Novel Specific Coagulant/Flocculant Pairs for Mineral Tailings Treatment

Water management and treatment of mineral tailings and oil sands tailings are becoming critical challenges for the sustainable development of natural resources exploration. Reclamation of these tailings is challenging due to a solid phase composed mainly by very fine particles and many other chemicals. With these characteristics, the tailings form a very stable colloidal system and needs to be stored in open ponds. If left untreated, these tailings take decades to settle the recovery of water and large areas occupied by the tailing’s ponds. Coagulation and flocculation have been used to promote the sedimentation of these particles and enable the separation of released water and solid sediments. Duo to its complex composition, there is no mature technology capable of effectively treating tailings and completely eliminating the use of tailings ponds. This project aims to develop an innovative method that selectively bridge the fine particles suspended in tailings, forming aggregates with low water retention, precipitating at the bottom of the pond. We plan to synthesize novel targeted flocculation systems whereby a bifunctional coagulant adheres in patches to the negatively charged tailings particles, followed by a specific cross-linking with the flocculant, which will be composed by a functionalized natural or synthetic polymer with high molecular weight.

Faculty Supervisor:

Joao Soares

Student:

Partner:

CarboNet Nanotechnologies Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Alberta

Program: