# US 2016/0257580 A1 · Amelioration of acid mine drainage

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- Number: US 2016/0257580 A1
- Document ID: US20160257580A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/031,555
- Filed: 2014-10-23
- Published: 2016-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2013-10-25
- Assignees: Lanxess Sybron Chemicals Inc.
- Applicants: LANXESS Sybron Chemicals, Inc.
- Inventors: Philip W. FATULA; Anthony P. TIRIO; Lillianne FALCO; Wilwood MATTHEWS
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160257580A1

## CPC

- C02F 1/42: by ion-exchange (ion-exchange in general B01J)
- B01J 41/05: in the strongly basic form
- B01J 41/07: in the weakly basic form
- B01J 41/14: obtained by reactions only involving unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bonds
- B01J 49/07: containing anionic exchangers
- B01J 49/57: for anionic exchangers
- C01B 7/035: {Preparation of hydrogen chloride from chlorides}
- C02F 2001/422: {using anionic exchangers}
- C02F 2101/101: {Sulfur compounds}
- C02F 2103/10: from quarries or from mining activities
- C02F 2303/16: Regeneration of sorbents, filters
- C02F 2303/22: Eliminating or preventing deposits, scale removal, scale prevention (C02F1/042, C02F1/4602, C02F5/00 take precedence)
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}

## Abstract

A process for the amelioration of acid mine drainage useful in shale hydrolyic fracturing operations for the production of natural gas involving the exchange of sulfate and chloride ions by an ion exchange resin so as to produce hydrochloric acid and water for use in hydrolyic fracturing operations from acid mine drainage.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for treating acid mine drainage, comprising:
contacting, in one or more contacting vessels, an anion exchange resin in chloride form with acid mine drainage solution containing hydrogen sulfate for exchange of sulfate ions and chloride ions to form an anion exchange resin in sulfate form and an effluent comprising hydrogen chloride,
contacting, in the one or more contacting vessels, the anion exchange resin in sulfate form with a salt solution of a neutral chloride salt for exchange of sulfate ions and chloride ions to form a regenerated anion exchange resin in chloride form and an eluate comprising sodium sulfate, and
depositing at least a portion of the effluent comprising hydrogen chloride underground.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the ion exchange resin is a weakly basic anion exchange resin.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The process according to claim 2, wherein the weakly basic anion exchange resin is a crosslinked, monodisperse, macroporous, polystyrene resin functionalized with tertiary amine groups and in chloride form.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the ion exchange resin is a strongly basic anion exchange resin.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The process according to claim 4, wherein the strongly basic anion exchange resin is a crosslinked, monodisperse, macroporous, polystyrene resin functionalized with quarternary ammonium groups and in chloride form.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, further comprising combining the effluent with a frac fluid additive.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The process according to claim 6, wherein the frac fluid additive is selected from scale inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors, biocides, viscosity modifiers, lubricants, surfactants, oxygen scavengers, proppants, and other additive compounds, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein depositing of at least a portion of the effluent comprises:
adding the effluent to a frac fluid aboveground to form a second frac fluid, and
introducing the second frac fluid underground.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The process according to claim 8, wherein underground is subterranea.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, alternatively comprising concentrating the effluent to concentrate the hydrogen chloride.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The process according to claim 10, further comprising concentrating the effluent to concentrate the hydrogen chloride to at least about 10% HCl in water.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The process according to claim 11, further comprising concentrating the effluent by at least one of: thermal, chemical or physical concentration methods.