Superabsorbent-mediated dewaterability of fine hydrophobic sulphide mineral slurries

ABSTRACT

This work investigates superabsorbent (SAB) polymer application to dewatering of fine pyrite (P) and chalcopyrite (CP) mineral slurries. The results showed that significant pulp water absorption, reflecting dramatic dewatering and hence, compact sediment consolidation (up to 80 wt%), may be achieved within 15 min of contact time. The rate of slurry water absorption increased with both decreasing SAB particle size and initial slurry solid loading. The SAB dewatering performance was higher for the CP than the P slurry. SAB regeneration and re-use investigations showed that multiple recycle and greater water recovery can be achieved with a given sample.

KEYWORDS:

• Dewatering
• consolidation
• hydrophobic sulphide mineral slurries
• superabsorbent

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support for the first author (SSJ) from the Research Training Scheme of the Australian Government. The support and assistance of BASF (Thai Ltd) and SNF Agriculture are warmly acknowledged for supply of the superabsorbent samples.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Australian Government [Research Training Scheme].