The application of membrane bioreactors (MBRs) to wastewater treatment is increasing due to their ability to operate at high biomass concentrations and to deliver effluents of high quality. The major challenges associated with the application of MBRs is fouling which can shorten the useful life of the membrane, increase in the amount of energy consumed, and the cost for membrane cleaning. The main reasons for fouling are the deposition of solids as a cake layer, pore plugging by colloidal particles, adsorption of soluble compounds and biofouling. Fouling is a particular problem for activated sludge membrane bioreactors (AS-MBRs) since this process deals with liquors having a high concentration of total solids as well as dissolved compounds such as extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The combination of a moving bed biofilm reactor and a membrane reactor (MBBR-MR) has significant potential. It may be considered as a compact wastewater treatment process which can compensate for the drawbacks of AS-MBRs. Readily biodegradable COD is removed in the MBBR while particulate matter is separated by the membrane. To further reduce the membrane fouling the effects of adding an intermediate coagulation stage was investigated critically on membrane fouling. The present study includes an overall assessment of the performance of a combined MBBR-MR system, based on the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency and membrane fouling mechanism. The required test runs were conducted using pilot-scale MBBR and ultra filtration membrane. The pilot MBBR had a working volume of 1.8 m3 with a 60% carrier fill fraction. The MBBR was operated with loading rate of 78 ± 21 g/m2/d (HRT of 4 h). The ultra-filtration was spiral wound and composed of polyethersulfone (PES) with a pore size of 0.03 microns. The MBBR feed was obtained from a final treated wastewater effluent in a food processing plant located in SW Ontario. In this research, ferric chloride was also employed as a coagulant and influences of different coagulant doses and permeate fluxes on membrane fouling were studied. Based on the experimental results, it was found that the combination of MBBR with membrane filtration can produce a constant high quality permeate that is appropriate for water reuse purposes. The composition analysis of permeate showed that the stream is free of suspended solids and the average COD turns to 75 ± 25 mg/l. In addition, the MBBR had a SCOD removal of 76% ± 7% which is considered as a reasonable efficiency for a single reactor. Operating the membrane without adding coagulant caused rapid fouling in a short time period and the Trans Membrane Pressure (TMP) reached the maximum allowable pressure of 10 psi. However, addition of coagulant was found to decrease the fouling of the membrane as well as increasing the filtration time. The extent of the pre-coagulation effect on membrane fouling was found to strongly depend on the dosage of the coagulant and the MBBR effluent characteristics. A coagulant dose of 400 mg/l with a permeate flux of 7.6 LMH performed the best at reducing membrane fouling. Colloidal fouling was found to be a significant fouling mechanism at low coagulant dose (e.g. 200 mg/l), while cake formation appeared to be mainly responsible for fouling at higher coagulant doses. Permeate flux was found to have a significant effect on the fouling of the membrane. The presence of colloidal matters at low fluxes and TSS at higher fluxes were responsible for fouling of the membrane by blocking the pores and formation of the cake layer on the membrane surface, respectively. Then later addition of Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) inside the factory had a noticeable effect on wastewater characteristics and consequently on fouling of the membrane. A 22% and 31% improvement in TCOD and TSS in the wastewater was observed leading to reduction in the fouling.

The success of surface water treatment strongly depends on the effectiveness of coagulant performance. Aluminium sulfate (alum), the most widely used coagulant in water treatment plants in Canada, is well known for its poor performance in cold water. Polyaluminium chloride (PACl), a relatively new polymeric aluminium coagulant increasingly being used in water treatment plants, is found to have many advantages over conventional alum. However, PACl hydrolysis reaction is quite complex and its action is not fully understood. In this research, a series of bench-scale jar tests with alum and PACl was conducted. Alum and PACl coagulation flocs were analyzed for the evaluation of coagulant performances at 19C and 5C for the Split Lake water treatment plant. The results of this research indicated that the settling properties of PACl flocs were superior to those of alum flocs, especially at the lower temperature. The average size of PACl flocs was relatively smaller than that of alum flocs. The density of PACl flocs could be higher than that of alum flocs. And the number of settled PACl flocs could be higher than that of settled alum flocs. The effects of temperature on alum flocs and PACl flocs were different. Alum flocs size decreased at 5C. This is most likely due to the existence of monomeric aluminium species in alum aqueous solution. PACl flocs size did not change significantly at the 5C. This may be due to the existence of polymeric aluminium species in PACl aqueous solution.

