Research the slurry thickening efficiency of aluminum companies in Vietnam using experimental settling column system

  • Affiliations:

    Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, Hanoi, Vietnam

  • *Corresponding:
    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Received: 28th-Oct-2023
  • Revised: 21st-Jan-2024
  • Accepted: 28th-Jan-2024
  • Online: 1st-Feb-2024
Pages: 74 - 87
Views: 60
Downloads: 1
Rating: , Total rating: 0
Yours rating

Abstract:

The thickening is the process of increasing the solid fraction in the slurry. The purpose of the process is to obtain a thicker sludge product and to obtain an overflow product with a minimum solid amount. The equipment used are traction thickener, cable thickener, caisson thickener, tray thickener, E-Cat thickener, lamella thickener, etc. This stage plays an essential role and greatly affects operations in mineral beneficiation factories. However, this is a problem for Aluminum companies in Vietnam because the amount of particles passing 1 mm is significantly higher than the design, leading to the overloading of thickeners. The overall productivity of the factories was affected and seriously reduced due to not being able to ensure the amount of feeding coarse particles and having to stop the operation to fix the problem. The requirement is to find and apply advanced technologies to improve the sedimentation process. This article presents the characteristics of bauxite slurry in Daknong and Lamdong companies. The amount of fine particles passing 0.02 mm reaches more than 62% (in the case of Daknong) and 72% (in the case of Lamdong) with the main minerals (gibbsite, goethite, kaolinite, ilmenite, etc.). On that basis, the survey was implemented to define the optimal type of flocculant aids (NALCO 85035 and HA - LB 080), flocculant dosage (40 grams/tons), and pH of the sludge (6.5 – 7). The obtained underflow product has a solid phase concentration of over 35% and the overflow has an amount of solid/water of less than 100 mg/l. Research was conducted on an experimental settling column system and it was recommended to pre-test a Lamella high-performance thickener for further research.

How to Cite
Pham, L.Van, Pham, H.Thanh, Le, H.Viet and Pham, N.Thi 2024. Research the slurry thickening efficiency of aluminum companies in Vietnam using experimental settling column system (in Vietnamese). Journal of Mining and Earth Sciences. 65, 1 (Feb, 2024), 74-87. DOI:https://doi.org/10.46326/JMES.2024.65(1).07.
References

DNA. (2020). Báo cáo sản xuất, năm 2018, 2019 và 2020. Đắk Nông: công ty Nhôm Đắk Nông.

Hardheim_Leiblein_GmbH. (2009a). Lamella separator for sedimentation. AT Mineral processing.

Hardheim_Leiblein-GmbH. (2009b). Washing water treatment at a recycling company. AT Mineral processing.

Heredia, R. (2018). Basics in Minerals Processing. Metso.

HPG. (2020). Nhà máy chế biến tinh quặng sắt Tùng Bá. Hà Giang: Báo cáo sản xuất .

Jiang, Y., Wang, Y., Yang, J., and Yu, Y. (2010). The sedimentation tests on the tailings from bauxite direct flotation. Light Metal, Vol. 12. pp. 7-10.

Li, H., Ma, J., Zhang, Q., and Bian, H. (2012). Flocculation sedimentation experiment of high mud content, low grade surface solid potassium deposit in Mahai salt lake. Journal of Salt Journal of Salt, Vol. 20(1): pp. 34-39.

Liu, J., Wang, X., Lin, C., and Miller, J. (2015). Significance of particle aggregation in the reverse flotation of kaolinite from bauxite ore. Minerals Engineering, Vol. 78, pp. 58-65.

Nguyễn, H. S., and Phạm, V. L. (2012). Nghiên cứu lắng đọng một số mẫu bùn than mịn vùng Quảng Ninh trong thiết bị thí nghiệm lắng cô đặc dạng tấm nghiêng. Tạp chí KHTK Mỏ - Địa chất, Số 37.

Parsons, S. A., and Jefferson, B. (2006). Introduction to potable water treatment processes,. Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Peng, Y., Jin, D., and Li, J. W. (2020). Flocculation of mineral processing wastewater with. 6th International Conference on Energy Science and Chemical Engineering. IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science.

Tarleton, E. S., and Wakeman, R. J. (2007). Solid/Liquid Separation: Equipment Selection and Process Design. Elsevier.

Vinacomin. (2020). Thuyết minh Thiết kế cơ sở nhà máy tuyển bauxit Tân Rai và Nhân Cơ. Hà Nội: ập đoàn công nghiệp Than - Khoáng sản Việt Nam.

Wang, C., Harbottle, D., Liu, Q., and Xu, Z. (2014). Current state of fine mineral tailings treatment: A critical review on theory and practice. Minerals Engineering, Vol. 58: pp. 113-131.

Wills, B. A., and Finch, J. A. (2016). Mineral Processing Technology, Eighth Edition. Elsevier.

Zhou, X. (2012). Study on the vibration lamella thickener and its application in mineral processing plant. Applied Mechanics and Materials, Vols 215-216, pages 333-341.

Zhou, X., and etc. (2013). Paste thickening of iron tailings with vibrating lamella thickener. Advanced Materials Research , Vols, 690-693, pp 3570-3575.