Electrokinetic thickening and dewatering of mine tailings

本研究的长期目标是推动电动浓缩和脱水成为一项成熟的技术，可用于采矿工业的尾矿处理，矿山关闭和土地复垦。DG 5年期间的短期目标是：(1)建立矿山尾矿EK可处理性评价标准试验设施；(2)开发适合矿山尾矿浓缩脱水的非耗材阳极系统；(3)制定尾矿EK脱水设计框架，用于尾矿EK脱水的评价、实施和运行；(4)利用世界各地收集的尾矿样本进行理论、数值和实验研究，并进行案例研究，验证本研究开发的设计框架。在采矿作业中，每天都会产生大量的尾矿，其中很大一部分的粒度小于10微米。与常规方法相比，细粒尾矿的EK浓缩和脱水可以在更短的时间内获得更高的固体含量。相对容易实施和控制，对环境的影响最小。通过适当的工程设计，该技术可以实现能源和成本效益。3名博士生、3名硕士生、5名本科生和1名博士后将接受研究活动的培训。该研究将建立一种创新的脱水技术，这是由于现有技术难以对细粒尾矿进行脱水所迫切需要的。除了在采矿工程中的应用外，该研究对其他需要液固分离的工程学科也有潜在的影响。最后，该研究将为未来的工程应用加强电动力学科学。

The long-term objective of this research is to advance electrokinetic (EK) thickening and dewatering to a mature technology available to the mining industry for tailings disposal, mine closure and land reclamation. The short-term objectives during the 5-year period of DG are (1) develop standard testing facilities for assessment of EK treatability of mine tailings; (2) develop non-consumable anode systems suitable for thickening and dewatering of mine tailings; (3) develop a design framework for EK dewatering of mine tailings, which will be used for assessment, implementation and operation of EK dewatering of mine tailing; and (4) carry out theoretical, numerical and experimental studies using tailings samples collected worldwide, as well as conduct case studies to verify the design framework developed in this research. In mining operations, large quantities of tailings are generated daily from ore processing, in which a significant fraction has grain sizes less than 10 micrometers. EK thickening and dewatering of fine tailings can achieve much higher solid contents in much less time, as compared to conventional methods. It is relatively easy to implement and control with minimal environmental impacts. With proper engineering design, the technology can be energy and cost efficient. Three PhD students, three master students, five undergraduate students and one postdoctoral fellow will receive training in the research activities. The research will establish an innovative dewatering technology, which is urgently needed because of difficulties of fine tailings dewatering using existing technologies. In addition to applications in mining engineering, the research has potential impacts in other engineering disciplines where liquid-solid separation is required. Finally the research will enhance the science of electrokinetics for future engineering applications.