MINERAL PROCESSING METHOD OF THE WEEK - THICKENING!!

In the process of thickening (also called sedimentation), the solids in a suspension settle under the influence of gravity in a tank and form a thick pulp. This pulp, and the clear liquid at the top of the tank, can be removed continuously or intermittently. In comparison with filtration, thickening offers the advantage of low operation costs; on the other hand, it has the disadvantage of leaving a higher moisture content in the pulp. For this reason, the dewatering of pulps containing fine particles often involves a combination of thickening and filtration. The thickening of finely grained pulps is often aided by the use of flocculating agents - Encyclopaedia Britannica.