Thickener technology publications

The following publications detail the work involved in the development of CSIRO’s Thickener technology for mineral processing.

Book chapters

Hecker R, Jefferson A, Fawell PD, Farrow JB, 1999, ‘The characterisation of polyacrylamide flocculants by flow field-flow fractionation combined with multi-angle laser light scattering’, In: Polymers in Mineral Processing, Laskowski JS (ed), Canad. Inst. Mining, Metall. Petrol., pp.107-121.

Hecker R, Kirwan L, Fawell PD, Farrow JB, Swift JD, Jefferson A, 1999, ‘Focused beam reflectance measurement for the continuous assessment of flocculant performance’, In: Polymers in Mineral Processing, Laskowski JS (ed), Canad. Inst. Mining, Metall. Petrol., pp.91-105.

Johnston RRM, Schwarz P, Newman M, Kershaw M, Farrow JB, Simic K, Swift JD, 1998, ‘Improving thickener performance at Pasminco Hobart Smelter’, In: Zinc and Lead Processing, Dutrizac JE, Gonzalez JA, Bolton GL, Hancock P (eds), Canad. Inst. Mining, Metall. Petrol., pp.697-713.

Farrow JB, Warren LJ, 1993, ‘The measurement of the size of aggregates in suspension’, In: Coagulation and Flocculation: Theory and Application, Dobias B (ed), Marcel Dekker, pp.391-426.

Farrow JB, Warren LJ, 1989, ‘The measurement of floc density -floc size distributions’, In: Flocculation & Dewatering, Moudgil BM, Scheiner BJ (eds), Eng. Foundation, pp.153-165.

Papers

Grassia P, Usher SP, Scales PJ, 2008, ‘A simplified parameter extraction technique using batch settling data to estimate suspension material properties in dewatering applications’, Chemical Engineering Science, 63: 1971-1986.

Owen AT, Fawell PD, Swift JD, Labbett DM, Benn FA, Farrow JB, 2008, ‘Using turbulent pipe flow to study the factors affecting polymer-bridging flocculation of mineral systems’, Int. J. Miner. Process, 87: 90-99.

Rudman M, Simic K, Paterson DA, Strode P, Brent A, Šutalo ID, 2008, ‘Raking in gravity thickeners’, Int. J. Miner. Process, 86: 114-130.

Owen AT, Fawell PD, Swift JD, 2007, ‘The preparation and ageing of acrylamide/acrylate copolymer flocculant solutions’, Int. J. Miner. Process, 84: 3-14.

Gladman B, Usher SP, Scales PJ, 2006, ‘Compressive rheology of aggregated particulate suspensions’, Korea-Australia Rheology Journal, 18: 191-197.

Heath AR, Bahri PA, Fawell PD, Farrow JB, 2006, ‘Polymer flocculation of calcite: Relating the aggregate size to the settling rate’, AIChE J., 52: 1987-1994.

Heath AR, Bahri PA, Fawell PD, Farrow JB, 2006, ‘Polymer flocculation of calcite: Experimental results from turbulent pipe flow’, AIChE J., 52: 1284-1293.

Heath AR, Bahri PA, Fawell PD, Farrow JB, 2006, ‘Polymer flocculation of calcite: Population balance model’, AIChE J., 52: 1641-1653.

Usher SP, Scales PJ, White LR, 2006, ‘Prediction of transient bed height in batch sedimentation at large times’, AIChE J., 52: 986-993.

van Bronswijk W, Kirwan LJ, Fawell PD, 2006, ‘In situ adsorption densities of polyacrylates on hematite nano-particle films as determined by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy’, Vibrational Spectroscopy, 41: 176-181.

Gladman B, de Kretser RG, Rudman M, Scales PJ, 2005, ‘Effect of shear on particulate suspension dewatering’, Chem. Eng. Res. Des., 83: 933-936.

Lester DR, Usher SP, Scales PJ, 2005, ‘Estimation of the hindered settling function R(f) from batch-settling tests’, AIChE J., 51: 1158-1168.

Usher SP, Scales PJ, 2005, ‘Steady state thickener modelling from the compressive yield stress and hindered settling function’, Chemical Engineering J., 111: 253-261.

Hulston J, de Kretser RG, Scales PJ, 2004, ‘Effect of temperature on the dewaterability of hematite suspensions’, Int. J. Miner. Process, 73: 269-279.

