Kaswalder, F, Fritzke, I, Cavalli, D & Bassi, A 2020, 'High capacity dewatering plants', in H Quelopana (ed.), Paste 2020: 23rd International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings, Gecamin Publications, Santiago, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2052_10
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/2052_10_Kaswalder/)
Abstract: The mining industry is becoming more and more attracted to dry stacking as a method of mine tailings management.
The development of bigger-sized plates now allows metal producers to utilize pressure filtration technology to process flow rates of up to 200,000 tonnes per day of dry solids, which was undreamed of just a few years ago. The advantages of this technology include very low cake moisture content, significant savings in water usage and the possibility to recover product (when required) without the need of CCD washers.
The filter press technology combined with bigger-sized plates enables filters to be installed in remote sites with high average rainfalls, offering the mining company the possibility of a safer and more sustainable environmental impact, thanks to a stable stack of solid material that requires less room than traditional thickened residue dams.
The aim of this presentation is to show the latest studies where this technology has been applied.