2026 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
remain in compliance. Importantly, this method is largely
ineffective as water droplets are too large to effectively keep
bulk solids wet and utilization of chemicals/additives help
optimize the surface tension and particle size of water drop-
lets to have a greater impact on dust coverage.
While choosing an APEO alternative surfactant, vari-
ous physical properties need to be considered. For example,
it is important to consider properties such as HLB of the
surfactant in comparison to incumbent, physical state and
dispersibility in the chosen medium, to name a few. In
addition, for the reformulated product, accelerated stability
testing is carried out to estimate the shelf life freeze thaw
stability is done to probe the stability of the product at dif-
ferent storage conditions.
For dust control, to be able to better predict perfor-
mance, surface tension was used as performance indicator.
The reformulated, APEO free product is diluted in water to
a concentration that would be used in the field, and surface
tension was measured. The results suggest that the refor-
mulated product can reduce surface tension and compa-
rable to the incumbent product at the dosage levels studied
(Figure 3).
Solid/liquid separation is extensively used in mining
industry starting from mineral processing stages to water
clarification. The additives used for solid/liquid separation
can be divided into two groups: coagulants and flocculants.
Coagulants help destabilize the colloidal dispersions floc-
culants are high molecular weight polymers that that act
to further agglomerate the solids. Synthetic emulsion poly-
mers are widely used for this purpose due to several advan-
tages and APEO surfactants are chosen for their excellent
emulsification power. However, the spent polymers and
surfactants finally end up in the waste streams necessitating
the development of greener alternatives. APEO surfactants
can be used at different stages of making inverse emulsion
polymers. (a) During polymer synthesis and (b) For phase
inversion which releases polymer into continuous water
phase and subsequent hydration to develop viscosity.
While reformulating an inverse emulsion polymer, the
important parameters that need to be considered are latex
bulk viscosity and invertibility. Very high latex bulk vis-
cosity is inversely correlated with stability and could pose
challenges for handling. The replacement should be cho-
sen in such a way that it provides latex bulk viscosity in
the required range and adequate stability. It is evident from
the results presented in the table and other additional lab
testing/ optimization work carried out, the reformulated
product was deemed comparable to the incumbent. In con-
sistent with this the product showed expected performance
in the field trials carried out.
Figure 2. Picture showing part of mine site with no treatment (left) and after treatment
(right) with dust control product
remain in compliance. Importantly, this method is largely
ineffective as water droplets are too large to effectively keep
bulk solids wet and utilization of chemicals/additives help
optimize the surface tension and particle size of water drop-
lets to have a greater impact on dust coverage.
While choosing an APEO alternative surfactant, vari-
ous physical properties need to be considered. For example,
it is important to consider properties such as HLB of the
surfactant in comparison to incumbent, physical state and
dispersibility in the chosen medium, to name a few. In
addition, for the reformulated product, accelerated stability
testing is carried out to estimate the shelf life freeze thaw
stability is done to probe the stability of the product at dif-
ferent storage conditions.
For dust control, to be able to better predict perfor-
mance, surface tension was used as performance indicator.
The reformulated, APEO free product is diluted in water to
a concentration that would be used in the field, and surface
tension was measured. The results suggest that the refor-
mulated product can reduce surface tension and compa-
rable to the incumbent product at the dosage levels studied
(Figure 3).
Solid/liquid separation is extensively used in mining
industry starting from mineral processing stages to water
clarification. The additives used for solid/liquid separation
can be divided into two groups: coagulants and flocculants.
Coagulants help destabilize the colloidal dispersions floc-
culants are high molecular weight polymers that that act
to further agglomerate the solids. Synthetic emulsion poly-
mers are widely used for this purpose due to several advan-
tages and APEO surfactants are chosen for their excellent
emulsification power. However, the spent polymers and
surfactants finally end up in the waste streams necessitating
the development of greener alternatives. APEO surfactants
can be used at different stages of making inverse emulsion
polymers. (a) During polymer synthesis and (b) For phase
inversion which releases polymer into continuous water
phase and subsequent hydration to develop viscosity.
While reformulating an inverse emulsion polymer, the
important parameters that need to be considered are latex
bulk viscosity and invertibility. Very high latex bulk vis-
cosity is inversely correlated with stability and could pose
challenges for handling. The replacement should be cho-
sen in such a way that it provides latex bulk viscosity in
the required range and adequate stability. It is evident from
the results presented in the table and other additional lab
testing/ optimization work carried out, the reformulated
product was deemed comparable to the incumbent. In con-
sistent with this the product showed expected performance
in the field trials carried out.
Figure 2. Picture showing part of mine site with no treatment (left) and after treatment
(right) with dust control product