Kirwan LJ, Fawell PD, van Bronswijk W, 2004, ‘An in situ FTIR-ATR study of polyacrylate adsorbed onto hematite at high pH and high ionic strength’, Langmuir, 20: 4093-4100.

Scales PJ, Dixon DR, Harbour PJ, Stickland AD, 2004, ‘The fundamentals of wastewater sludge characterization and filtration’, Water Science and Technology, 49: 67-72.

Swift JD, Simic K, Johnston RRM, Fawell PD, Farrow JB, 2004, ‘A study of the polymer flocculation reaction in a linear pipe with a focused beam reflectance measurement probe’, Int. J. Miner. Process, 73: 103-118.

Šutalo ID, Paterson DA, Rudman M, 2003, ‘Flow visualisation and computational prediction in thickener rake models’, Minerals Engineering, 16: 93-102.

White RB, Šutalo ID, Nguyen T, 2003, ‘Fluid flow in thickener feedwell models’, Minerals Engineering, 16: 145-150.

Heath AR, Fawell PD, Bahri PA, Swift JD, 2002, ‘Estimating average particle size by focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM)’, Part. Part. Systems Charact, 19: 84-95.

Kahane RB, Schwarz MP, Johnston RRM, 2002, ‘Residue thickener modelling at Worsley Alumina’, Appl. Math. Modelling, 26: 281-296.

Owen AT, Fawell PD, Swift JD, Farrow JB, 2002, ‘The impact of polyacrylamide flocculant solution age on flocculation performance’, Int. J. Miner. Process, 67: 123-144.

Aziz AAA, de Kretser RG, Dixon DR, Scales PJ, 2000, ‘The characterisation of slurry dewatering’, Water Science and Technology, 41: 9-16.

de Kretser RG, Usher SP, Scales PJ, Landman KA, Boger DV, 2001, ‘Rapid measurement of dewatering design and optimization parameters’, AIChE J., 47: 1758-1769.

Farrow JB, Fawell PD, Johnston RRM, Nguyen TB, Rudman M, Simic K, Swift JD, 2000, ‘Recent developments in techniques and methodologies for improving thickener performance’, Chem. Eng. J., 80: 149-155.

Farrow JB, Johnston RRM, Simic K, Swift JD, 2000, ‘Consolidation and aggregate densification during gravity thickening’, Chem. Eng. J., 80: 141-148.

Johnson SB, Franks GV, Scales PJ, Boger DV, Healy TW, 2000, ‘Surface chemistry-rheology relationships in concentrated mineral suspensions’, Int. J. Miner. Process, 58: 267-304.

Jones F, Rohl AL, Farrow JB, van Bronswijk W, 2000, ‘Molecular modelling of water adsorption on hematite’, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2: 3209-3216.

Hecker R, Fawell PD, Jefferson A, Farrow JB, 2000, ‘Flow field-flow fractionation of polyacrylamides: commercial flocculants’, Separ. Sci. Technol., 35: 593-612.

Usher SP, de Kretser RG, Scales PJ, 2001, ‘Validation of a new filtration technique for dewaterability characterization’, AIChE J., 47: 1561-1570.

Hecker R, Fawell PD, Jefferson A, Farrow JB, 1999, ‘Flow field-flow fractionation of high-molecular-mass polyacrylamide’, J. Chromatogr. A, 837: 139-151.

Hecker R, Fawell PD, Jefferson A, 1998, ‘The agglomeration of high molecular mass polyacrylamide in aqueous solutions’, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 70: 2241-2250.

Jones F, Farrow JB, van Bronswijk W, 1998, ‘Effect of caustic and carbonate on the flocculation of hematite in synthetic Bayer liquors’, Colloids Surfaces A: Physicochem. Eng. Aspects, 142: 65-73.

Jones F, Farrow JB, van Bronswijk W, 1998, ‘Flocculation of hematite in synthetic Bayer liquors’, Colloids Surfaces A: Physicochem. Eng. Aspects, 135: 183-192.

Richmond WR, Jones RL, Fawell PD, 1998, ‘The relationship between particle aggregation and rheology in mixed silica-titania suspensions’, Chem. Eng. J., 71: 67-75.

Fawell P, Richmond W, Jones L, Collisson M, 1997, ‘Focused beam reflectance measurement in the study of mineral suspensions’, Chem. in Aust., 64: 4-6.

