Tag Archives: OptiFlox

Iluka Resources bolts on second SciDev OptiFlox trial in Australia

ASX-listed SciDev Ltd is to add a chemical products trial to the commercial OptiFlox® System test it is due to carry out in the December quarter at one of Iluka Resources’ Australia mineral sands operations.

The two-week trial of the chemical products will run concurrently with the OptiFlox System testing, the latter of which was announced earlier this month and aims to optimise water recovery, consumable usage and improve tailings deposition in the tailings thickener section of the operation over a matter of months.

“Pending success of both the chemical trial and the associated OptiFlox system trial, SciDev will seek to progress discussions with Iluka in respect of an ongoing chemical sales contract,” the company said.

OptiFlox comprises an extensive range of chemicals and the company’s patent-pending technology. Its range of polymers is specifically tailored for the treatment of process water and wastewater in mining and minerals, “recovering valuable mineral resources more efficiently, while minimising losses in productivity and revenue caused by inadequate wastewater clarification in tailings thickeners”, SciDev says.

In addition to this mineral sands trial win, SciDev has been given six months to trial its technology at Peabody Energy’s North Goonyella coking coal mine in Queensland, Australia, and the company was recently contracted by the coal miner to supply its coagulant product to one of its US operations.

SciDev to install OptiFlox system in Australia mineral sands operation

SciDev has added mineral sands to its growing list of OptiFlox® industry users after an Australia operation signed up for a multi-month commercial trial.

The system will be installed at the tailings thickener at the operation in the December quarter, according to SciDev.

This is the second multi-month trial the company has received in the past few months. In July, Peabody Energy signed up for a six-month test to improve water efficiency, productivity and operating costs at the tailings thickener section of the North Goonyella coking coal mine in Queensland, Australia.

SciDev said the award of the mineral sands trial followed extensive on-site technical evaluations by the company’s personnel.

The trial aims to optimise water recovery, consumable usage, reduce operational engagement and provide operational insights from the generation and analysis of process data, SciDev said, adding that a successful trial “may result in a long-term contract”.

The OptiFlox range of polymers is specifically tailored for the treatment of process water and wastewater in mining and minerals. It aims to recover valuable mineral resources more efficiently, while minimising losses in productivity and revenue caused by inadequate wastewater clarification in tailings thickeners.

This is the fifth OptiFlox installation in Australia across four industries: thermal coal extraction, dairy manufacturing, coking coal extraction and mineral sands production.

OptiFlox to be trialled at Peabody’s North Goonyella coal mine

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.