Dewatering coal washery tailings ponds by electroosmosis
1984; Elsevier BV; Volume: 40; Issue: 1-3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/0032-5910(84)85067-6
ISSN1873-328X
AutoresN.C. Lockhart, R.E. Stickland,
Tópico(s)Geophysical and Geoelectrical Methods
ResumoElectroosmotic flow, being a surface process, is relatively insensitive to pore size and is therefore attractive in principle for dewatering sediments of fine particles. Following small- and large-scale laboratory tests on pure clays and various fine suspensions from mineral processing, two field trials of electroosmotic dewatering were carried out in tailings ponds at a coal washery. In one trial using three horizontal electrodes, some 570 t of material were dewatered to a spadeable consistency (67% solids) in 2 weeks at 26 – 33 V for an energy consumption of about 9 kWh/t of starting material, or 20 kWh/t on a dry solids basis. A further 9.5 days dewatering at 33 – 40 V gave a drier product (over 75% solids) for 36 kWh/t (dry). A second field trial using two horizontal electrodes was also successful. Work is now in progress on vertical electrode systems. Dewatering in tailings ponds is discussed in relation to dewatering by machines, whether purely mechanical or incorporating electroosmosis.
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