Wills' Mineral Processing Technology, 8th Edition

Chapter 15

Dewatering

With few exceptions, most mineral-separation processes involve the use of substantial quantities of water and the final concentrate has to be separated from a pulp in which the water–solids ratio may be high. Dewatering, or solid–liquid separation, produces a relatively dry concentrate for shipment. Partial dewatering is also performed at various stages in the concentrator, so as to prepare the feed for subsequent processes. Sometimes tailings are also de-watered.

Keywords

Thickening; gravity and centrifugal sedimentation; coagulation and flocculation; filtration; vacuum and pressure filtration; drying

15.1 Introduction

With few exceptions, most mineral-separation processes involve the use of substantial quantities of water and ...