In many cases, brine in ponds left over from mineral extraction, desalination, or other industrial uses can be reused. This is where brine ponds come in handy as containment facilities. One of the first steps to determining what you can do with waste brine is to commission a treatability study. This will provide you an understanding of salinity levels, metals, and total dissolved solids present in waste brine. From there, you can determine how best to recycle it.
Brines that are high in caustic soda and chlorine can be recycled by extracting these substances through electrolysis. Both caustic soda and chlorine see extensive use in the petroleum industry as well as among pulp and paper manufacturers. Brines that don’t feature high amounts of toxic chemicals can sometimes be used for irrigation and agriculture. In some cases, these brines have been used in the production of liquid fertilizer. De-icing roadways is another way to recycle brine. Local municipalities equipped with trucks that can spray brine on roadways will often purchase waste brine from cheesemaking operations, mining companies, and other local industries to treat icy roads. Waste brine can also be evaporated to harvest the solid salts for sale.
