The Use of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the Flotation of a Platinum-Group-Minerals-Bearing Merensky Ore
Water scarcity is compelling mining houses to not only recycle process water but to also identify alternative sources of make-up water in concentrators. South Africa has significant volumes of acid mine drainage (AMD) generated from vast mining operations. This study investigated the viability of us...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/10/1259 |
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| author | Jestos Taguta Zandile Peku Nthapo Sehlotho Kirsten Corin |
| author_facet | Jestos Taguta Zandile Peku Nthapo Sehlotho Kirsten Corin |
| author_sort | Jestos Taguta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Water scarcity is compelling mining houses to not only recycle process water but to also identify alternative sources of make-up water in concentrators. South Africa has significant volumes of acid mine drainage (AMD) generated from vast mining operations. This study investigated the viability of using AMD as a replacement for potable water in the flotation of a platinum-group-minerals (PGM)-bearing Merensky ore. Rougher and cleaner flotation testwork was conducted at laboratory scale to compare the performances of potable water (baseline water), AMD treated with Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub>, and AMD treated with the Veolia process. Water analysis showed that the three water types differed in pH, water hardness, conductivity, and total dissolved solids. The results showed the AMD treated with Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> was detrimental to PGM recovery compared to potable water at depressant dosages of 50 g/t. Specifically, AMD treated with Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> achieved a PGM rougher recovery of 67.8%, while potable water achieved a PGM rougher recovery of 88.4%. Depressant dosage optimisation and treatment of the AMD using the Veolia process were investigated as potential strategies to mitigate the detrimental effects of the AMD treated with Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> on the flotation performance of a Merensky ore. The AMD treated with the Veolia process achieved a PGM rougher recovery of 70.8%. Thus, treatment of the AMD was beneficial, though the PGM and base metal sulphides (BMS) recoveries were still lower than those achieved in potable water. Reducing the depressant dosage to 25 g/t in AMD treated with Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> resulted in the highest PGM, Cu, and Ni rougher recoveries of 91%, 60.2%, and 58%, respectively. The AMD treated with Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> at lower depressant dosage outperformed the potable water in terms of PGM and BMS recoveries and concentrate grades, indicating that AMD has the potential to replace potable water as make-up water in Merensky ore processing plants. The results showed that depressant optimisation is important to achieve superior metallurgical results when using AMD treated with Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub>. The use of AMD in Merensky ore processing plants not only conserves freshwater in minerals processing plants but also reduces high volumes of contaminated effluents. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:43:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b67609e7c9804f0b87f7e8e1b1998df8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:43:38Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-b67609e7c9804f0b87f7e8e1b1998df82023-11-24T01:29:37ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2022-10-011210125910.3390/min12101259The Use of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the Flotation of a Platinum-Group-Minerals-Bearing Merensky OreJestos Taguta0Zandile Peku1Nthapo Sehlotho2Kirsten Corin3Mineral Processing Division, Mintek, P.O. Box 3015, Randburg 2125, South AfricaMineral Processing Division, Mintek, P.O. Box 3015, Randburg 2125, South AfricaCJP Chemicals, 60 Electron Avenue, Isando 1600, South AfricaCentre for Minerals Research, University of Cape Town, P.O. Box 3, Rondebosch 7701, South AfricaWater scarcity is compelling mining houses to not only recycle process water but to also identify alternative sources of make-up water in concentrators. South Africa has significant volumes of acid mine drainage (AMD) generated from vast mining operations. This study investigated the viability of using AMD as a replacement for potable water in the flotation of a platinum-group-minerals (PGM)-bearing Merensky ore. Rougher and cleaner flotation testwork was conducted at laboratory scale to compare the performances of potable water (baseline water), AMD treated with Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub>, and AMD treated with the Veolia process. Water analysis showed that the three water types differed in pH, water hardness, conductivity, and total dissolved solids. The results showed the AMD treated with Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> was detrimental to PGM recovery compared to potable water at depressant dosages of 50 g/t. Specifically, AMD treated with Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> achieved a PGM rougher recovery of 67.8%, while potable water achieved a PGM rougher recovery of 88.4%. Depressant dosage optimisation and treatment of the AMD using the Veolia process were investigated as potential strategies to mitigate the detrimental effects of the AMD treated with Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> on the flotation performance of a Merensky ore. The AMD treated with the Veolia process achieved a PGM rougher recovery of 70.8%. Thus, treatment of the AMD was beneficial, though the PGM and base metal sulphides (BMS) recoveries were still lower than those achieved in potable water. Reducing the depressant dosage to 25 g/t in AMD treated with Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> resulted in the highest PGM, Cu, and Ni rougher recoveries of 91%, 60.2%, and 58%, respectively. The AMD treated with Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> at lower depressant dosage outperformed the potable water in terms of PGM and BMS recoveries and concentrate grades, indicating that AMD has the potential to replace potable water as make-up water in Merensky ore processing plants. The results showed that depressant optimisation is important to achieve superior metallurgical results when using AMD treated with Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub>. The use of AMD in Merensky ore processing plants not only conserves freshwater in minerals processing plants but also reduces high volumes of contaminated effluents.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/10/1259platinum-group mineralsbase metalsacid mine drainagelime precipitationwater scarcitygrade |
| spellingShingle | Jestos Taguta Zandile Peku Nthapo Sehlotho Kirsten Corin The Use of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the Flotation of a Platinum-Group-Minerals-Bearing Merensky Ore Minerals platinum-group minerals base metals acid mine drainage lime precipitation water scarcity grade |
| title | The Use of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the Flotation of a Platinum-Group-Minerals-Bearing Merensky Ore |
| title_full | The Use of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the Flotation of a Platinum-Group-Minerals-Bearing Merensky Ore |
| title_fullStr | The Use of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the Flotation of a Platinum-Group-Minerals-Bearing Merensky Ore |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Use of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the Flotation of a Platinum-Group-Minerals-Bearing Merensky Ore |
| title_short | The Use of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the Flotation of a Platinum-Group-Minerals-Bearing Merensky Ore |
| title_sort | use of acid mine drainage amd in the flotation of a platinum group minerals bearing merensky ore |
| topic | platinum-group minerals base metals acid mine drainage lime precipitation water scarcity grade |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/10/1259 |
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