South African-based Bateman has commissioned the first foil-full-scale, Pinned-Bed Clarifiers in Africa. The clarifiers are being used to produce a clarified solution from the overflow of the counter-current decantation circuit at First Quantum Minerals Ltd's Bwana Mkubwa copper mine in Zambia. The contract to design, fabricate, erect and commission the units was awarded by Signet Engineering (Pty) Ltd on behalf of RCS Mining Supplies.

The 8 m diameter clarifiers are mounted in parallel, and process 420 m3/h of acidic copper sulphate solution containing up to 1,000 ppm suspended solids. The units reduce the suspended solids load to 20-50 ppm prior to solution entering the solvent-extraction circuit.