A conversão do lodo em coagulante é uma das práticas considerada adequada para minimizar o impacto ambiental de destinação do lodo. A solubilização dos coagulantes e sua reciclagem permitem minimizar os custos e os problemas associados à disposição final dos lodos gerados em ETAs. Os processos de recuperação dos coagulantes podem ser realizados por via ácida, via alcalina e via extração com solventes orgânicos por complexação/quelação. Entretanto, a recuperação por via ácida (Processo Fulton) é a que tem se demonstrado a mais viável, tanto técnica como economicamente. Assim, o objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a possibilidade de recuperação de coagulante a partir do lodo de uma estação de tratamento de água. Optou-se pelo processo de recuperação por via ácida, utilizando-se ácido sulfúrico. A metodologia do trabalho envolveu: (a) a caracterização do lodo da ETA; (b) ensaios práticos de acidificação para recuperação de um coagulante misto à base de ferro e alumínio (considerando-se o uso de lodo “in natura” na forma pastoso/líquida, lodo seco a 105ºC e lodo calcinado a 500ºC; (c) análises dos coagulantes obtidos; (d) caracterização do lodo residual de acordo com NBR 10.004 (2004); e (e) realização de testes de tratamento de água com o coagulante obtido à partir do lodo de forma comparativa com o coagulante em uso atualmente na ETA. Os resultados demonstram que a recuperação do coagulante somente foi efetiva após a calcinação do lodo da ETA, para a eliminação da matéria orgânica presente. A aplicação do coagulante reciclado no tratamento de água foi igualmente eficiente ao coagulante tradicionalmente empregado, ambos atendendo a qualidade da água exigida na Portaria 2914/2011. / The conversion of coagulant sludge is one of the practices considered adequate to minimize the environmental impact of disposal of sludge. The solubilization of coagulants and enable their recycling to minimize the costs and problems associated with the disposal of sludge generated in ETAs. The coagulant recovery process may be performed by acid- route, and route via alkaline extraction by organic complexing / chelating solvents. However, the recovery by acid pathway (Case Fulton) is the one that has shown the most feasible , both technically and economically . The objective of this study was to evaluate the recoverability of coagulant sludge from a water treatment plant. We chose the recovery process by acid pathway, using sulfuric acid. The methodology of work involved : ( a) the characterization of sludge by ETA; ( b ) practical tests acidification recovery of a mixed coagulant based on iron and aluminum (considering the use of sludge " in natura " in paste / liquid form , dried sludge at 105 º C and calcined sludge at 500 º C ); ( c ) analyzes of coagulants obtained; ( d ) characterization of residual sludge according to NBR 10004 (2004 ); and (e ) conducting tests with water treatment coagulant obtained from the sludge in comparison with the coagulant in use today in the ETA . The results demonstrate that recovery of coagulant was only effective after calcination of the sludge ETA for the removal of organic matter. The application of recycled coagulant in water treatment was also effective in traditional coagulant employee, serving both the water quality required in Ordinance 2914/2011.

