Recent Developments in FLSmidth Dewatering Technologies for Tailings Disposal to Maximise Water Recovery

Abstract

FLSmidth is one of the world leading suppliers of solid-liquid separation equipment and has been at the forefront of many product developments in thickening and filtration in over 135 years of existence.

The Phosphate industry consumes vast amounts of water and generates large volumes of tailings. With production increasing and plans to use seawater desalination and domestic wastewater purification as water sources, it is vital to recycle as much water as possible from the tailings. Economically recovering water from the tailings and disposing of the solids are increasingly bigger challenges for this industry.

Consequently, techniques for dewatering large tonnages of tailings, with minimal power consumption and making use of economies of scale through larger equipment are continuously being sought. This paper will review the different tailings disposal flowsheets and present some of the recent developments by FLSmidth including the Colossal Filter and FLS’ EcoTails TM flowsheet.