Multivalent Cation Copolymer Tailings Dewatering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current multivalent cation-containing polymers used in treating mineral processing tailings have issues with intrinsic viscosity and residual monomer content, leading to inefficiencies in dewatering and sedimentation processes.

Innovation Solution

A multivalent cation-containing copolymer derived from ethylenically unsaturated acids with specific characteristics, including an intrinsic viscosity of at least 3 dl/g and a residual comonomer content less than 1000 ppm, is developed to improve dewatering and sedimentation efficiency in treating aqueous slurries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multivalent cation-containing polymers are used to treat tailings, then dewatering and sedimentation efficiency is improved, but intrinsic viscosity and residual monomer content cause inefficiencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedewatering and sedimentation efficiencyVSAvoidintrinsic viscosity and residual monomer content

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the intrinsic viscosity to be at least 3 dl/g and residual comonomer content to be less than 1000 ppm. These specific parameter thresholds resolve the contradiction by ensuring the polymer has sufficient viscosity for effective dewatering while maintaining low residual monomer content for process reliability and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by creating a copolymer from ethylenically unsaturated acid and comonomer components. This composite structure allows the polymer to achieve both high intrinsic viscosity for improved dewatering performance and controlled residual monomer content, resolving the efficiency-reliability contradiction through optimized material composition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Speed

If flocculants are used to flocculate fine material, then sedimentation rate is increased, but coarse material sediments faster than flocculated fines resulting in heterogeneous deposit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesedimentation rateVSAvoiddeposit homogeneity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using the multivalent cation-containing copolymer to selectively interact with different particle sizes in the tailings slurry. The polymer's specific structure and charge characteristics enable it to flocculate fine particles effectively while allowing coarse particles to settle naturally, creating a more homogeneous deposit structure rather than the heterogeneous layers produced by conventional flocculants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If polymers are used to improve permeability of tailings, then self-weight consolidation is enabled, but land rehabilitation is delayed due to gradual dewatering process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepermeability improvementVSAvoiddewatering time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the skipping principle by using the multivalent cation-containing copolymer to accelerate the dewatering process significantly. The polymer's high intrinsic viscosity and optimized structure enable rapid flocculation and permeability improvement, allowing the tailings to undergo self-weight consolidation much faster than conventional polymers, thus reducing the time loss before land rehabilitation can begin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

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 copolymer effectively thickens, sediments, and dewatering of tailings, reducing water content and improving the handling characteristics of tailings, making rehabilitation of land more feasible and environmentally safer.

Implementation Method 1

The copolymer effectively thickens, sediments, and dewatering of tailings

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscosity:

Implementation Method 2

the copolymer effectively thickens, sediments, and dewatering of tailings

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSedimentation: Sedimentation

Implementation Method 3

the copolymer effectively thickens, sediments, and dewatering of tailings, reducing water content

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDewatering:

Data Source

PatentUS11267731B2Multivalent cation-containing copolymer, process for production thereof and use thereof to treating aqueous dispersions

Publication Date: 2022.03.08 BASF SE

AI summary

A process for producing a multivalent cation containing copolymer, containing: contacting a multivalent cation containing ethylenically unsaturated acid and at least one comonomer to produce a monomer mixture comprising the multivalent cation containing ethylenically unsaturated acid present in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 65% by weight; and contacting the monomer mixture with a redox initiator comprising a reducing compound and an oxidising compound and contacting the monomer mixture with a thermal initiator to cause the multivalent cation containing ethylenically unsaturated acid and the at least one comonomer to react to produce the multivalent cation containing copolymer, wherein the thermal initiator is used in the range 100 to 5000 ppm.