumo humano para usos urbanos que não requerem água potável. É necessário a adopção de medidas mais sustentáveis, ajustadas a cada realidade e que incluam a integração de origens alternativas de água para estes usos, nomeadamente a dessalinização.
Este estudo pretendeu responder a um desafio lançado por uma empresa que gere uma mina de sal-gema no Algarve, e que pretende encontrar uma solução para grandes volumes acumulados de água salgada. Para isso de janeiro a outubro de 2021 desenvolveu-se e instalou-se um sistema experimental de dessalinização solar in situ devidamente monitorizado, de forma a permitir otimizar a produção de água dessalinizada e em simultâneo recolher sal para posterior utilização em atividades locais. Os resultados obtidos até ao momento indicam que nestas condições experimentais o tanque médio com a cobertura de policarbonato foi o que apresentou maior produtividade de 0,62 L/dia.m² e que permitiu a recuperação de 185 g de sal por dia. De acordo com os usos urbanos externos não potáveis identificados nas proximidades da mina confirmou-se um grande potencial de utilização desta água dessalinizada, principalmente para lavagens de espaços exteriores e de contentores de resíduos sólidos urbanos, permitindo a poupança de cerca de 18 m3/mês de água tratada para consumo humano. Também o sal recuperado, por não apresentar evidências de contaminação química, poderá ter múltiplas utilizações na região do Algarve, nomeadamente, desinfeção de águas para usos recreativos em piscinas e parques aquáticos, tratamentos de talassoterapia e em indústrias alimentares, podendo ser um importante contributo para a economia circular.
Population growth, climate change, heavy industrialization and current consumption patterns have generated an ever-increasing demand for water around the globe. More and more people live in scarcity conditions and the extraction of water from natural aquatic ecosystems has led to the destruction of habitats and biodiversity. At the same time, treated drinking water for human comsumption is used for urban uses that do not require water with such quality. It is necessary to adopt more sustainable actions, adjusted to each reality, including the integration of alternative sources of water for these uses, i.e., desalination. This study aimed to respond to a challenge made by a company that manages a rock salt mine in Algarve region, and intends to find a solution for a large accumulated volume of salt water. From January to October 2021 an experimental solar desalination system in situ was developed, installed and properly monitored, in order to optimize the production of desalinated water and at the same time retrieve salt for subsequent use in local activities. The results obtained so far indicate that under these experimental conditions the medium size tank with polycarbonate cover was the one with the highest productivity of 0,62 L/day.m² and allowed a recovery of 185 g of salt per day. According to the non-potable external urban uses identified in the mine region, there is a great potential for this desalinated water use, mainly for washing outdoor spaces and urban solid waste containers, allowing savings of around 18 m³/month of treated water for human consumption. Also the recovered salt, as it does not show evidence of chemical contamination, may have multiple uses in Algarve, such as disinfection of water for recreational uses in swimming pools and water parks, thalassotherapy treatments and in food industries, and may be an important contribution to the circular economy.
Population growth, climate change, heavy industrialization and current consumption patterns have generated an ever-increasing demand for water around the globe. More and more people live in scarcity conditions and the extraction of water from natural aquatic ecosystems has led to the destruction of habitats and biodiversity. At the same time, treated drinking water for human comsumption is used for urban uses that do not require water with such quality. It is necessary to adopt more sustainable actions, adjusted to each reality, including the integration of alternative sources of water for these uses, i.e., desalination. This study aimed to respond to a challenge made by a company that manages a rock salt mine in Algarve region, and intends to find a solution for a large accumulated volume of salt water. From January to October 2021 an experimental solar desalination system in situ was developed, installed and properly monitored, in order to optimize the production of desalinated water and at the same time retrieve salt for subsequent use in local activities. The results obtained so far indicate that under these experimental conditions the medium size tank with polycarbonate cover was the one with the highest productivity of 0,62 L/day.m² and allowed a recovery of 185 g of salt per day. According to the non-potable external urban uses identified in the mine region, there is a great potential for this desalinated water use, mainly for washing outdoor spaces and urban solid waste containers, allowing savings of around 18 m³/month of treated water for human consumption. Also the recovered salt, as it does not show evidence of chemical contamination, may have multiple uses in Algarve, such as disinfection of water for recreational uses in swimming pools and water parks, thalassotherapy treatments and in food industries, and may be an important contribution to the circular economy.
Description
Keywords
Origem alternativa de água não potável Dessalinização solar Sal Economia circular Loulé