Michael T Tate

US Patent:

20210101807, Apr 8, 2021

Filed:

Dec 16, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/123875

Inventors:

- Richmond, CA
Nikolas Andrei Romaniuk - Edmonton, CA
Jesse Wayne Fox - West Valley City UT, US
Michael John Tate - Oregon OH, US
Narain Hariharan - College Station TX, US

International Classification:

C02F 1/52
C02F 11/12
C02F 11/145
C10G 1/04
B01D 21/30
F26B 5/00

Abstract:

Methods and systems for treating tailings at an elevated pH using lime are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method comprises (i) providing a tailings stream comprising bicarbonates and a pH less than 9.0, (ii) adding a coagulant comprising calcium hydroxide to the tailings stream to form a mixture having a pH of at least 11.5 and a soluble calcium level no more than 800 mg/L, and (iii) dewatering the mixture to produce a product having a solids content of at least 40% by weight. In some embodiments, the pH and soluble calcium level of the mixture cause chemical modification of clay materials of the mixture via pozzolanic reactions. In some embodiments, the undrained shear strength of the product increases over a period of time of at least two days.

US Patent:

20210101808, Apr 8, 2021

Filed:

Dec 16, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/124089

Inventors:

- Richmond, CA
Jared Ira Leikam - West Jordan UT, US
Jesse Wayne Fox - West Valley City UT, US
Michael John Tate - Oregon OH, US
Narain Hariharan - College Station TX, US

International Classification:

C02F 1/52
C02F 11/12
C02F 11/145
C10G 1/04
B01D 21/30
F26B 5/00

Abstract:

Methods and systems for treating tailings at an elevated pH using lime are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method comprises (i) providing a tailings stream comprising bicarbonates and a pH less than 9.0, (ii) adding a coagulant comprising calcium hydroxide to the tailings stream to form a mixture having a pH of at least 11.5 and a soluble calcium level no more than 800 mg/L, and (iii) dewatering the mixture to produce a product having a solids content of at least 40% by weight. In some embodiments, the pH and soluble calcium level of the mixture cause chemical modification of clay materials of the mixture via pozzolanic reactions. In some embodiments, the undrained shear strength of the product increases over a period of time of at least two days.

US Patent:

20200079664, Mar 12, 2020

Filed:

Sep 10, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/566578

Inventors:

- Richmond, CA
Nikolas Andrei Romaniuk - Edmonton, CA
Jesse Wayne Fox - West Valley City UT, US
Michael John Tate - Oregon OH, US
Narain Hariharan - College Station TX, US

International Classification:

C02F 1/52
C02F 11/12

Abstract:

Methods and systems for treating tailings at an elevated pH using lime are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method comprises (i) providing a tailings stream comprising bicarbonates and a pH less than 9.0, (ii) adding a coagulant comprising calcium hydroxide to the tailings stream to form a mixture having a pH of at least 11.5 and a soluble calcium level no more than 800 mg/L, and (iii) dewatering the mixture to produce a product having a solids content of at least 40% by weight. In some embodiments, the pH and soluble calcium level of the mixture cause chemical modification of clay materials of the mixture via pozzolanic reactions. In some embodiments, the undrained shear strength of the product increases over a period of time of at least two days.