Farrow JB, Swift JD, 1996, ‘A new procedure for assessing the performance of flocculants’, Int. J. Miner. Process, 46: 263-275.

Scott JP, Fawell PD, Ralph DE, Farrow JB, 1996, ‘The shear degradation of high molecular weight flocculant solutions’, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., *62: 2097-2106.

Johnston RRM, Simic K, 1991, ‘Improving thickener operation and control by means of a validated model’, J. Min Eng, 4: 695-705.

Koh PTL, Lwin T, Albrecht D, 1989, ‘Analysis of weight frequency particle size distributions: with special application to bimodal floc size distributions in shear-flocculation’, Powder Technology, 59: 87-95.

Koh PTL, Andrews JRG, Uhlherr PHT, 1987, ‘Modelling shear-flocculation by population balances’, Chemical Engineering Science, 42: 353-362.

Conference proceedings

Gladman BJ, Usher SP, Scales PJ, 2006, ‘Understanding the thickening process’, In: Proc. Paste 2006, Limerick, Ireland, 3-7 April, Jewell RJ, Lawson S, Newman P (eds), Aust. Centre Geomech, Perth, pp.5-12.

Labbett DM, Swift JD, Austin PJ, Heath AR, Francis NS, Livk I, Fawell PD, Farrow JB, Bui A, Rudman M, 2006, ‘Optimising flocculation and thickener performance for paste disposal’, In: Proc. Paste 2006, Limerick, Ireland, 3-7 April, Jewell RJ, Lawson S, Newman P (eds), Aust. Centre Geomech, Perth, pp.37-46.

Nguyen T, Heath A, Witt P, 2006, ‘Population balance – CFD modelling of fluid flows, solids distribution and flocculation in thickener feedwells’, In: Proc. Fifth International Conference on CFD in the Process Industries, Witt PJ, Schwarz MP (eds), Melbourne, Australia, 13-15 Dec (in CD form only).

Scales PJ, Gladman BJ, Usher SP, Rudman MJ, 2006, ‘New approaches to dewatering of suspensions in the minerals industry’, In: Proc. XXIII International Mineral Processing Congress, Istanbul, Turkey, 3-8 Sept, Onal G, Acarkan N, Celik MS, Arslan F, Atesok G, Guney A, Sirkeci AA, Yuce AE, Perek KT (eds), Promed Ltd, pp.1637-1642.

White RB, Šutalo ID, Nguyen TV, 2006, ‘Modelling fluid flows in split-feed feedwells’, In: Proc. Fifth International Conference on CFD in the Process Industries, Witt PJ, Schwarz MP (eds), Melbourne, Australia, 13-15 Dec (in CD form only).

Farrow JB, Rudman M, Stribley D, 2004, ‘Techniques and methodologies for improving thickener performance’, In: Proc. SA IMM Mineral 2004, Cape Town, South Africa, 5-6 Aug.

Farrow JB, Fawell PD, Nguyen TB, Scales PJ, Simic K, Swift JD, 2003, ‘The effective use of flocculant in gravity thickeners for the minerals’, In: Proc. Solid Liquid Separation Systems IV, Engineering Conferences International, Pucón, Chile, 14-19 Dec.

Farrow JB, Fawell PD, Mittoni L, Nguyen TB, Rudman M, Simic K, Swift JD, 2003, ‘Recent developments in techniques for improving thickener performance’, In: Proc. IMPC XXII, Cape Town, South Africa, 30 Sept.

Heath AR, Koh PTL, 2003, ‘Combined population balance and CFD modelling of particle aggregation by polymeric flocculant’, In: Proc. 3rd International Conference on Computational Fluid Dynamics in the Minerals & Process Industries, Melbourne, 10-12 Dec.

Swift JD, Heath AR, Owen AT, Fawell PD, Farrow JB, 2003, ‘Focused beam reflectance measurement for the characterisation of aggregated systems’, In: Proc. Australian Colloid and Interface Symposium, Coogee Beach, Australia, 17-19 Feb.

Kirwan L, Fawell P, van Bronswijk W, 2002, ‘Adsorption of polyacrylates on hematite: in situ examination by FTIR-ATR at high and low pH’, In: Proc. 6th International Alumina Quality Workshop, Brisbane, Australia, 8-13 Sept, pp.301-308.