A conversão do lodo em coagulante é uma das práticas considerada adequada para minimizar o impacto ambiental de destinação do lodo. A solubilização dos coagulantes e sua reciclagem permitem minimizar os custos e os problemas associados à disposição final dos lodos gerados em ETAs. Os processos de recuperação dos coagulantes podem ser realizados por via ácida, via alcalina e via extração com solventes orgânicos por complexação/quelação. Entretanto, a recuperação por via ácida (Processo Fulton) é a que tem se demonstrado a mais viável, tanto técnica como economicamente. Assim, o objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a possibilidade de recuperação de coagulante a partir do lodo de uma estação de tratamento de água. Optou-se pelo processo de recuperação por via ácida, utilizando-se ácido sulfúrico. A metodologia do trabalho envolveu: (a) a caracterização do lodo da ETA; (b) ensaios práticos de acidificação para recuperação de um coagulante misto à base de ferro e alumínio (considerando-se o uso de lodo “in natura” na forma pastoso/líquida, lodo seco a 105ºC e lodo calcinado a 500ºC; (c) análises dos coagulantes obtidos; (d) caracterização do lodo residual de acordo com NBR 10.004 (2004); e (e) realização de testes de tratamento de água com o coagulante obtido à partir do lodo de forma comparativa com o coagulante em uso atualmente na ETA. Os resultados demonstram que a recuperação do coagulante somente foi efetiva após a calcinação do lodo da ETA, para a eliminação da matéria orgânica presente. A aplicação do coagulante reciclado no tratamento de água foi igualmente eficiente ao coagulante tradicionalmente empregado, ambos atendendo a qualidade da água exigida na Portaria 2914/2011. / The conversion of coagulant sludge is one of the practices considered adequate to minimize the environmental impact of disposal of sludge. The solubilization of coagulants and enable their recycling to minimize the costs and problems associated with the disposal of sludge generated in ETAs. The coagulant recovery process may be performed by acid- route, and route via alkaline extraction by organic complexing / chelating solvents. However, the recovery by acid pathway (Case Fulton) is the one that has shown the most feasible , both technically and economically . The objective of this study was to evaluate the recoverability of coagulant sludge from a water treatment plant. We chose the recovery process by acid pathway, using sulfuric acid. The methodology of work involved : ( a) the characterization of sludge by ETA; ( b ) practical tests acidification recovery of a mixed coagulant based on iron and aluminum (considering the use of sludge " in natura " in paste / liquid form , dried sludge at 105 º C and calcined sludge at 500 º C ); ( c ) analyzes of coagulants obtained; ( d ) characterization of residual sludge according to NBR 10004 (2004 ); and (e ) conducting tests with water treatment coagulant obtained from the sludge in comparison with the coagulant in use today in the ETA . The results demonstrate that recovery of coagulant was only effective after calcination of the sludge ETA for the removal of organic matter. The application of recycled coagulant in water treatment was also effective in traditional coagulant employee, serving both the water quality required in Ordinance 2914/2011.

Esse trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a viabilidade técnica e econômica da regeneração de coagulantes a partir do lodos gerados em ETA\'s. Foi considerado que o coagulante regenerado será empregado em sistemas de tratamento de esgotos. A regeneração de coagulante consiste basicamente em promover uma alteração no pH do lodo, de forma que os hidróxidos metálicos presentes são solubilizados. A fase líquida com alta concentração de metais é então separada, constituindo o coagulante regenerado. Consequentemente, essa tecnologia propicia a recuperação de um recurso, que é o coagulante, e a redução de lodo. Para a verificação da viabilidade técnica foram realizados ensaios de acidificação em escala de bancada com lodos das ETA\'s Guaraú e Rio Grande, visando o estudo das condições de regeneração, da qualidade do coagulante produzido e do lodo restante. Foi verificado que do ponto de vista técnico a regeneração de coagulantes é uma alternativa possível, gerando um coagulante aproximadamente 100 vezes mais diluído que os comerciais, mas com desempenho satisfatório na aplicação no tratamento de efluentes de reator UASB. As reduções médias de sólidos em suspensão nos lodos utilizados foram de 28% e 53%. A avaliação econômica foi realizada considerando uma ETA com características similares à ETA Rio Grande, com um sistema de regeneração em funcionamento. Foi verificado que considerando as reduções de custos decorrentes da diminuição de lodo a ser tratado e disposto, o custo de produção do coagulante regenerado é muito próximo ao custo do coagulante comercial. Portanto, conclui-se que hoje em dia essa tecnologia deve ser considerada como uma alternativa potencialmente viável dos pontos de vista técnico e econômico para o tratamento e reaproveitamento