Global Water and Technology News:

Shell Launches New Oilsands Tailings Technology
New Technology Magazine- August 27
Shell Canada Limited announced this week the start-up of a commercial-scale atmospheric fines drying field demonstration project for managing tailings from its oilsands operations, part of an industry move to lessen the impact of oilsands mine tailings on the environment. The technology involves using a large barge to collect mature fine tailings (MFT) from the tailings pond and transfer them to the drying area. The MFT are then mixed with flocculants — chemical agents which help bring the fine clay particles in the MFT together — and placed on a sloped surface to help speed up the release of water from the clay. Shell received regulatory approval for operation of the project on Aug. 6. The demonstration project is located at its Muskeg River Mine, which occupies over 75 acres. The demonstration project is expected to deliver a final deposit of some 250,000 tonnes.

Stormwater runoff treatment technology approved by EPA
Water World- August 9
AbTech Industries is pleased to announce that its innovative Smart Sponge® Plus technology has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the reduction of harmful coliform bacteria in stormwater runoff, responsible for 20,000 beach closures per year. Smart Sponge has long been a cost-effective technology proven to remove oil and other pollutants from stormwater runoff. Smart Sponge Plus contains an antimicrobial agent that is effective in reducing coliform bacteria found in stormwater, industrial wastewater, and municipal wastewater. These types of persistent pollution have been described as "death by a thousand cuts." No one event typically causes dramatic problems, but the gradual buildup of these pollutants in U.S. waterways has a huge environmental impact.

Edmonton firm finds treasure in oilsands tailings
Calgary Herald - July 23
With the goal of creating value from waste, an Alberta corporation intends to extract valuable minerals -- as well as millions of barrels of bitumen, solvents and water -- from froth normally piped into oilsands tailings ponds.Edmonton-based Titanium Corp., which is installing a final demonstration project at the federal CanmetENERGY lab in Devon, expects its system will be ready for the commercial market next year.