Mine Water Treatment, Resource Utilization and Prospects in Coal Mining Areas of Western China

The scarcity of water resources and environmental pollution in the coal mining areas of western China severely restricts high-quality mine development and construction there. Treating mine water as a valuable unconventional water resource for large-scale processing and efficient utilization is a crucial approach. This paper discusses the current status of mine water treatment technology in this region and provides a systematic comparison and analysis of common and emerging treatment technologies for mine water containing suspended solids, high salinity, and fluoride. The paper extensively elaborates on the fundamental principles, process routes, and technical features of these technologies, citing typical engineering cases. It also outlines the challenges that mine water treatment in the coal mining areas of western China is likely to face in the future. Based on the current status of mine water resource utilization in China, various pathways forward are clarified. Finally, this paper presents a scientific reflection and proposed solutions for mine water treatment technology and resource utilization in the coal mining areas of western China, concluding with a prospective outlook on the future development of this field.