de lodo de ETA\'s. / The primary goal of this work was to evaluate the technical and economical feasibility of coagulant recovery from water treatment plant sludges, considering that the recovered coagulant is going to be used in wastewater treatment plants. The coagulant recovery technology consists in change the sludge pH, in order to solubilize the present metal hydroxides. The liquid phase with high metals concentrations is then separated, becoming the recovered coagulant. This technology provides a resource recovery, which is the coagulant, and also a reduction in the amount of sludge that needs to be treated and disposed. To verify the technical feasibility, acidification bench tests were conduced using sludges from Guaraú e Rio Grande water treatment plants, in order to study the regeneration conditions, the recovered coagulant quality and the remaining sludge. From the technical point of view, it was verified that coagulant recovery is a possible alternative, producing a coagulant 100 times more diluted than the commercial coagulant, but with a satisfactory behavior in the treatment of UASB reactor effluent. The suspended solids average reductions in the Rio Grande and Guaraú water treatment plants sludges were 53% and 28%, respectively. The economical evaluation was done using the results obtained in the bench tests and considering a water treatment plant similar to Rio Grande. It was verified that considering the costs decrease due to the sludge reduction, the recovered coagulant production cost was very similar to commercial coagulants cost. Thus, it was concluded that nowadays this technology must be considered as a potential alternative for the treatment and reuse for water treatment plant sludges, regarding to the technical and economical aspects.

A conversão do lodo em coagulante é uma das práticas considerada adequada para minimizar o impacto ambiental de destinação do lodo. A solubilização dos coagulantes e sua reciclagem permitem minimizar os custos e os problemas associados à disposição final dos lodos gerados em ETAs. Os processos de recuperação dos coagulantes podem ser realizados por via ácida, via alcalina e via extração com solventes orgânicos por complexação/quelação. Entretanto, a recuperação por via ácida (Processo Fulton) é a que tem se demonstrado a mais viável, tanto técnica como economicamente. Assim, o objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a possibilidade de recuperação de coagulante a partir do lodo de uma estação de tratamento de água. Optou-se pelo processo de recuperação por via ácida, utilizando-se ácido sulfúrico. A metodologia do trabalho envolveu: (a) a caracterização do lodo da ETA; (b) ensaios práticos de acidificação para recuperação de um coagulante misto à base de ferro e alumínio (considerando-se o uso de lodo “in natura” na forma pastoso/líquida, lodo seco a 105ºC e lodo calcinado a 500ºC; (c) análises dos coagulantes obtidos; (d) caracterização do lodo residual de acordo com NBR 10.004 (2004); e (e) realização de testes de tratamento de água com o coagulante obtido à partir do lodo de forma comparativa com o coagulante em uso atualmente na ETA. Os resultados demonstram que a recuperação do coagulante somente foi efetiva após a calcinação do lodo da ETA, para a eliminação da matéria orgânica presente. A aplicação do coagulante reciclado no tratamento de água foi igualmente eficiente ao coagulante tradicionalmente empregado, ambos atendendo a qualidade da água exigida na Portaria 2914/2011. / The conversion of coagulant sludge is one of the practices considered adequate to minimize the environmental impact of disposal of sludge. The solubilization of coagulants and enable their recycling to minimize the costs and problems associated with the disposal of sludge generated in ETAs. The coagulant recovery process may be performed by acid- route, and route via alkaline extraction by organic complexing / chelating solvents. However, the recovery by acid pathway (Case Fulton) is the one that has shown the most feasible , both technically and economically . The objective of this study was to evaluate the recoverability of coagulant sludge from a water treatment plant. We chose the recovery process by acid pathway, using sulfuric acid. The methodology of work involved : ( a) the characterization of sludge by ETA; ( b ) practical tests acidification recovery of a mixed coagulant based on iron and aluminum (considering the use of sludge " in natura " in paste / liquid form , dried sludge at 105 º C and calcined sludge at 500 º C ); ( c ) analyzes of coagulants obtained; ( d ) characterization of residual sludge according to NBR 10004 (2004 ); and (e ) conducting tests with water treatment coagulant obtained from the sludge in comparison with the coagulant in use today in the ETA . The results demonstrate that recovery of coagulant was only effective after calcination of the sludge ETA for the removal of organic matter. The application of recycled coagulant in water treatment was also effective in traditional coagulant employee, serving both the water quality required in Ordinance 2914/2011.

