RESEARCH OF SULFURIC ACID SALTS INFLUENCE ON SEDIMENTATION PROCESS OF A CLAY SUSPENSION

Abstract

PCSJ "Severalmaz" is a diamond mining enterprise near nature reserve areas. Ttherefore, it requires the provision of effective and safe mining technology. For the development and implementation of this technology, samples of recycled and quarry water were taken at the enterprise and subjected to X-ray phase, X-ray fluorescence, and granulometric analysis. Based on the results of these analyses, coagulants were selected and developed that can turn a huge mass of waste rock produced by the enterprise into a secondary product. The use of alkali metal sulfates for the separation of clay fine particles, represented mainly by saponite, is quite promising. The deposition rate and changes in the acidity of suspension were measured and compared with traditional coagulants. Precipitate treated with alkali metal sulfates was investigated by X-ray phase and X-ray fluorescence analysis, and a possible mechanism of the sediment compression was suggested. Saponite is a clay mineral of the montmorillonite group that contains a large amount of magnesium and has sorption properties. The mineral clay sediments obtained during the mining process are promising raw materials for a number of secondary products. Saponite particles, due to geometric and physico-chemical characteristics, form an extremely resistant to sedimentation suspension. Application of alkali metal sulfates is significantly more effective than traditional industrial coagulants, and additional treatment of calcium-containing slurries as weighting agents allows to intensify the process. The resulting sediments contain a sufficient amount of potassium and magnesium to create a mineral potassium-magnesium fertilizer based on saponite sediment, also dried clay can serve as the basis for frost-resistant concrete.