Improved Tailings Consolidation Using Dewatering Agents: A Step towards Safer and Sustainable Mining Waste Management

Abstract

Tailings consolidation is a critical step in mining waste management. Tailings are a byproduct of mining and mineral processing operations, and they are typically composed of finely ground rock particles, water, and reagents used in the mineral processing. The tailings disposal is a significant environmental and safety concern, as unconsolidated or unstable tailings can result in catastrophic failures and environmental damage. Therefore, it is crucial to use reagents for tailings consolidation to ensure the stability and safety of tailings storage facilities (TSFs). That is the reason to decide to test different dewatering aids to determine which one gives the best results in tailings dewatering. Many experiments were carried out using the reagents Aerodri 104, Aerodri 105, PEG – 400, and polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 and K90. Factors such as water release, consolidation speed, and consolidation time were considered and monitored. The best results are obtained with the Aerodri 104 using 300 g/t and 500 g/t reagents.