Temperature variation characteristics in flocculation settlement of tailings and its mechanism

Dao-lin Wang; Qin-li Zhang; Qiu-song Chen; Chong-chong Qi; Yan Feng; Chong-chun Xiao

doi:10.1007/s12613-020-2022-3

Volume 27 Issue 11

Nov. 2020

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Article Navigation > International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials > 2020 > 27(11): 1438-1448

Dao-lin Wang, Qin-li Zhang, Qiu-song Chen, Chong-chong Qi, Yan Feng, and Chong-chun Xiao, Temperature variation characteristics in flocculation settlement of tailings and its mechanism, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 27(2020), No. 11, pp. 1438-1448. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-020-2022-3

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Dao-lin Wang, Qin-li Zhang, Qiu-song Chen, Chong-chong Qi, Yan Feng, and Chong-chun Xiao, Temperature variation characteristics in flocculation settlement of tailings and its mechanism, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 27(2020), No. 11, pp. 1438-1448. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-020-2022-3

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Research Article

Temperature variation characteristics in flocculation settlement of tailings and its mechanism

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Corresponding author:
Qiu-song Chen E-mail: qiusong.chen@csu.edu.cn
Received: 5 December 2019; Revised: 13 January 2020; Accepted: 16 February 2020; Available online: 20 February 2020

Abstract

Abstract

Rapid flocculation and settlement (FS) of mine tailings is significant for the improvement and development of the filling process, whereas the settlement velocity (SV) of tailings in FS has been recognized as a key parameter to evaluate the settlement effect. However, the influence of temperature on the SV and its mechanism have not been studied. FS experiments on tailings with various ambient temperatures were carried out. The SVs of tailings with a solid waste content of 10wt% and an anionic polyacrylamide content of 20 g·t⁻¹ were measured at different temperatures. The SV presented an “N”-shaped variation curve as the temperature changed from 5 to 40°C. The mechanism of these results can be explained from the perspective of the electric double-layer repulsive force, molecular dynamics, and the polymer flocculation principle, as revealed from the scanning electron microscopy of floc particles. The findings will be beneficial in the design of tailings dewatering processes and save costs in the production of cemented paste backfill.
- cemented paste backfill;
- tailing dewatering;
- flocculation settlement;
- temperature

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