<p>Volcanic ash and Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) were investigated as indigenous materials for drinking water treatment based on problems identified at Kampala and Masaka water treatment plants in Uganda. Coagulation experiments were done using swamp raw water at Masaka National Water & Sewerage Corporation water treatment plant and pilot-scale filtration experiments carried out at Ggaba II (Kampala) water treatment plant. The results from the study indicated that there were both operational and design handicaps at the treatment plants in Kampala. There is need to modify the filtration and clarification units to enable production of water meeting both the national and international standards. At Masaka water treatment, there was increase in trihalomethanes concentration as a result of pre-chlorination. Following aeration and pre-chlorination processes, the average increase of total trihalomethanes concentration was over 4000% with over 99% being chloroform. Preliminary results from the jar test experiments indicated that use of alum with MOCSC as coagulant aid is promising as a first stage in the treatment train for waters with a humic materials and high content of iron, typical of swamp water sources. This would probably eliminate the formation of unwanted by-products by eliminating the pre-chlorination process. Assessment of the characteristics of the volcanic ash showed that it meets the requirements for a filtration material; and results obtained from the pilot study showed that it was a suitable alternative material for use in a dual media filtration system. There was an increase in the filter run length of about two and half fold in the dual media filtration column compared to the mono medium column. Both columns produced similar water quality levels. Therefore, conversion of the rapid sand filters at Ggaba and similar water treatment plants in the country to dual media (volcanic ash on top of sand) systems would probably significantly improve the performance of the filtration systems.</p>

Applying chemical coagulants and auxiliary coagulants in wastewater treatment has become more popular in Vietnam. Although the efficacy of chemical coagulants has been well recognized, there are disadvantages associated with the use of these products, such as the inefficiency at low temperatures, increasing the residual cation in solution, causing health problems and distribution water, relatively high cost, producing high volume of sludge. Thus, it is desirable to replace these chemical coagulants for products that do not generate such drawbacks, such as natural polymers. In this paper, the authors conducted experiments by using natural auxiliary coagulants extracted from seeds of Cassia fistula (gum MHY) and chemical polymer as auxiliary coagulation to treat textile wastewater with basic polluted parameters: pH = 9.0; COD = 800 mgO2/L, color = 750 Pt-Co. The Jartest experiment results showed that the process efficiency of chemical polymer and gum MHY is not so different, with the COD removal efficiencies of 60.3% and 59.7%; the color removal efficiencies of 87.3% and 87.1%; the SS removal efficiencies of 93.2% and 92.6%. There-fore, coagulants obtained from gum MHY can be applied as the alternatives for chemical polymer in the process of treating textile wastewater. / Các ứng dụng chất keo tụ và chất trợ keo tụ hóa học trong xử lý nước thải ngày càng trở nên phổ biến tại Việt Nam. Mặc dù có nhiều ghi nhận về hiệu quả xử lý của chất keo tụ hóa học, phương pháp xử lý này vẫn tồn tại một số nhược điểm như hiệu suất xử lý thấp ở nhiệt độ thấp, nước thải sau khi xử lý còn chứa nhiều hóa chất tiếp tục làm ô nhiễm nguồn tiếp nhận, chi phí xử lý cao và tạo ra nhiều bùn thải. Do đó việc tìm kiếm một phương án xử lý thay thế, chẳng hạn sử dụng polymer tự nhiên, có thể khắc phục những nhược điểm này là rất cần thiết. Nghiên cứu này tiến hành đánh giá hiệu quả sử dụng chất trợ keo tụ sinh học ly trích từ hạt trái Muồng Hoàng yến (Cassia fistula) và chất trợ keo tụ hóa học để xử lý nước thải dệt nhuộm có các thông số ô nhiễm cơ bản: pH = 9,0; COD = 800 mgO2/L, độ màu = 750 Pt-Co. Các thí nghiệm trên bộ Jartest cho thấy hiệu quả xử lý nước thải dệt nhuộm của chất trợ keo tụ gum Muồng Hoàng yến và chất trợ keo tụ hóa học không khác biệt có ý nghĩa với hiệu suất xử lý COD lần lượt là 60,3 và 59,7%; hiệu suất xử lý độ màu là 87,3 và 87,1%; xử lý SS là 93,2 và 92,6%. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy gum hạt Muồng Hoàng yến có thể sử dụng làm chất trợ keo tụ thay thế chất trợ keo tụ hóa học trong xử lý ô nhiễm nước thải dệt nhuộm.

