Estudo da ação de antiespumantes e sais inorgânicos no abatimento de espuma de um espessador de lamas

Abstract

One of the main challenges in tailings treatment lies in managing the slimes generated during the beneficiation process. Due to their ultrafine particle size, these slimes exhibit low sedimentation rates and tend to contaminate the thickener overflow. This effect is exacerbated by the presence of foam. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of antifoaming agents, ionic composition, and their combinations on foam reduction. For this purpose, chemical analyses were conducted to characterize the tailings processed during tailings filtration, identifying contaminants such as talc and kaolinite, as evidenced by the presence of Al2O3 and LOI (Loss on Ignition) in the chemical analyses. Additionally, bench tests were performed using antifoaming agents combined with inorganic salts such as CaCl2, MgCl2, and NaCl. Although both antifoaming agents and inorganic salts individually demonstrated positive effects on foam breaking, the same effect was not observed when combining antifoaming agents with inorganic salts, leading to the conclusion that their combination may compromise the antifoaming action.