Studies on the effects of physical parameters of filtration process on the fluid flow characteristics and de-watering efficiency of copper concentrate

The effect of physical parameters such as type of filtration media, solids percent, pressure drop, and pH on resistance to filter cloth (R), specific cake resistance (α), moisture content and cake formation rate were investigated in this paper. Experiments were performed using Vacuum Top-Feed method and during the experiments, no chemicals (flocculants, coagulants, etc.) were used. The optimal response for each factor was considered as the minimum values of the resistance to filter cloth (R), specific cake resistance (α), moisture content and maximum cake formation rate. The results showed that the Cloth A۷ (Fiber: Polyester, Weave: Twill) and Cloth A۱۲ (Fiber: Polyester, Weave: Plain) have the best performance among ۱۶ types of filters media. With increasing solid content from ۴۵ to ۶۵%, the resistance to filter cloths of A۷ and A۱۲ increase from ۲۶.۲۹ (۱/m×〖۱۰〗^۱۰) to ۱۰۱.۳۹ (۱/m×〖۱۰〗^۱۰) and from ۲۵.۳۸(۱/m×〖۱۰〗^۱۰) to ۲۴۵.۶۷ (۱/m×〖۱۰〗^۱۰), respectively. The highest rate of cake formation in ۶۵% solids for both cloths was ۰.۰۷۷ (mm/s) for cloth A۷ and ۰.۰۵۹ (mm/s) for cloth A۱۲. Also, it was found that the compressibility factor is the same for each cloths, so the difference in the compressibility coefficient of cake depends on the inherent properties of the raw material.

Keywords:

filtration , Copper concentrate , Physical parameters , Water recovery