PAM for Mining Tailings Treatment
Mining operations generate massive volumes of tailings slurry that must be thickened and clarified for water recovery and safe disposal. Our anionic and nonionic PAM grades (3-28M MW) accelerate settling in thickener underflow, paste tailings, and tailings storage facility (TSF) operations. Effective across pH 4-10, handling acidic gold leach tailings to alkaline iron ore slurries.
Flocculant Selection by Ore Type
Recommended PAM grade and dosage for common mining applications
| Tailings Type (pH) | Recommended Grade | Dosage & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gold tailings (CIL, pH 10-11) | Nonionic 5-10M MW | 10–20 g/t; avoids carbon interference |
| Copper tailings (pH 7-9) | Anionic 18-25M MW, 25-30% HD | 10–25 g/t; fast settling |
| Iron ore (pH 7-8) | Anionic 20-28M MW, 25-35% HD | 5–15 g/t; high underflow density |
| Coal fines (pH 6-8) | Anionic 10-18M MW, 15-25% HD | 10–30 g/t; fine coal recovery >90% |
| Acid mine drainage (pH 4-5) | Nonionic 5-8M MW | 15–30 g/t; effective at low pH |
| Bauxite red mud (pH 12-13) | Anionic 20-25M MW, 30-35% HD | 15–40 g/t; handles high alkalinity |
Technical Parameters
| Application | Mining tailings thickening & water recovery |
| Recommended Type | Anionic PAM (pH >6) or Nonionic PAM (pH 4-6) |
| Molecular Weight | 10–28 million Da |
| Hydrolysis Degree | 20–35% (anionic) / 0–3% (nonionic) |
| Typical Dosage | 5–30 g per ton of dry solids (g/t) |
| Target Overflow Clarity | <50 NTU (recyclable quality) |
| Underflow Density | 55–70% solids (thickener) |
| Effective pH Range | 4.0–10.0 |
| Packaging | 25 kg PP woven bags, palletized |
Key Advantages
- Anionic PAM for alkaline tailings (iron ore, bauxite, copper pH >7)
- Nonionic PAM for acidic circuits (gold CIL, acid leach, pH 4-6)
- High MW (18-28M) for fast settling in conventional thickeners
- Medium MW (10-18M) for paste thickeners and high-density tailings
- Overflow water quality suitable for process recycle
- Reduces fresh water consumption 40-70% through recovery
- Free settling test on your tailings sample
Mining Applications
- Gold tailings (CIL/CIP circuit)
- Copper tailings thickening
- Iron ore concentrate thickening
- Coal washery fines recovery
- Bauxite red mud settling
- Diamond tailings treatment
- Tailings dam water recovery
Dosage Guide
5–30 g/t dry solids depending on ore type and circuit pH. Always confirm by settling test.
Frequently Asked Questions — PAM for Mining Tailings Treatment
Anionic or nonionic — how do I choose for my mine?
pH is the primary selector. Above pH 6: anionic PAM (charged polymer interacts with mineral surfaces via bridging). Below pH 6: nonionic PAM (anionic loses charge at low pH, becomes ineffective). Gold CIL at pH 10-11 is an exception — use nonionic to avoid carbon adsorption issues.
What dosage should I expect for my tailings thickener?
Typical range: 5-30 g/t (grams per ton of dry solids). Iron ore is usually lowest (5-15 g/t), gold and copper mid-range (10-25 g/t), and fine clay-rich tailings highest (20-30 g/t). We determine exact dosage by running a settling test on your sample.
Can you send product to remote mine sites?
Yes. We supply mines in Australia, Africa, South America, and Central Asia. Standard packaging (25 kg bags on pallets) handles rough logistics. We also offer 750 kg bulk bags for high-volume sites.
Will your polymer interfere with my downstream gold recovery?
Nonionic PAM has minimal adsorption onto activated carbon, so it will not affect CIL/CIP gold loading. This is why we recommend nonionic specifically for gold circuits, even though the pH would normally suit anionic.
How do I test your product against what I am currently using?
Send us a 5-liter tailings sample (or tell us the PSD, mineralogy, and pH). We run a standard cylinder settling test (500 mL graduated cylinder, 3-5 dosage points) and send back a report with settling rate curves and optimal dosage. Free of charge.
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