UCGWATERplus aims at remediating waters polluted with organic and inorganic contaminants as a result of the operation of underground coal gasification (UCG) plants. Three remediation strategies are contemplated: (1) (electro)coagulation, (2) the use of polymer- and carbon-based adsorbents derived from coal by-products and residues, thus contributing to revalorization of the latter as a positive side-effect of the action, and (3) bioremediation based on constructed wetlands. Combinations of these methods are explored for maximum decontamination efficiency, while also analyzing their technical and economic feasibility. The utility of the developed materials and decontamination strategies beyond UCG water remediation is addressed as well.
Underground coal gasification (UCG) can be considered as one of the clean coal technologie. However, the UCG process in situ carries some environmental risks, related mainly to the potential negative impact on UCG post-processing waters. Wastewater from UCG is an example of industrial wastewater with an extremely complex matrix, containing large quantities of organic and inorganic pollutants. Wastewater generated during UCG has a similar composition to coking wastewaters. Specific parameters and high concentration of pollutants create unique condition to growth specific microorganisms. Microbial diversity of extreme environmnets is reached because of biotechnological potential microbes.