Volcanic ash and Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) were investigated as indigenous materials for drinking water treatment based on problems identified at Kampala and Masaka water treatment plants in Uganda. Coagulation experiments were done using swamp raw water at Masaka National Water &amp; Sewerage Corporation water treatment plant and pilot-scale filtration experiments carried out at Ggaba II (Kampala) water treatment plant. The results from the study indicated that there were both operational and design handicaps at the treatment plants in Kampala. There is need to modify the filtration and clarification units to enable production of water meeting both the national and international standards. At Masaka water treatment, there was increase in trihalomethanes concentration as a result of pre-chlorination. Following aeration and pre-chlorination processes, the average increase of total trihalomethanes concentration was over 4000% with over 99% being chloroform. Preliminary results from the jar test experiments indicated that use of alum with MOCSC as coagulant aid is promising as a first stage in the treatment train for waters with a humic materials and high content of iron, typical of swamp water sources. This would probably eliminate the formation of unwanted by-products by eliminating the pre-chlorination process. Assessment of the characteristics of the volcanic ash showed that it meets the requirements for a filtration material; and results obtained from the pilot study showed that it was a suitable alternative material for use in a dual media filtration system. There was an increase in the filter run length of about two and half fold in the dual media filtration column compared to the mono medium column. Both columns produced similar water quality levels. Therefore, conversion of the rapid sand filters at Ggaba and similar water treatment plants in the country to dual media (volcanic ash on top of sand) systems would probably significantly improve the performance of the filtration systems. / <p>Obs! ISBN: 978-91-7283-565-76</p><p>QC 20101110</p>

O beneficiamento de carvão mineral para a utilização em termoelétricas gera grandes quantida-des de rejeitos, os quais contêm diversos minerais, entre eles a pirita (sulfeto de ferro - FeS2). A pirita, na presença de água e oxigênio se oxida, gerando a drenagem ácida de minas (DAM), principal fonte de contaminação dos aquíferos e do solo nas regiões carboníferas. Atualmente, a DAM é tratada pelo método de neutralização/precipitação de metais. Essa é uma técnica con-siderada “fim-de-tubo” com diversas desvantagens, entre elas o alto custo. Entretanto, através de técnicas preventivas, baseadas nos princípios da produção mais limpa, é possível, concomi-tantemente, minimizar a geração de DAM e agregar valor à parte ou totalidade dos rejeitos de carvão. