Cationic Polymer Treatment for Tailings Flow Sanding Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The deposition of particulate products, particularly in tailings flows, onto conduit interior surfaces during transportation from froth flotation cells to thickener beds leads to severe operational issues, including blockages and reduced productivity in mineral ore processing facilities, especially in the case of copper/moly ores.
Innovation Solution
Treatment of partitioned flows from froth flotation with a cationic polymer, such as poly(diallyldimethylammonium halide), to reduce the settling rate of particulate products and prevent deposition on conduit surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If partitioned flows are transported through conduits from froth flotation cells to thickener beds, then the mineral processing operation can proceed, but particulate products deposit onto conduit interior surfaces causing blockages and reduced productivity
Solution Approach 1:
A cationic polymer is introduced as an intermediary substance between the particulate products and the conduit interior surfaces. The polymer adsorbs onto the particulate surfaces, creating a protective layer that prevents direct deposition onto the conduit walls. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by allowing flow transport while eliminating the harmful deposition effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the surface charge parameter of the particulate products by adding cationic polymers. The polymer modifies the electrostatic properties of the particles, transforming their interaction characteristics with the conduit surface. This parameter change prevents deposition while maintaining transportability, thus resolving the productivity-deposition contradiction.
2Reliability
If conventional froth flotation is used to partition mineral products from gangue, then separation is achieved, but the resulting partitioned flows have low particulate concentration requiring subsequent thickening operations
Solution Approach 1:
The cationic polymer treatment is applied preliminarily to the partitioned flows before they enter the thickening stage. This preliminary action modifies the particulate characteristics in advance, preventing deposition issues that would otherwise occur during subsequent transport and thickening operations. The polymer treatment prepares the slurry for more efficient handling downstream.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The use of cationic polymers significantly reduces the settling rate of particulate products by 10% to 100%, minimizing conduit blockages and maintaining efficient transport of mineral ore flows.
Implementation Method 1
Treatment of partitioned flows from froth flotation with a cationic polymer, such as poly(diallyldimethylammonium halide), to reduce the settling rate of particulate products
Implementation Method 2
The use of cationic polymers significantly reduces the settling rate of particulate products by 10% to 100%, minimizing conduit blockages
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of improving the stability of froth flotation overflows and underflows include adding 1 ppm to 1000 ppm by weight of a cationic polymer to an overflow or an underflow including 1 wt % to 20 wt % of a particulate product in a medium, wherein the particulate product is a valuable mineral product or a gangue. In particular, the addition of cationic polymer to a tailings flow—that is, a gangue in a fluid medium-reduces or eliminates “sanding”, a term of art used to describe the technical problem of deposition of gangue solids from tailings flows transported through pipes, tubes, and runways during transportation thereof e.g. to a thickener bed.