Precious Minerals and Mining

Alfa Laval has a range of equipment to optimize key processes such as separation and heating and cooling in the beneficiation, leaching and extraction of precious mineral ores including gold, platinum and silver. Our solid-liquid separation can be used in various process steps including dewatering of ore concentrates. Importantly, this technology is a proven alternative to manage tailings safely and cost effectively without the use of dams.

gold nugget on the ground

Robust technology designed for tough mining applications

  • Optimal operation performance with minimal intervention
  • High volume capacities with smaller foot-prints save space
  • Contained processes resulting in clean and safe working conditions
  • Maximize recovery of valuable products, water and waste heat
  • Water re-use helps boost operational sustainability
Our solid-bowl decanter centrifuges increase separation efficiency by cutting lifecycle costs and helping to minimize environmental impact. They can be used to replace or complement existing solutions (such as thickeners, sedimentation dams, filters, etc.) and will help boost capacity and save space. In addition, our heat exchangers are a proven design for heating and cooling duties in a number of precious mineral processing applications.
.

Tackling tailings safely and sustainably

Alfa Laval decanter centrifuges are a proven, efficient solution for large-scale dewatering of tailings and removing the finest particles that conventional solids control equipment is unable to deal with. They offer a cost effective, sustainable and, above all, safe solution to manage tailings, acting as a complement to traditional separation systems such as thickeners, sedimentation basins and filters or replacing old systems altogether.

spadeable cake

Opportunities throughout your process

Explore the mining flowchart and discover how an Alfa Laval decanter centrifuge can help streamline your operations in various process areas.

.
process chart

On the pulse of precious minerals and mining processing

Alfa Laval help producers of gold, silver and platinum to get the most out of raw ores – cost-effectively, energy-efficiently and in an environmentally friendly way. From smart reuse of process waters and recirculation of cooling waters to treatment of bleed streams and smart solid waste reduction, count on Alfa Laval. Smart reuse of the vast amounts of heat involved in these processes can contribute directly to the bottom line. While dewatering and separation technologies help extract valuable by-products, reduce waste streams, and minimize environmental impact. Alfa Laval has the process know-how as well as a broad portfolio of equipment and services to help precious mineral and mining producers cut costs, achieve significant energy savings and raise yields.

Gold

Big energy savings through heat transfer

Beneficiation, digestion, roasting, leaching, smelting and electro-winning are all energy-intensive processes. By harnessing the heat generated during extraction processes and reusing it in other processes, metal producers not only save big on energy costs, but also boost productivity.

Our heat exchangers (gasketed, welded or spiral) are a proven and highly efficient technology for heat transfer to feed the heat back into the process with unparalleled yield. The heat exchangers’ close temperature approach, high internal turbulence and large heat-transfer areas combine to squeeze out up to 30% more energy than conventional shell-and-tube units out of every heat flow. By replacing costly and bulky units with Alfa Laval heat exchangers, processing plants can save cost and many megawatts of hidden energy each year.

Optimizing separation efficiency

Whether used for solvent extraction, electrowinning, dewatering, recovery of intermediate products, or separation processes, Alfa Laval decanter and separators are reliable, resilient and equipped to deal with the complex solid-liquid or solid-liquid-liquid separation processes involved in mining production production.

Due to highly efficient operation, robust design and the resulting high purity output, Alfa Laval separation solutions are an integral part of nearly all processes in the recovery of mineral raw materials. Which is why metal producers the world over rely on Alfa Laval to help maximize productivity and increase yields.

.

Customer stories

.

Tailings management

Meet the tailings dewatering challenge with Alfa Laval’s decanter centrifuges. They offer a cost effective, sustainable and, above all, safe solution to manage tailings. Download the brochure to read more about our cleaner, more efficient and safer solid-liquid separation systems.

tailing ponds
.

Learn more

Read more about the efficiency, practicality and technical details of our range of equipment for solid-liquid separation in precious mineral ore processing by downloading the brochure

base preview 640x360
.

Tough and efficient, tried and tested

If you are looking for safe, sustainable and cost-effective technologies in precious mineral ore processing, contact Alfa Laval today to learn more about our robust and well-designed solutions.

Man wearing a jacket with Alfa Laval logotype