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a produção do coagulante sulfato férrico a partir da lixiviação de um concentrado de pirita oriundo de rejeitos de carvão via cristaliza-ção/solubilização de sulfato ferroso, comparando o processo para duas jazidas distintas de car-vão mineral. Amostras de concentrados de pirita foram obtidas de rejeitos de carvão das jazidas do Estado de Santa Catarina, minerados na cidade de Forquilhinha, e do Estado do Paraná, na cidade de Figueira A parte experimental foi realizada a partir de um reator de leito empacotado em planta-piloto e envolveu as seguintes etapas: produção de um lixiviado férrico, conversão do lixiviado férrico em ferroso, precipitação do Fe2+ e do sulfato na forma de cristais de sulfato ferroso heptahidratado com auxílio de etanol. Estudou-se, de forma detalhada, a proporção li-xiviado:etanol para o melhor rendimento do processo. Os cristais de sulfato ferroso produzidos a partir do concentrado de pirita catarinense apresentaram características semelhantes a um pa-drão analítico (menos de 1% de impurezas). Os cristais produzidos a partir da pirita paranaense apresentaram um índice levemente superior ao padrão estabelecido comercialmente (1,08%), além de apresentar alguns metais bastante perigosos à saúde, como arsênio. Também se estudou a produção do coagulante férrico via dissolução dos cristais de sulfato ferroso e oxidação do ferro pela adição de soluções aquosas com agentes ácidos e oxidantes. A melhor condição ob-tida foi a seguinte: 5 g de sulfato ferroso, 7,5 mL de água destilada, 1,5 mL de peróxido de hidrogênio e 5 gotas de ácido sulfúrico. Essa proporção proporcionou um coagulante com quase 12% de ferro, sendo que 97% deste ferro na forma férrica. O coagulante produzido foi utilizado no tratamento de água do corpo hídrico Guaíba, empregando-se como referência os padrões brasileiros de potabilidade (Portaria nº 2914 do Ministério da Saúde). Mostrando-se eficiente no tratamento de água para fins de abastecimento público. / The coal processing for use in power plants, generates amounts of residues, which contain var-ious minerals, such as pyrite (iron sulfide-FeS2). Pyrite, in the presence of water and oxygen, oxidizes, generating acid mine drainage (AMD), the main source of contamination of aquifers and soil in the carboniferous region of Santa Catarina. Currently, the AMD is treated by the method of neutralization/precipitation of metals. This is a technique considered "end-of-pipe" with many disadvantages, like the excessive cost. However, through preventive techniques, based on the principles of cleaner production, it is possible, at the same time, minimize the generation of AMD and to add value to a part or totality of coal waste. Thus, the objective of this work was to study the production of ferric sulphate coagulant from the leaching of a pyrite concentrate from coal tailings via crystallization / solubilization of ferrous sulphate, comparing the process to two distinct mineral coal deposits. Samples of pyrite concentrates were obtained from coal tailings from the State of Santa Catarina mines, mined in the city of Forquilhinha, and from the State of Paraná, in the city of Figueira The experimental part was carried out in a bed reactor packed in a pilot plant and involved the following steps: production of a ferric leachate, conversion of ferric leachate into ferrous, precipitation of Fe2 + and sulphate as crystals of ferrous sulphate heptahydrate. It was also studied, in detail, the proportion leached:ethanol for the best yield of the process. The ferrous sulphate crystals produced from the Santa Catarina pyrite concentrate showed characteristics similar to an analytical standard (less than 1% of im-purities). The crystals produced from the Paraná pyrite concentrate presented an index slightly higher than the commercially established standard (1.08%), besides presenting some metals very dangerous to health, such as arsenic. The production of ferric coagulant was also studied by dissolving the ferrous sulphate crystals and iron oxidation by adding aqueous solutions with acidic and oxidizing agents. The best condition obtained was as follows: 5 g of ferrous sulphate, 7.5 ml of distilled water, 1.5 ml of hydrogen peroxide and, 5 drops of sulfuric acid. This pro-portion provided a coagulant with almost 12% iron, with 97% of this iron in the ferric form. The coagulant produced was used in the water treatment of lake Guaíba, using as reference the Brazilian standards of potability. The coagulant produced showed to be efficient in the water treatment for public supply purposes.