What happens inside a filter press during tailings filtration

Authors: Fränkle, B; Bragin, G

Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2555_12

Cite As:
Fränkle, B & Bragin, G 2025, 'What happens inside a filter press during tailings filtration', in AB Fourie, A Copeland, V Daigle & C MacRobert (eds), Paste 2025: Proceedings of the 27th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 181-190, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2555_12

Download citation as:   ris   bibtex   endnote   text   Zotero


Abstract:
Due to the increasing importance of filtering and stacking tailings, the number of filter presses being used is rapidly increasing. However, to ensure that this process step does not affect the overall throughput of the plant, a deep understanding of the filtration sub-steps and optimisation is necessary. Monitoring cake water content during filtration allows visualisation of different filtration behaviours and facilitates enhancement. This study investigated the filtration characteristics of coarse-grained feldspar using a laboratory filter press and a filter plate-integrated sensor, and compared them to fine-grained kaolin data. Furthermore, copper tailings particles were tested. It became apparent that larger particles experience a significant reduction in dewatering kinetics once the transition from cake build-up to cake consolidation occurs. This behaviour was also pronounced when examining copper tailings. Building on that, a theoretical approach for increasing throughput by timely switching to the subsequent process sub-step is presented.

Keywords: filtration, digitalisation, sensor, filter press, filter plate

References:
ANDRITZ 2020, Optimize Efficiency and Maximize Profit – ANDRITZ Intelligent Filter Press, brochure, viewed 16 January 2025,
Anlauf, H 2019, Wet Cake Filtration, Wiley-VCH Verlag, Weinheim.
Amberger Kaolinwerke 2023, Product Data AKFlux 700, moist, Amberger Kaolinwerke Eduard Kick GmbH & Co. KG, Hirschau.
Amberger Kaolinwerke 2024, Product Data Kaolin Kick 2, Amberger Kaolinwerke Eduard Kick GmbH & Co. KG, Hirschau.
BHP Rio Tinto Tailings Management Consortium 2024, Filtered Stacked Tailings - A Guide for Study Managers, BHP Rio Tinto Tailings Consortium.
Chaponnel, J 2024, ‘Innovative product optimisation with the AFP2500 filter: a breakthrough in dewatered tailings solutions by FLSmidth’, in AB Fourie & D Reid (eds), Paste 2024: Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 39–50,
Davies, M 2011, ‘Filtered dry stacked tailings – the fundamentals’, Proceeding of Tailings and Mine Waste, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
Dursch, M 2021, ‘Kontinuierliche Feuchtemessung in der Filterpresse dank innovativer Sensorik (Continuous water content measurement in the filter press thanks to innovative sensor technology)’, F & S - Filtrieren und Separieren, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 18–20.
Fränkle, B 2024a, Aspects of Tailings Filtration in Recessed Plate Filter Presses, PhD thesis, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe.
Fränkle, B, Menzel, A, Aust, H, Ohorn, P & Börste, G 2024c, ‘Optimizing filtration in filter presses through in situ measurement of cake water content’, paper presented at FILTECH, Cologne.
Fränkle, B, Sok, T, Gleiß, M & Nirschl, H 2024b, ‘Copper tailings filtration: Influence of filter cake desaturation’, Minerals Engineering, vol. 217,
Gerards, M & Panholzer, M 2025, ‘Dry stacking of iron ore tailings: how Brazilian operations inspired filter press technology advances’, in AB Fourie, A Copeland, V Daigle & C MacRobert (eds), Paste 2025: Proceedings of the 27th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 77–88.
Grosso, A, Kaswalder, F & Hawkey, A 2021, ‘Clay-bearing mine tailings analysis and implications in large filter press design’, in AB Fourie & D Reid (eds), in AB Fourie & D Reid (eds), Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 107–118,
Jenkins, R 2024, ‘Dewatered tailings: option to reduce, enabler to reuse’, Proceedings of MIT Global Summit on Mine Tailings Innovation 2024, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge,
Jewell, RJ & Fourie, AB (eds) 2015, ‘Filtered tailings’, Paste and Thickened Tailings – A Guide, 3rd edn, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 143–157.
Kaswalder, F, Cavalli, D, Hawkey, A & Paglianti, A 2018, ‘Tailings dewatering by pressure filtration: process optimisation and design criteria’, in Jewell, RJ & Fourie, AB (eds), Proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Paste and Thickened Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 427–438,
LENSER Filtration 2024, LENSER i-Plate – Measurement of relevant data in real time, brochure, viewed 16 January 2025,
Luo, Y, Ekanayake, NIK, Amini, N, Moon, E, Hapgood, K, Scales, PJ & Stickland, AD 2024, ‘Quantifying the effects of clays on mineral tailings filtration’, Minerals Engineering, vol. 216, no. 108830,
Metso:Outotec 2021, Basics in Mineral Processing, 12th edn, Metso Outotec Corporation, Helsinki.
Pezzi, A, Kaswalder, F & Irons, R 2016, ‘Environmental and economic benefits of bauxite residue management through the use of pressure filtration, a case study’, Proceedings of the 34th International Conference and Exhibition of ICSOBA, International Committee for Study of Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium, Nagpur, pp. 221–226.
Ripperger, S, Gösele, W, Alt, C & Loewe, T 2013, ‘Filtration, 2. Equipment’, Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH Verlag, Weinheim,
VDI 2010, Mechanical Solid-liquid Separation by Cake Filtration: Determination of Filter Cake Resistance (2762-2), VDI, Düsseldorf.
Wakeman, R 2007, ‘The influence of particle properties on filtration‘, Separation and Purification Technology, vol. 58, no. 2,
pp. 234–241.
Weigert, T 2001, Haftung von Filterkuchen bei der Fest/Flüssig-Filtration (Adhesion of Filter Cake in Solid/Liquid Filtration), PhD thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden.




© Copyright 2025, Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG), The University of Western Australia. All rights reserved.
View copyright/legal information
Please direct any queries or error reports to repository-acg@uwa.edu.au