The DEMINE Tool is an excel running tool that has been developed to help environmental managers in industry and administrations in the decision on the best technology for the management of waste effluents, considering several impact categories and technology variables. The DEMINE tool could be also considered as an additional tool to help end-users to decide on the final configuration of the Mining Effluent Treatment Process (METP) Technology, so it is also a way to demonstrate the advantages of METP in comparison with other alternatives.
The DEMINE tool was tested, and a demonstration of its usefulness was done in a real case with the collaboration of the Government of Principality of Asturias. Furthermore, the didactic version of the tool was part of the features in the End-User Experience – The case of Principality of Asturias (see Deliverable B.5). Also, the DEMINE tool has been shown in networking activities and dissemination activities.
The DEMINE tool consists of a simplified life cycle assessment (LCA) of the DEMINE technology to quantify the potential environmental impacts of the mining effluent treatment process in different water streams where the technology could be installed. It is an excel running tool that models the potential benefits of installing the METP in a given area by comparing the environmental burdens of 3 scenarios: i) adopting the technology, ii) adopting the technology and using only green energy, and iii) not adopting the technology and keeping the pollution source. Furthermore, it also shows the potential pollutant removal when using the technology and compares the results with current regulatory limits for metals in water bodies and water for human consumption.
The DEMINE tool is available on the DEMINE website and can be used under an Attribution-Non-Commercial license (CC BY-NC).
