Abstract
Flocculation and separation of red mud is an integral part of the Bayer process. Over the latter half of the 20th century, flocculant technology dramatically changed from natural starches to use of “rationally designed” polymers. Many of these advancements were due to the introduction of liquid or emulsion based flocculants which enabled elaborate post-reaction chemistry to be done on the polymer backbone. This paper presents a historical overview of milestones of flocculant technology used in the Bayer process up to present day. Discussion of flocculants is based on inventions in the published literature that have gained widespread use throughout the industry and will included the benefits/advantages of different flocculant technology for settling red mud.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Fathi Habashi, “A Hundred Years of the Bayer Process for Alumina Production”, Light Metals (1988), pp. 3–11.
George R. Gardner and Kenneth B. Ray, “Flocculation and Clarification of Slimes with Organic Flocculants”, AIME Transactions, (1939), pp. 146–168.
L. Keith Hudson, “Evolution of Bayer Process Practice in the United States”, Light Metals (1988), pp. 31–36.
Donald A. Dahlstrom, “Liquid-Solid Separation — Challenges in the Fast Lane”, Challenges in Mineral Processing, (1989) SME, pp. 467–475.
Merrill F. McCart and Robert S. Olson, “Polyacrylamides for the Mining Industry”, Mining Engineering, January (1959), pp. 61–65.
William F. Linke and Robert B. Booth, “Physical Chemical Aspects of Flocculation by Polymers”, AIME Transactions, Vol. 217, March 12, (1959), pp. 364–371.
D.P. Spitzer, A.S. Rothenberg, H.I. Heitner, and M.E. Lewellyn, “New polymers for the Bayer process”, Alumina Quality Workshop, Gladstone, QLD, September (1988), pp. 221–230.
Marguerite Rinaudo, “Polysaccharides”, Kirk-Othmer Encycl. Chem. Technol., 5th Ed., J. Wiley & Sons, New York (2006), 20, pp. 549–586.
J.L. Chandler, “Advances in the use of synthetic flocculants”, Light Metals, (1976), Vol. 2, pp. 163–171.
M.J. Pearse and Z. Sartowski, “Application of special chemicals (Flocculants and Dewatering Aids) for red mud separation and hydrate filtration”, Bauxite — Chapter 38, (1984), pp. 788–810.
L. J. Connelly, D. O. Owen, and P. F. Richardson, “Synthetic flocculant technology in the Bayer process”, Light Metals, Vol. 2, (1986), pp. 61–68.
M. J. Pearse, “Synthetic flocculants in the mineral processing industry- types available, their uses and advantages”, Light Metals, (1984), pp. 101–106.
S. Weir and G. M. Moody, “Trends in the development of flocculants as aids to solid/liquid separation”, Journal of The Filtration Society, Vol. 1(4), (2001), pp. 11–12.
M. J. Pearse, S. Weir, S. J. Adkins, and G. M. Moody, “Advances in mineral flocculation”, Minerals Engineering, Vol. 14, No. 11, (2001), pp. 1505–1511.
Richard E. Ellwanger, “Use and application of synthetic organic flocculants in the mining industry”, AIME Transactions, Vol. 270, (1980), pp. 1812–1815.
H. T. Chen, S. A. Ravishankar, and R. S. Farinato, “Rational polymer design for solid-liquid separations in mineral processing applications”, International Journal of Mineral Processing, Vol. 72, (2003), pp. 75–86.
Ronald J. Allain, “Water soluble polymers — the future?”, Reagents for a better metallurgy, Chapter 26, SME, (1994), pp. 263–267.
T. K. Hunter, G. M. Moody, S. E. Sankey, and C. A. Tran, “Advances with chemical additives for the alumina industry”, Light Metals, (1991), pp. 159–165.
David O. Owen, Lawrence J. Connelly, and Peter A. Dimas, “Evaluation of downstream effects of specialty chemicals in the bayer process”, Light Metals, (1991), pp. 173–176.
D. P. Spitzer, A.S. Rothenberg, H.I. Heitner, M.E. Lewellyn, L.H. Laviolette, T. Foster, and P.V. Avotins, “Development of new Bayer process flocculants”, Light Metals, (1991), pp. 167–171.
M. Davis, Q. Dai, H.-L. Chen, and M. Taylor, “New polymers for improved flocculation of high DSP-containing muds”, Light Metals, (2010), pp. 57–61.
Maritza Faneitte, Alfredo Galarraga, and Terry Foster, “Utilization of new polymer in Interalumina”, Light Metals, (1994), pp. 129–131.
K. E. Bremmell and P. J. Scales, “Adhesive forces between adsorbed anionic polyelectrolyte layers in high ionic strength solutions”, Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, Vol. 247, (2004), pp. 19–25.
Roderick G. Ryles and Peter V. Avotins, “Superfloc HX, a new technology for the alumina industry”, 4th International Alumina Quality Workshop, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, June (1996), pp. 205–215.
Peter V. Avotins, Larry L. Laviolette, Emiliano F. Repetto, and Araujo M. Eli, “The effects of flocculants on thickener scaling”, 5th International Alumina Quality Workshop, Bunbury, WA, March (1999), pp. 448–455.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ballentine, F., Lewellyn, M.E., Moffatt, S.A. (2016). Red Mud Flocculants Used in the Bayer Process. In: Donaldson, D., Raahauge, B.E. (eds) Essential Readings in Light Metals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48176-0_57
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48176-0_57
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-48574-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-48176-0
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)