Leiva Williams, Toro Norman, Robles Pedro, Quezada Gonzalo R, Salazar Iván, Flores-Badillo Javier, Jeldres Ricardo I
Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad San Sebastián, Sede Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile.
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1100000, Chile.
Polymers (Basel). 2025 Sep 8;17(17):2427. doi: 10.3390/polym17172427.
In the mining industry, key unit operations such as grinding, flotation, thickening, and tailings transport are negatively affected by the presence of clay minerals, which impart complex rheological behaviors to mineral suspensions by increasing their rheological properties. This deterioration arises from specific physicochemical characteristics of clay minerals such as fine particle size, anisotropic character, laminar morphology, and swelling capacity. This work reviews the effects of various rheology-modifying reagents on clay suspensions including kaolinite, illite, and montmorillonite. The reviewed reagents include inorganic salts, pH modifiers, polymers, surfactants, and nanoparticles. Their mechanisms of interaction with solid particles are analyzed, highlighting their influence on the degree of dispersion or aggregation. Furthermore, this review proposes research opportunities focused on the formulation of hybrid reagents, modified biopolymers, and the development of reagents effective under adverse conditions such as high salinity or elevated temperatures. This review provides a comprehensive basis for optimizing the use of rheological additives through more efficient and sustainable strategies for managing clay-rich suspensions in the mining industry.
在采矿业中，诸如研磨、浮选、浓缩和尾矿输送等关键单元操作会受到粘土矿物的负面影响，粘土矿物会通过增加矿物悬浮液的流变特性，使其呈现出复杂的流变行为。这种恶化源于粘土矿物的特定物理化学特性，如细粒度、各向异性、层状形态和膨胀能力。本文综述了各种流变改性剂对包括高岭石、伊利石和蒙脱石在内的粘土悬浮液的影响。所综述的试剂包括无机盐、pH调节剂、聚合物、表面活性剂和纳米颗粒。分析了它们与固体颗粒的相互作用机制，突出了它们对分散或聚集程度的影响。此外，本综述提出了一些研究机会，重点是混合试剂的配方、改性生物聚合物以及开发在高盐度或高温等不利条件下有效的试剂。本综述为通过更高效、可持续的策略来管理采矿业中富含粘土悬浮液的流变添加剂的优化使用提供了全面依据。
