Superfloc® RH4832 Rheology Modifier for

Mining Operations
IMPROVED PERFORMANCE OF KEY BENEFITS

TAILINGS THICKENER OPERATIONS

IMPROVED THICKENER
Mining is a very water-intensive industry and the availability of water
OPERATION
is critical to the sustainability of its operations. As mines become
more environmentally proactive with water conservation and tailings’
management, the need to improve the thickening process is becoming a
HIGHER THROUGHPUT
growing concern. An optimally performing thickener can provide higher
underflow solids, higher throughput, improved energy consumption, while
also improving the mine’s water recovery. Effective chemical technology is
INCREASED WATER
critical in achieving these benefits.
RECOVERY
SUPERFLOC® RH4832 TECHNOLOGY
Kemira has developed Superfloc RH4832 technology to improve the IMPROVED SETTLING IN
performance of tailings thickener operations and meet the needs of most POOR QUALITY ORES
sensitive operating conditions, such as varied pH and water conditions.
Superfloc RH4832 was evaluated in a mine using over 280,000 tons of
water to process approximately 120,000 – 160,000 tons of ore per day.
The primary ore processed was chalcopyrite/pyrite, containing an initial
concentration of 0.95% copper, thus more than 96% of the ore ended Kemira is the right
up in the tailings pond. With the high gangue production processed partner for your mining
through the tailings thickener, there was a need to recover and recycle operations. We offer
as much of the water as possible. However, recovery was limited by the state-of-the-art polymer
solids content due to the amount of torque introduced to the rake in the technology, applications
thickener, as well as the energy required to pump these concentrated expertise, along with
tailings to the tailings dam. The challenge was to increase the underflow polymer manufacturing
solids while maintaining a set yield stress and overflow turbidity. and synthesis capabilities
Superfloc RH4832 rheology modifier met the demands of the thickener to meet your most
operation and achieved improved results over conventional polymers. demanding needs.
SUPERFLOC RH4832 RESULTS
Superfloc RH4832 rheology modifier was tested in the field and the laboratory to understand its performance
benefits in varied water conditions.

Settling FIGURE 1. SUPERFLOC RH4832

An increase in the settling rate allows for higher SETTLING RESPONSE OVER TIME

throughputs through the thickener. Field and laboratory pH8 pH10

O Superfloc RH4832
evaluations demonstrate that Superfloc RH4832 can 15
(Dosage (gton)=3)

MINE WATER
achieve superior settling rates compared to conventional 10 + Conv. Flocculant
(Dosage (g/ton)=3)
flocculants (Figure 1). The chemistry of this rheology
5

SETTLING (cm)
modifier also allows for water quality variations and O Superfloc RH4832
0 (Dosage (g/ton)=3.5)
fewer upsets in settling as a result of these variations. + Conv. Flocculant
Tailings treated with Superfloc RH4832 maintain 15 (Dosage (g/ton)=3.5)

SEA WATER
a settling rate as the pH is reduced. Likewise, with 10 O Superfloc RH4832
seawater-tailings and the use of our technology, a (Dosage (g/ton)=4)
5 + Conv. Flocculant
good settling rate is maintained. The minimization (Dosage (gton)=4)
0
of settling rate upsets is especially important with
0 20 40 60 0 20 40 60
capacity limited thickeners. An additional benefit TIME (min)
is that optimized settling can be achieved, typically
with much reduced dosage compared to conventional
flocculants, which can have a number of benefits, not FIGURE 2. YIELD STRESS RESULTS FOR
SUPERFLOC RH4832 VS. CONVENTIONAL POLYMER
withstanding chemical cost-efficiency improvement.
Conventional Polymer
Yield Stress
YIELD STRESS (Pa)
Performance
A lower yield stress is preferred as this relates to
lower torque on the rake and lower pumping energy to Superfloc RH4832
Performance at the
transport the underflow to the tailings pond. The goal is same settling rate
to have elevated underflow solids without increasing the dose

yield stress over 100 pa. Superfloc RH4832 was able to 100 Pa High Rate Thickeners (Hi-cap)
maintain target yield stress at an improved underflow
density (Figure 2.) An increase of solids content from
58% to 62% was achieved, which will result in a tangible 58% U/F 62% U/F
benefit on water reuse. UNDERFLOW DENSITY (%wt/wt)

WATER CONSERVATION AND COST REDUCTION TO THE MINE OPERATION

Superfloc RH4832 technology can improve your tailings thickeners operations with the following benefits:
• Underflow solids – increased to improve water consumption
• Yield stress – maintained under set target to ensure no negative impact on rake torque, even with higher solids
• Settling rate – increased to allow higher throughputs and fewer operational upsets
• Stability - improved ability to handle changing ores and water chemistry

Kemira makes this information available as an accommodation to its customers and it is intended to be solely a guide in customers’ evaluation of the products. You must test our products
v. 5.4

to determine if they are suitable for your intended uses and applications, as well as from the health, safety and environmental standpoint. You must also instruct your employees, agents,
contractors, customers or any third party which may be exposed to the products about all applicable precautions. All information and technical assistance is given without warranty or guarantee
and is subject to change without notice. You assume full liability and responsibility for compliance with all information and precautions, and with all laws, statutes, ordinances and regulations
of any governmental authority applicable to the processing, transportation, delivery, unloading, discharge, storage, handling, sale and use of each product. Nothing herein shall be construed as a
recommendation to use any product in conflict with patents covering any material or its use.
Superfloc is a registered trademark of Kemira Oyj or its subsidiaries.

Kemira Oyj Europe, Middle East and Africa Americas

Porkkalankatu 3 Tel. +358 10 8611 North America
P.O. Box 330 Tel. +1 770 436 1542
FI-00101 Helsinki
Finland Asia - Pacific South America
www.kemira.com Tel. + 86 21 6037 5999 Tel. +55 11 2189 4900