Sole Proprietorship (Moscow, Russia)

Bakharev S. A., Doctor of Engineering Sciences, Professor, taf@list.ru

As high-grade ore deposits become increasingly depleted, and the financial and time costs associated with processing low-grade and refractory ores continue to rise, minimizing fine product losses in concentrate thickener discharges has become a critical priority. The Comprehensive Acoustic Method (CAM) is employed not only for the preliminary disintegration of minerals, removal of surface films (both natural and process-induced) prior to flotation, and other preparatory steps, but also for particle enlargement before thickening and filtration. This is achieved through the rounding of soft particles, hardening of dense particles, promotion of forced sedimentation in sumps and thickeners, slurry degassing, and flotation froth suppression, among other effects. CAM offers several key advantages, including reagent-free operation, low energy consumption (~5.0 W/m³ of slurry), and autonomous functionality. The method utilizes a single set of hydroacoustic emitters and power amplifiers, along with interchangeable digital storage media, allowing for the simultaneous resolution of multiple processing challenges. CAM can be deployed as a standalone technology or integrated into existing beneficiation circuits at processing plants. This study presents the results of the industrial application of CAM in sumps and thickeners for both dense (e.g., gold) and light (e.g., apatite) concentrates. The broader application of CAM is recommended not only in concentrate thickeners—to reduce fine product losses in discharges—but also in tailings thickeners to improve recycled water quality, in tailings storage facilities and secondary settling tanks, and in water and wastewater treatment plants to minimize environmental pollution in surface water bodies.

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