Estudo do processo de coagulação/floculação no rejeito de flotação do minério de cobre sulfetado da Usina do Sossego (PA)

Abstract

This paper describes the study of the process of coagulation/flocculation as primary treatment of wastewater originating from the flotation of mine Sossego’scopper sulfide. In order to optimize and flexibility the recovery process of water present in the tailings slurry. The coagulation/flocculation is characterized as the most traditional method used in wastewater treatment and is considered a pre-treatment that determines the dump to the subsequent treatment, which can be sedimentation and/or filtration. Its purpose is the removal of colloidal substances or solid material in suspension and/or dissolved. From this fact, several sedimentation tests were performed with tailings slurry containing various reagents such as Amilxanthate Potassium, Sodium Dithiophosphate, MIBC and Propylene glycol, used in the flotation of copper sulfide. It was later added as the coagulation aluminium. After knowing the results of particles sedimentation time analysis’, the feasibility of using this process was confirmed, since the coagulant contributed to the significant reduction in the time of sedimentation.