Essential Expertise
for Mineral Processing
Nalco Water, an Ecolab Company
North America: 1601 West Diehl Road • Naperville, Illinois 60563 • USA
Europe: Richtistrasse 7 • 8304 Wallisellen • Switzerland
Asia Pacific: 52 Jurong Gateway Road, #16-01 Jem Office Tower, Singapore 608550
Greater China: 18G • Lane 168 • Da Du He Road • Shanghai China • 200062
Latin America: Av. Francisco Matarazzo • nº 1350 • Sao Paulo – SP Brazil • CEP: 05001-100
Middle East and Africa: Street 1010, Near Container Terminal 3, Jebel Ali Free Zone, PO BOX 262015, Dubai UAE
ecolab.com/nalco-water
OreBind, RRA, SCALE-GUARD, Ecolab, NALCO Water and the logos are Trademarks of Ecolab USA Inc.
©2013, 2015, 2016, 2023 Ecolab USA Inc. All Rights Reserved 2/23 B-1114
Essential Expertise Your goals are our goals
for Mineral Processing Nalco Water partners with mineral processors worldwide to deliver economic and environmental
value, through our reliable, cost-effective and safe solutions. Our ultimate goal is to deliver a
measurable return on investment. We help you:
Today’s mineral processing industry is Industries we serve Place safety first Improve quality
• improve environmental safety of applied • enhance product purity
constantly challenged to improve safety, Alumina
solutions • control moisture
profitability, efficiency, product quality and Coal • establish and practice safety culture at all • improve product selectivity
levels
Copper & base metals Meet environment, health and safety standards
environmental performance. Nalco Water
Gold, silver & platinum Increase profitability
• conserve energy
combines global leadership, years of industry • increase yield/recovery • reduce water consumption
Industrial minerals
• optimize plant performance • meet EH&S standards and regulations
experience, innovative technologies and local Iron ore • reduce total cost of operation
expertise to deliver the results you need. Phosphate & potash Improve efficiency
Sand, gravel & aggregate • increase throughput
• automate operations
• reduce downtime
APPLICATION BY INDUSTRY
Copper & base Gold, silver Industrial Phosphate (Sand/gravel)
Program Alumina Coal Iron ore
metals & platinum minerals & potash aggregate
Agglomeration aids √ √ √
Anticake additives √ √
Biocontrol √ √
Coke oven additives √
Corrosion inhibitiors √ √ √
Crystal modifiers √ √ √
Dust control √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Filter aids √ √ √ √ √ √
Flotation √ √ √ √
Foam control √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Freeze conditioning √ √ √
Humate removal √
Mine and waste water treatment √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Scale inhibition √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Solid-liquid separation √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Tailings management √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Viscosity modifiers √ √ √ √ √
Boiler water treatment √ √ √ √ √
Cooling water treatment √ √ √ √ √
Heavy metals removal √ √ √ √
Value delivered Sustainability
RRA program delivers over US$1 million in soda savings and equipment integrity
TM
Water plays a critical role in virtually all mining and mineral
An alumina refinery was experiencing bottleneck problems in its red mud settler operations. processing activities. In the context of decreased availability and
Seeking to increase underflow densities, improve overflow liquor filterability, and reduce
settler vessel scaling, refinery management approached Nalco Water for a solution. growing demand, water has become a strategic resource. Mineral
After application of the recently released rigid-rod architecture (RRA) flocculant program, processors now require solutions that demonstrate sustainable
benefits were observed almost immediately. Average underflow densities increased and
ongoing water management. Our mining process technologies
there was a noticeable improvement in security filtration performance, resulting in extended
operating life. and application expertise, coupled with our core water treatment
With such encouraging results, RRA dosing has continued uninterrupted to all the settlers. Nalco Water is now working with knowledge, make Nalco Water the ideal partner to assist with all
the customer to extend the benefits of the RRA program to the washers in the next phase of optimization. The substantial
productivity gains and potential savings in equipment and maintenance costs also significantly reduced the customer’s aspects of improved sustainable water use.
overall flocculant cost.
Coal flotation program delivers 100% output increase
A coal mine set out to increase yield from the flotation circuit of its coal handling and CMV process
preparation plant (CHPP). After analyzing the systems and challenges, the total coal
flotation program was recommended.
Program implementation involved two stages. First, a new collector was introduced, Through CMV (communicating & maintaining value) process,
enabling the system to select coarse coal to float, which immediately improved
our local account team works directly with you to discover your
profitability. Second, a frother was introduced to improve production efficiency. The new
collector and frother worked in tandem, increasing filter cake output. A further 14 percent increase in average cake prioritized needs. We audit your systems and work together to
thickness was achieved. Nalco’s coal flotation program achieved another breakthrough as the system was able to float
oxidized coal, which effectively doubled its output. develop a service and improvement plan to deliver maximum
performance from your existing applications. We leverage
SCALE-GUARD solution resolves scaling issues and improves productivity
™
industry leading people, processes and technologies in a manner
At a large coal operation, mine dewatering was a round-the-clock activity with 5 ML of that is tailored to your operations and key business drivers to
water pumped daily. The water, at 60 percent salt level of seawater, contained high levels
of iron, manganese and calcium. The existing pre-treatment program kept the process achieve measured results.
water (for use in the RO plant and the CHPP) free from iron and low in manganese, but
high levels of calcium sulfate were still a problem.
To address the heavy scaling on downstream pumps and pipes caused by the lime-based Key Business
pre-treatment, Nalco Water recommended SCALE-GUARD antiscalant solution. Feedwater quality showed immediate Drivers
improvement after implementation. Continued application resulted in positive improvements to the operations of
the RO plant and the CHPP. The customer achieved tangible returns through higher equipment availability, as well as
significant reductions in change-outs of pump components and lower maintenance costs.
System Continuous
Innovation
Assurance Improvement
OreBind tails management technology saves water and allows for land rehabilitation
™
A mineral sands wet processing operation was binding up valuable water (400 to 750 m3/hr)
in the tailings (waste) stream from the plant. With the water unavailable for recycling, pressure Value
was placed on dwindling groundwater recovery bores, especially in the hot summer months. Communications
Nalco Water commenced on-site investigations and worked with the customer to apply Nalco
Water’s OreBind technology. The comprehensive solution involved design and implementation
of chemical additive preparation, dosing, and mixing systems with specific requirements for Customer
operation in isolated and difficult mine site areas. Feedback
Benefits were observed immediately after program application. 65-74 percent of water in the tails was recovered (260 to
535 m3/hr), dramatically reducing the demand for fresh water makeup. An added environmental benefit was realized with
more rapid rehabilitation of farming land to its native state due to the faster waste consolidation.
Your partner for sustainable growth
Nalco Water is an Ecolab company. Ecolab Inc. is the global leader in water, hygiene
and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital resources.
Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions and on-site service to ensure safe
food, maintain clean environments, optimize water and energy use, and improve
operational efficiencies for customers in the food, healthcare, energy, hospitality
and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world.
With an 80-year track record, Nalco Water is the world’s leading process and water
treatment solutions provider. Our innovative solutions are carefully designed to
deliver significant environmental, social and economic sustainability. Supported
by a comprehensive network of supply chain facilities and research centers, our
global presence enables us to offer a consistently high level of service to local,
regional and multinational customers.
