US 11,718,543 B2
Geotechnical characteristics of tailings via lime addition
Nikolas Andrei Romaniuk, Edmonton (CA); Jared Ira Leikam, West Jordan, UT (US); Jesse Wayne Fox, West Valley City, UT (US); Michael John Tate, Oregon, OH (US); and Narain Hariharan, College Station, TX (US)
Assigned to Graymont Western Canada Inc., Richmond (CA)
Filed by Graymont Western Canada Inc., Richmond (CA)
Filed on Dec. 16, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/124,089.
Application 17/124,089 is a continuation of application No. 16/566,578, filed on Sep. 10, 2019, granted, now 10,894,730.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/806,512, filed on Feb. 15, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/729,955, filed on Sep. 11, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0101808 A1, Apr. 8, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C02F 1/56 (2023.01); B01D 21/30 (2006.01); C02F 1/52 (2023.01); C02F 11/12 (2019.01); C02F 11/145 (2019.01); C10G 1/04 (2006.01); F26B 5/00 (2006.01); B09B 1/00 (2006.01); B65G 5/00 (2006.01); C02F 11/148 (2019.01); C02F 103/10 (2006.01); E21B 21/06 (2006.01); E21B 43/34 (2006.01); B01D 21/01 (2006.01)
CPC C02F 1/56 (2013.01) [B01D 21/30 (2013.01); C02F 1/5245 (2013.01); C02F 11/12 (2013.01); C02F 11/145 (2019.01); C10G 1/045 (2013.01); F26B 5/005 (2013.01); B01D 21/01 (2013.01); B09B 1/00 (2013.01); B65G 5/00 (2013.01); C02F 1/5281 (2013.01); C02F 11/148 (2019.01); C02F 2103/10 (2013.01); C02F 2201/002 (2013.01); E21B 21/068 (2013.01); E21B 43/34 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for treating tailings, the method comprising:
providing tailings originating from the extraction of minerals including at least one of copper, iron ore, gold, or uranium, the tailings comprising clay and a pH less than 9.0;
combining a coagulant comprising calcium hydroxide with the tailings to form a mixture having a pH of at least 12.0 and a soluble calcium level of no more than 800 mg/L, wherein the pH and soluble calcium level promote pozzolanic reactions to occur within the mixture; and
dewatering the mixture to produce a product having a shear strength of at least 1.5 kilopascals (kPa).