DEWATERING OF THICK FINE TAILINGS WITH GAS INJECTION AND FLOCCULATION

摘要

Techniques for injecting gas, such as compressed air, into thick fine tailings can promote water release or flocculant dosage reduction and thereby ameliorate dewatering operations of the thick fine tailings. Gas injection may be done before, during or after addition of a polymer flocculant into the thick fine tailings. Gas injection may be done in an amount, pressure or with gas bubbles so as to reduce the flocculant dosage requirements or increase the water release from released thick fine tailings.