Ways to reduce energy consumption in sapropel mining by hydromechanized method

   Currently, the most efficient method for extracting lake and peat-buried sapropel is hydromechanized excavation with hydraulic transport of the resulting slurry to drying sites.

   The main drawback of this method is the relatively low dry matter content of the sapropel slurry.

   Attempts to increase it have resulted in increased viscosity of the sapropel pulp and, consequently, increased energy consumption for its hydraulic transport through pipes. This article, based on published sources, analyzes various methods for reducing the viscosity of the extracted material. It has been established that the most promising approach is the development of technology and means for mechanically affecting the pulp. It is shown that the use of Geotube geotextile containers in combination with chemical reagents is a promising alternative to existing pulp dewatering methods. This paper also presents the results of laboratory studies on the kinetics of pulp particle sedimentation from carbonate and organic sapropel using the flocculants Bopak A and Aquacrystal+. It was found that the minimum dose of Bopak A flocculant (0.09 g/L) is optimal for carbonate sapropel, reducing the suspended particle concentration in the clarified zone from 30 to 0.26 g/L in 80 seconds (clarification rate of 99.1 %). To achieve the same concentration over the specified period of time, the Aquacrystal+ flocculant was added at a dose of 1.5 g/L. For organic sapropel, both flocculants in the studied dose range did not provide rapid sedimentation: the dry matter concentration in the clarified zone decreased to 7–8 g/L only after 24 hours. These results are explained by differences in the density and colloidal chemical properties of particles of different sapropel types.

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