Effect of interparticle interactions on the yield stress of thickened flocculated copper mineral tailings slurry

Ruan, Zhuen; Wu, Aixiang; Bürger, Raimund; Concha, F.; Wang, Yiming; Wang, Yong; Jiao, Huazhe; Wang, Shengkai

doi:10.1016/j.powtec.2021.07.008

Cited by 36 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…However, a clear relationship between yield stress and EC or pH in the thickener was not observed. Ruan et al [58] have shown that yield stress can be influenced by the flocculant dosage and the acidity (pH) during the flocculation process. They performed yield stress tests of flocculated and thickened copper mineral tailings slurries and reported that pH affects the total interactions (microscopic) between polymer-coated tailing particles.…”

Section: Electrical Conductivity and Ph Time-seriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Real-Time Electrical Conductivity Monitoring and Correlation with Sulfate Release and Acid Mine Drainage Potential from a Gold/Silver Paste Tailing Storage

2021

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Safe disposal of tailings as high-density thickened tailings or paste tailings can reduce the environmental risks of conventional tailings deposits, reduce water use, minimize tailings storage facility footprints, reduce the potential for acid mine drainage (AMD), and minimize risks of failure, among other advantages. In the dewatering process, the addition of flocculants is key to improving the sedimentation of the tailings and the formation of a compact paste. Despite the environmental and operational advantages of using paste tailings, it is not clear how the chemical nature of coagulants and flocculants could influence the discharge of toxic elements (salts and metals) from tailings after storage. In this study, we show the results of the real-time evaluation of the release of polluting runoffs from a paste tailings deposit. To do this, we analyzed paste tailing samples for AMD potential through static and kinetic tests and monitored the electrical conductivity and real-time pH, evaluating the correlation with the sulfate in the thickener and downstream from the tailings deposit. Tailing samples have low sulfur content (<2%) and low acid-generating potential. Moreover, there is no evidence of a significant positive correlation (Pearson’s coefficient r < 0.8) between the sulfate concentrations with the pH or EC. Thus, the chemical nature of the paste tailings prior to discharge has no direct impact on the release of sulfate-rich runoffs from the tailings after its storage. This indicates that the tailings paste at the evaluated site is chemically stable in the short term.

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Section: Electrical Conductivity and Ph Time-seriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Real-Time Electrical Conductivity Monitoring and Correlation with Sulfate Release and Acid Mine Drainage Potential from a Gold/Silver Paste Tailing Storage

2021

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“…Although the bitumen residue is very low in concentration, it is desirable to separate and recover the bitumen fraction from tailings, due to the vast volume of the tailings, for economic gain and additional environmental benefits. , Tailing flow and bitumen separation from tailings before disposal into tailings ponds must be considered when designing separation technology. The complex interactions between multiple secondary phases (i.e., dispersed phases) pose a significant challenge to slurry flow characteristics in pipelines …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The complex interactions between multiple secondary phases (i.e., dispersed phases) pose a significant challenge to slurry flow characteristics in pipelines. 7 To date, numerous researchers have conducted slurry flow experimental studies to estimate flow regimes and pressure drop in horizontal pipelines. Interestingly, microbubble injection is found to be effective in enhancing bitumen recovery.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Insights from a Population Balance Model into the Distribution of Bitumen Residues in Industrial Horizontal Pipes During the Hydrotransport of Oil Sands Tailings

Sontti,

Zhang

2023

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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Pipeline transportation is a vital method for conveying crushed oil sand ores and tailings in the oil sands industry. This study focuses on enhancing economic benefits by exploring the separation of valuable bitumen residues from coarse sand tailings within hydrotransport pipelines. Employing threedimensional transient Eulerian−Eulerian computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations coupled with a population balance model (PBM), we examine the aggregation and breakage of bitumen droplets under various flow conditions. The accuracy of the CFD−PBM model is validated against field measurements of velocity profiles and pressure drops. Our findings reveal that higher slurry velocities lead to intensified particle−bitumen interactions, resulting in reduced aggregated bitumen droplet sizes at the pipeline's core. Additionally, variations in bitumen fraction cause shifts in the distribution of coarse particles along the pipe's vertical axis with increased aggregation and larger droplets in the upper region. Notably, we demonstrate that smaller bubbles promote a more uniform distribution of bitumen compared with larger bubbles. These insights provide valuable knowledge for optimizing bitumen recovery processes and facilitate the integration of pipeline hydrotransport dynamics with downstream separation and extraction units.

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“…Mineral resources excavation contributes significantly to the world economy andmany industries depend on the provision of raw materials by it (Si et al, 2021a;Si et al, 2021b;Li et al, 2022a;Zhang et al, 2022). With the increase of mining depth, more and more waste tailings are produced (Liu et al, 2020;Ruan et al, 2021). Statistics show that every 10,000 tons of ore mined will produce 9,300 tons of tailings and 3,400 tons of waste rock (Yan et al, 2022), which not only has serious security hidden dangers, but also destroys the environment and the ecology seriously (Small et al, 2015;Falagán et al, 2016;Li et al, 2022b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experiment research and mechanism analysis on rheological properties of tailings slurry

Wang

Chen²,

2023

Front. Earth Sci.

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The particle size and content of tailings are important parameters affecting the rheological properties of tailings slurry. To explore their influence law and mechanism on rheological properties, the experiments of tailings slurry were designed and carried out under different particle sizes and content conditions. The rheological properties of the tailings slurry were quantified in the paper. The Bingham body model was used in the texperiment. The “double 30” theory (“particle size of 30.0 μm” and “content of 30%“) was proposed and expounded. The corresponding theoretical model is established to analyze the mechanism of the above results. The conclusion is as follows. The tailings slurry agreeed to different rheological models with different particle size and content. The rheological behavior of the tailings slurry conforms to the Herschel-Bulkley model for the tailings, whose particle size is no larger than 30.0 μm and content is no larger than 30%. With the increase of the content of fine tailings, its behavior agrees better with the Bingham model. The yield stress and viscosity of tailings slurry in the process of transportation are in accordance with the laws of “double 30” theory. “Particle size of 30.0 μm” and “content of 30%” is the critical point of rheological characteristics of tailings. Based on the obtained results, the corresponding theoretical model was established to discuss the mechanism. The rheological laws of tailings slurry can provide theoretical guidance for reducing pressure and preventing pipeline wear in the process of tailings cementation discharge and pipeline transportation in an iron mine.

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Effect of interparticle interactions on the yield stress of thickened flocculated copper mineral tailings slurry

Cited by 36 publications

References 55 publications

Real-Time Electrical Conductivity Monitoring and Correlation with Sulfate Release and Acid Mine Drainage Potential from a Gold/Silver Paste Tailing Storage

Real-Time Electrical Conductivity Monitoring and Correlation with Sulfate Release and Acid Mine Drainage Potential from a Gold/Silver Paste Tailing Storage

Numerical Insights from a Population Balance Model into the Distribution of Bitumen Residues in Industrial Horizontal Pipes During the Hydrotransport of Oil Sands Tailings

Experiment research and mechanism analysis on rheological properties of tailings slurry

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