Coal Mine Water Defluorination Project Treats 200 m3/h of Mine Water from 3.2 ppm to below 1 ppm
September 2, 2026
Project Overview
A large coal mining group needed to treat mine water before discharge and reuse. Fluoride levels in the raw mine water exceeded the acceptable limit, and the site required a robust, high-flow treatment solution that could run continuously without disrupting mining operations.
Project Challenge
- Feed water fluoride concentration: 3.2 ppm
- Design treatment capacity: 200 m³/h
- Required effluent fluoride: < 1 ppm
- Large and fluctuating flow, with variable raw water quality
- Need for stable long-term operation in an industrial mining environment
Sphelite Solution
Sphelite supplied a complete mine water defluorination system built around a battery of parallel resin vessels loaded with high-selectivity Sphelite defluorination resin. Raw mine water is first clarified and filtered to remove suspended solids, then passed through the resin train, where fluoride is selectively adsorbed down to the target level.
The parallel vessel configuration gives the mine operational flexibility: vessels are rotated between service and regeneration so that the full 200 m³/h flow is treated without interruption. Regeneration is automated and controlled by a central PLC, minimizing chemical handling and operator input.
Key Project Parameters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Application | Coal mine water defluorination |
| Design flow rate | 200 m³/h |
| Influent fluoride | 3.2 ppm |
| Effluent fluoride | < 1 ppm |
| Operation mode | Fully automatic, continuous 24/7 |
| System configuration | Parallel resin vessels with automated regeneration |
Results & Benefits
- Guaranteed water quality: effluent fluoride consistently below 1 ppm, compliant with discharge and reuse requirements.
- Uninterrupted throughput: the parallel design keeps 200 m³/h of treatment capacity available at all times.
- Low maintenance: automated regeneration and robust resin performance reduced downtime and labor.
- Cost-effective operation: long resin service life and efficient chemical use delivered a low cost per cubic meter treated.
- Environmental compliance: treated water can be safely discharged or reused, supporting the mine's sustainability targets.
Project Execution
Sphelite engineers started with raw water sampling across different seasons to capture the full range of fluoride and suspended solids levels. Based on the results, the resin vessel count, bed volume and regeneration frequency were sized to keep effluent fluoride below 1 ppm even at peak flow. The complete package included interconnecting piping, valves, instrumentation and a control cabinet, allowing fast site assembly and commissioning with minimal disruption to mine operations.
Why Sphelite
Large-flow industrial water projects demand reliable media, sound engineering and dependable support. Sphelite provided all three: high-performance defluorination resin, a system design matched to the site's flow and water quality, and responsive technical service from commissioning onward. If your mine or industrial site needs to reduce fluoride in water, talk to our engineers about a defluorination solution sized for your requirements.