Prospects for Extraction of Useful Elements Out of the Brines of the Pre-Carpathian Downfold

Abstract

Pre-Carpathian Downfold is an important strategic centre for the extraction of potassium salts. The unique ratios of salt minerals found within its deposits have no analogues in the world. And the obtained, of their processing, high-quality products have always been in high demand. However, the primary resources of the largest deposits were almost depleted more than a decade ago, and the formed post-mining territories became a source of accumulation of negative environmental impacts. To cover the current national demand and to increase Ukraine's competitiveness in the world market, it is necessary to process secondary sources containing salt components such as tailings, storage tanks, sludge storage. A new approach and especially more efficient technological procedures are needed for balancing economic and environmental indicators and the brine processing of these secondary sources. From an environmental and economic point of view, membrane technologies use is considered to be more appropriate than old brine evaporation systems. This work investigates the possibilities of such processing regarding brines of the Dombrowsky quarry of Kalush-Golinsky deposit. According to the results, advantageous key financial indicators of the simulated project were obtained. The results of the study are described with respect to the possibility of implementing such an approach for solving a set of environmental and economic tasks, such as stabilizing the level of environmental security and increasing the macroeconomic performance of the country.