2
with and choosing the DOMINO. By installing and pilot-
ing the DOMINO filter, the Toquepala facility is able to
evaluate the benefits/pay back of water recovery, footprint
and environmental impact of their tailings ponds via dry
stacking.
Under the supervision of the Diemme field service
experts the installation and commissioning took less than
7 months to complete, with another 3 months needed to
ramp up the tailings processing to a steady state. The total
installed capex cost was approximately $40M USD.
The design parameters and targets agreed between
Diemme and SPCC for the piloting of the DOMINO
included:
• 8,000 mtpd Throughput
• 70 cycles/day Availability
• 15% Filtered Tailings moisture
• 4893 M3/day volume of water recovery
As of the time this paper was written, the DOMINO
has completed over 3000 cycles and dewatered over 350,000
metric tons of dry tailings at an average cake moisture of
15%. As a result over 5000 m3/day filtrate (over 90%
recovery) have been collected and recycled back into the
process, which on an annual basis could result in approxi-
mately $10M/yr in water savings.
To counterbalance the variability of the feed, the filter press
was provided with an integrated system tutor developed by
Diemme called AIDA which allows for real time analysis of
the data received from the filter press and ability to adjust
filtration parameters and/or notify the operators to stabilize
performance minimizing the possibility of process upsets
and creating value while optimizing the filter performance
and helping to reduce OPEX.
In addition to occasional process variations, it was
observed that the surface finish of the filter plates could
cause premature cloth failures resulting in higher than
expected Opex costs. This required closer inspection of
the filter plates and if needed additional surface treatment
applied which then increased the filter cloth lifetimes to
their expected values thus significantly reducing the Opex
costs. As the major consumable for most filter presses, filter
cloths currently account for over 50% of the total Filter
Opex breakdown for the DOMINO installed at Toquepala
which is currently less than $1 USD/ton of filtered tailings.
No other significant mechanical issues directly related to
the filter press design have been identified to date.
The filtered tailings at 15% moisture are conveyed
away from the filter press where they are then trucked
approximately 2 km away from the filtration plant and dry
stacked in 1 meter high piles before being bulldozed and
compacted/levelled on the existing tailings dam structural
zones without the need for a geomembrane liner or retain-
ing wall.
Site acceptance and process tests were carried out in
June 2023 and the filter achieved agreed KPI’s. The client
is currently evaluating and planning the investment for the
expansion to the full capacity envisioning another eleven
(11) DOMINO filters (10 in operation with 2 in standby)
in the next few years to treat the capacity of 88000 tons dry
solids/day.
With the DOMINO filter press technology and pilot
installation, Diemme Filtration has demonstrated its com-
mitment to environmental protection and sustainability in
the mining industry by developing a proven viable and cost
effective filter press technology for high tonnage tailings
operations that will minimize water usage as well as reduce
the footprint and environmental impact of tailings storage
facilities via dry stacking.
with and choosing the DOMINO. By installing and pilot-
ing the DOMINO filter, the Toquepala facility is able to
evaluate the benefits/pay back of water recovery, footprint
and environmental impact of their tailings ponds via dry
stacking.
Under the supervision of the Diemme field service
experts the installation and commissioning took less than
7 months to complete, with another 3 months needed to
ramp up the tailings processing to a steady state. The total
installed capex cost was approximately $40M USD.
The design parameters and targets agreed between
Diemme and SPCC for the piloting of the DOMINO
included:
• 8,000 mtpd Throughput
• 70 cycles/day Availability
• 15% Filtered Tailings moisture
• 4893 M3/day volume of water recovery
As of the time this paper was written, the DOMINO
has completed over 3000 cycles and dewatered over 350,000
metric tons of dry tailings at an average cake moisture of
15%. As a result over 5000 m3/day filtrate (over 90%
recovery) have been collected and recycled back into the
process, which on an annual basis could result in approxi-
mately $10M/yr in water savings.
To counterbalance the variability of the feed, the filter press
was provided with an integrated system tutor developed by
Diemme called AIDA which allows for real time analysis of
the data received from the filter press and ability to adjust
filtration parameters and/or notify the operators to stabilize
performance minimizing the possibility of process upsets
and creating value while optimizing the filter performance
and helping to reduce OPEX.
In addition to occasional process variations, it was
observed that the surface finish of the filter plates could
cause premature cloth failures resulting in higher than
expected Opex costs. This required closer inspection of
the filter plates and if needed additional surface treatment
applied which then increased the filter cloth lifetimes to
their expected values thus significantly reducing the Opex
costs. As the major consumable for most filter presses, filter
cloths currently account for over 50% of the total Filter
Opex breakdown for the DOMINO installed at Toquepala
which is currently less than $1 USD/ton of filtered tailings.
No other significant mechanical issues directly related to
the filter press design have been identified to date.
The filtered tailings at 15% moisture are conveyed
away from the filter press where they are then trucked
approximately 2 km away from the filtration plant and dry
stacked in 1 meter high piles before being bulldozed and
compacted/levelled on the existing tailings dam structural
zones without the need for a geomembrane liner or retain-
ing wall.
Site acceptance and process tests were carried out in
June 2023 and the filter achieved agreed KPI’s. The client
is currently evaluating and planning the investment for the
expansion to the full capacity envisioning another eleven
(11) DOMINO filters (10 in operation with 2 in standby)
in the next few years to treat the capacity of 88000 tons dry
solids/day.
With the DOMINO filter press technology and pilot
installation, Diemme Filtration has demonstrated its com-
mitment to environmental protection and sustainability in
the mining industry by developing a proven viable and cost
effective filter press technology for high tonnage tailings
operations that will minimize water usage as well as reduce
the footprint and environmental impact of tailings storage
facilities via dry stacking.