Owen AT, Fawell PD, Swift JD, Farrow JB, 2002, ‘Flocculant performance assessment in a continuous-flow Couette mixing device’, In: Proc. Solid-Liquid Separation, Falmouth, UK, 18-20 June.

Farrow JB, Owen A, Fawell PD, 2001, ‘Thickener technology and paste formation’, In: Proc. High Density and Paste 2001, Pilanesberg, South Africa, 10-11 May.

Nguyen TB, Rudman MJ, Šutalo ID, White RB, 2001, ‘Fluid flow in thickener feedwell models’, In: Proc. 14th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA, 10-14 Dec.

Nguyen T, Rudman M, Šutalo ID, White RB, 2001, ‘Experimental and numerical investigations of the fluid flow in thickener feedwells’, In: Proc. 6th World Congress of Chemical Engineering, Melbourne, VIC, 23-27 Sept.

Swift JD, Simic K, Johnston RRM, Fawell PD, Farrow JB, 2001, ‘A study of the flocculation reaction under turbulent flow conditions’, In: Proc. Solid Liquid Separation Systems III, Eng. Foundation, Davos, Switzerland, 30 Sept-4 Oct.

White RB, Simic K, Strode PR, 2001, ‘The combined use of flow visualisation, electrical resistance tomography and computational fluid dynamics modelling to study mixing in a pipe’, In: Proc. 2nd World Congress on Industrial Process Tomography, Hannover, Germany, 29-31 Aug.

Ritchie IM, Farrow JB, 2000, ‘A clearer view on thickener research’, In: Proc. AusIMM Annual Conference, AusIMM, Sydney, Australia, April, pp.186-193.

Schwarz MP, Simic K, Nguyen T, Johnston RRM, 2000, ‘Simulation of fluid flow in settlers for liquid-solid separation’, In: Proc. XXI International Mineral Processing Congress, July.

Šutalo ID, Nguyen T, Rudman M, 2000, ‘Modelling studies of fluid flow in a thickener feedwell model’, In: Proc. Chemeca 2000, Perth, Australia, 9-12 July.

Farrow JB, Jones F, van Bronswijk W, 1999, ‘Hematite flocculation under Bayer conditions’, In: 5th International Alumina Quality Workshop, 21-26 March, Bunbury, Western Australia, 2: 466-477.

Šutalo ID, Paterson D, Rudman M, 1999, ‘Shear-thinning non-Newtonian flows past two dimensional bodies’, In: Chemeca ’99, Newcastle, Australia, 26-29 September.

Farrow JB, 1997, ‘Recent developments in techniques and methodologies for improving thickener performance’, In: 38th AMIRA Annual Technical Meeting, Adelaide, 11 Sept.

Kahane RB, Schwarz MP, Johnston RRM, 1997, ‘Residue thickener modelling at Worsley Alumina’, In: International Conference on Computational Fluid Dynamics in Mineral & Metal Processing & Power Generation, 3-4 July, CSIRO Minerals, Clayton, VIC, pp.109-117.

Farrow JB, Swift JD, 1996, ‘Agitation and residence time effects during the flocculation of mineral suspensions’, In: 4th International Alumina Quality Workshop, Darwin NT, 2-7 June, 2: 355-363.

Johnston RRM, Nguyen T, Schwarz MP, Simic K, 1996, ‘Fluid flow and natural dilution in open-type thickener feedwells’, In: 4th International Alumina Quality Workshop, Darwin NT, 2-7 June, 2: 467-475.

Rudman M, Hourigan K, 1994, ‘The importance of shear-rate history in aggregation processes’, In: 8th International Conference on Surface & Colloid Science, Adelaide, Australia, February 14-18.

Rudman M, Thompson MC, Hourigan K, 1994, ‘Particle shear-rate history in a Taylor-Couette column’, In: ASME Summer Meeting, Lake Tahoe, 29-24 June.

Simic K, Johnston RRM, 1992, ‘Thickener control and bed monitoring by means of a natural gamma-ray gauge’, In: Int. Bauxite Tailings Workshop, Perth, Western Australia.

Farrow JB, Swift JD, 1991, ‘Improving thickener technology’, In: 5th AusIMM Conf on Extractive Metallurgy, Perth, 2-4 Oct, AusIMM, Parkville, pp.227-232.

Simic K, Johnston RRM, 1991, ‘Improving thickener operation and control’, In: AusIMM 4th Mill Operators Conference, Burnie, Tasmania.