Specialists from Irkutsk Polytechnic University, together with SIBUR, are developing new chemical compositions that will help miners process ore faster and cheaper. The reagents are intended for processing plants working with gold, diamonds, copper and nickel. In the future, the technology will reduce waste volumes and return more water to the production cycle.
The IrNITU laboratory conducted large-scale tests of promising compounds. Tests went to different types of raw materials – copper, zinc and gold ores, as well as coal. Experts tested how new substances work as foaming agents, collectors and depressants. Some of the compositions showed excellent results. They increase the recovery of valuable components and help clarify wastewater faster.
A separate area is grinding intensifiers. These additives speed up the crushing of ore in mills. The entire processing process goes many times faster, and less energy is spent. At the university they call this real know-how.
Another development is rheology modifiers. They change the viscosity of the enrichment tailings so that the pulp flows more easily through the pipes and is properly stored in storage facilities. In this case, the water is returned back to the factory rather than going to waste.
One of the new reagents for tailings dewatering has already been tested at existing factories. The results are positive. Now scientists, together with colleagues from the Irkutsk Institute of Chemistry named after Favorsky, are synthesizing a whole line of flotation reagents. The raw materials are large-scale petrochemical products.
The main goal is to completely replace imported analogues and strengthen the domestic base for mining and metallurgical complex. For companies, this means reduced dependence on foreign supplies and the ability to operate more stably. For the environment – less waste and cleaner water.
Source: Interfax
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