TRANSPORTATION OF FLOCCULATED TAILINGS IN A PIPELINE

摘要

A method for transporting flocculated tailings through a pipeline is provided comprising: adding an effective amount of a flocculant or a coagulant or a combination thereof to the mining tailings to form treated mining tailings comprising tailings flocs and release water; and injecting the treated mining tailings into the pipeline at a shear rate sufficient to form a self-lubricated core-annular flow of the treated mining tailings; whereby the release water forms a protective layer around the pipeline walls thereby reducing shearing of the tailings flocs.