Dewatering of Fine Particle Clay Waste Using a Flocculant.

Scheiner-BJ; Smelley-AG

Pres At SME-AIME Ann Meeting Atlanta, Georgia, 1983 Mar; :10 pages

10002873

The Bureau of Mines is conducting research on a dewatering technique for fine particles generated during the mineral beneficiation process that will recover a portion of the water now being lost using conventional waste disposal methods and significantly reduce the time required for land reclamation. The technique utilizes a flocculant, polyethylene oxide (peo), that forms strong stable flocs that can be dewatered rapidly on static and/or rotary screens. In field tests, phosphate clay waste has been dewatered from a nominal 2.5 percent solids to greater than 20 percent solids. In other field tests, coal-clay waste has been dewatered from a nominal 3 percent solids to greater than 55 percent solids. In addition, small-scale continuous tests have shown that bentonitic clays can be dewatered from 12 percent solids to 40 percent solids.

19830301

OP;

1983

OP 32-83

TURC;

Pres. At SME-AIME Ann. Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, March 6-10, 1983, Sme AIME Preprint 83-2

GA;