Project Overview
A mining company located in South America generated a large amount of mining wastewater and tailings water during mineral extraction and beneficiation processes.
Due to the presence of fine mineral particles, suspended solids, and metal ions, mining wastewater typically has the following characteristics:
- High suspended solids concentration
- High turbidity
- Slow particle settling
- Difficult sludge handling
The existing treatment system was unable to fully meet increasingly strict environmental discharge requirements, while high sludge disposal costs increased operational pressure.
To improve tailings water treatment efficiency and promote water recycling, the mining company was looking for a reliable water treatment chemical supplier.
After water sample testing and technical evaluation, KolinSC recommended a combined treatment solution using:
Poly Aluminium Chloride (PAC) + Polyacrylamide (PAM).
Customer Challenges
Mining wastewater treatment faced several challenges:
1. High Concentration of Mineral Suspended Solids
Mineral processing generates large amounts of fine particles that remain suspended in water and settle slowly.
2. Insufficient Tailings Water Treatment Efficiency
Conventional sedimentation processes could not effectively remove fine particles, resulting in:
- High effluent turbidity
- Increased sedimentation tank loading
- Reduced water recycling efficiency
3. Difficult Sludge Dewatering
Mining sludge usually contains high moisture content and requires effective flocculants to improve solid-liquid separation.
Our Solution
Based on mining wastewater characteristics, KolinSC provided a PAC and PAM combined treatment solution.
Step 1: PAC Coagulation Treatment
Poly Aluminium Chloride was used to:
- Neutralize mineral particle charges
- Break down colloidal stability
- Promote initial particle aggregation
Step 2: PAM Flocculation Enhancement
After adding Polyacrylamide:
- Floc size increased
- Particle settling speed improved
- Sludge thickening performance enhanced
allowing faster solid-liquid separation.
Step 3: Supporting Water Recycling
The treated water quality was improved and could be reused for:
- Mining area circulation water
- Production processes
- Environmental treatment applications
helping reduce overall water consumption.
Products Used
Poly Aluminium Chloride （PAC）
Advantages:
- Strong coagulation ability
- Effective turbidity removal
- Stable performance under complex water conditions
Polyacrylamide（PAM）
Advantages:
- Excellent flocculation performance
- Improved sedimentation efficiency
- Better sludge dewatering
Treatment Results
| Item | Before Optimization | After PAC + PAM Application |
|---|---|---|
| Water turbidity | High | Significantly reduced |
| Particle settling | Slow | Faster settling |
| Floc structure | Loose | Larger and stronger |
| Sludge dewatering | Limited | Improved |
| Water recycling | Restricted | Increased |
Customer Benefits
By implementing KolinSC’s mining wastewater treatment solution, the customer achieved:
- ✓ Higher tailings water treatment efficiency
- ✓ Lower sludge disposal costs
- ✓ More stable environmental compliance
- ✓ Improved water recycling efficiency
- ✓ Reduced operational pressure
Long-Term Partnership
KolinSC provides professional water treatment chemical solutions for mining companies, engineering contractors, and industrial customers worldwide.
With stable PAC and PAM supply capabilities and extensive international trade experience, we help customers solve complex wastewater challenges and achieve more efficient and sustainable operations.
