A company in Victoria, Australia that turns landfill waste into useful aggregates was facing ongoing issues with its high-capacity washing plant. The thickener, which separates solids from liquids, struggled to maintain overflow clarity. This led to fine solids recycling back into the plant, contaminating sand products and overloading downstream equipment.
To try and fix the problem, the plant used high dosages of coagulants and flocculants, which increased operational costs and reduced process efficiency.
Replacing Conventional Coagulants with ClariVie44®
SciDev introduced ClariVie44®, an advanced water conditioning agent engineered to enhance solid-liquid separation. Through a combination of lab testing and full-scale plant trials, ClariVie44® demonstrated its ability to replace conventional coagulants entirely, delivering immediate operational improvements for the client, including improvements in overflow quality and chemical dosing efficiency.
Why Thickener Overflow Quality Matters
Improving thickener overflow clarity is not just about aesthetics, it’s a key performance indicator for the entire water treatment process. A clearer overflow:
- Protects product quality by preventing contamination of sand and aggregates;
- Improves downstream efficiency by reducing the solids load on filters and centrifuges;
- Lowers water treatment costs by minimising the need for reprocessing and chemical re-dosing, and;
- Supports environmental compliance by producing cleaner discharge water.
Optimising Dosage for Thickener Performance
Unlike traditional coagulants, ClariVie44® is dosed based on make-up water volumes rather than solids mass flow. This innovative approach prevents the dispersion of clays and ultra-fines when wetted, resulting in more efficient tailings treatment and dewatering.
The key outcomes for the client were:
- $5,000 in weekly savings by eliminating coagulant usage.
- A significant improvement in thickener overflow clarity.
- Reduced flocculant dosage, with pump speeds dropping from 80% to 70%.
- Cleaner water recovery, improving downstream efficiency.
These changes not only reduced operational costs but also set the stage for long-term reductions in the plant’s chemical and water footprint.
A Smarter Approach to Tailings Treatment
By improving thickener overflow quality and significantly reducing chemical consumption, ClariVie44® enabled the client to meet both operational and environmental improvements This case demonstrates how targeted chemistry and process optimisation can deliver smarter, more cost-effective solutions in landfill waste management.
