Copper Concentrate
Filtration
Copper Concentrate Filtration
The copper concentrate slurry of this case study is produced by the processing of the chalcopyrite mineral in the enrichment plant. After crushing and milling steps the slurry of copper go to the flotation process in order to separate the copper concentrate from the copper tailings. The last step of the process before the copper concentrate filtration is the thickening of the copper concentrate slurry by the high rate thickener.
Case Study on Copper Concentrate Filtration
Feed Details
Feed : Copper Concentrate
Conc. : 55-58% (w/w)
Qty. : > 45 DMTPH
Desired Output Parameters
Filtered Cake Moisture : ≤ 8% (w/w)
Filtrate Quality: Solids < 1-3 gpl
Process Engineering
A representative sample of copper concentrate is collected & tested in Dewater Filter Press R & D Laboratory in Italy in a lab scale Filter Press.
The first step was to understand the copper concentrate slurry chemical & physical characteristics. And tests such as elemental analysis, dimensional Particle size analysis, IR Spectroscopic analysis, XRD Crystalline Phase analysis were conducted.
Subsequently multiple filtration tests were conducted on the copper concentrate slurry by altering
- filter press plate configurations,
- chamber thickness,
- feeding,
- squeezing,
- cake blowing pressures & time
to define the optimum filtration parameters to reach the performance parameters required by the customer.
Result (Dry Cake)
Filter Press & its ancillaries sizing
The Filtration test results on the copper concentrate sample provided us the optimum process parameters to make the sizing of the Filter Press & all the associated ancillary equipment.
The Filter Press & the ancillaries are sized considering the results from the filtration test.
Recommended solution
Membrane plate configuration was choosen for this copper concentrate project.
We recommended the customer for 01 No. Dewater HP 22 Next Generation Filter Press to reach the total capacity with desired Filter Press performance parameters.
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