SciDev Ltd has been given six months by Peabody Energy to prove its OptiFlox® system can improve water efficiency, productivity and operating costs at the tailings thickener section of the North Goonyella coking coal mine in Queensland, Australia (pictured).

The six-month trial follows the successful installation and ongoing operation of an OptiFlox system at the coal miner’s 12 million tonne per year Wilpinjong thermal coal mine in New South Wales.

SciDev also sells chemicals to the 2.9 Mt/y North Goonyella mine, with the OptiFlox system expected to enhance the “efficacy of the SciDev chemistry”, the company said.

The OptiFlox range of polymers is specifically tailored for the treatment of process water and wastewater in mining and minerals. In addition to the polymer range, OptiFlox also includes the company’s patent-pending technology, which continuously measures particle characteristics of coal slurry, in order to maintain optimal flocculation conditions through automatic, real time control of coagulant dosing.

The technology aims to recover valuable mineral resources more efficiently, while minimising losses in productivity and revenue caused by inadequate wastewater clarification in tailings thickeners.

In addition to the Peabody business, SciDev said it expects to receive approval during the current quarter for the trial of an OptiFlox system at a heavy mineral sands operation in South Australia.