:: Paste Thickeners Reviewed

Paste thickener designs are evolving to higher capacity and efficiencies.

In the March 2007 issue of International Mining (pps. P2-4), Frank Baczek, of Dorr-Oliver USA, discusses recent design advances and the fundamentals of design.

In the same issue (pps. P6-9), Ian Arbuthnot of Outokumpu Technology notes the considerable progress made in the last 15-20 years in developing thickeners capable of producing high density underflows. This is a response to the increasing demand from the minerals industry for higher densities, which is driven by the economics of tailings disposal and some process issues.

A further article (pps. 10-11) describes the first coal paste thickener, commissioned by PasteThick Associates and WesTech Engineering.