Reducing water consumption at Skorpion Zinc

dc.contributor.authorBhikha, H
dc.contributor.authorLewis, A E
dc.contributor.authorDeglon, D A
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-08T13:55:25Z
dc.date.available2017-05-08T13:55:25Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.date.updated2016-01-07T11:12:13Z
dc.description.abstractSynopsis: The minerals industry is committed to the principles of sustainability. Reducing water consumption is a priority area, especially for regions of water scarcity. This paper presents a systemic optimization of the water balance of the Skorpion Zinc refinery with the aim of reducing water consumption. An Aspen Plus simulation of the process is used. The validity of the simulation is tested by measuring key output variables and comparing results to plant data. A number of water minimization scenarios are investigated, including unit operation and circuit configuration changes. The scenarios leading to the largest reduction in water consumption are through the full recycle of treated effluent water, which results in water savings of up to 19%. Reducing process water and/or recycling of untreated water is prohibited by the build-up of trace elements, which affect product purity. The Skorpion process already features a highly optimized water balance, with unit operational changes merely resulting in a shift in the water balance. Consequently, the largest area for improvement is through the reuse of effluent water.
dc.identifier.apacitationBhikha, H., Lewis, A. E., & Deglon, D. A. (2011). Reducing water consumption at Skorpion Zinc. <i>Journal of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24253en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationBhikha, H, A E Lewis, and D A Deglon "Reducing water consumption at Skorpion Zinc." <i>Journal of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy</i> (2011) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24253en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationBhikha, H., Lewis, A. E., & Deglon, D. A. (2011). Reducing water consumption at Skorpion Zinc. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 111(6), 437-442.
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Bhikha, H AU - Lewis, A E AU - Deglon, D A AB - Synopsis: The minerals industry is committed to the principles of sustainability. Reducing water consumption is a priority area, especially for regions of water scarcity. This paper presents a systemic optimization of the water balance of the Skorpion Zinc refinery with the aim of reducing water consumption. An Aspen Plus simulation of the process is used. The validity of the simulation is tested by measuring key output variables and comparing results to plant data. A number of water minimization scenarios are investigated, including unit operation and circuit configuration changes. The scenarios leading to the largest reduction in water consumption are through the full recycle of treated effluent water, which results in water savings of up to 19%. Reducing process water and/or recycling of untreated water is prohibited by the build-up of trace elements, which affect product purity. The Skorpion process already features a highly optimized water balance, with unit operational changes merely resulting in a shift in the water balance. Consequently, the largest area for improvement is through the reuse of effluent water. DA - 2011 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town J1 - Journal of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2011 T1 - Reducing water consumption at Skorpion Zinc TI - Reducing water consumption at Skorpion Zinc UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24253 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/24253
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationBhikha H, Lewis AE, Deglon DA. Reducing water consumption at Skorpion Zinc. Journal of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. 2011; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24253.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Chemical Engineeringen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.sourceJournal of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
dc.source.urihttp://www.saimm.co.za/
dc.subject.otherSkorpion zinc water usage
dc.subject.otherprocess optimization
dc.subject.othersustainability
dc.titleReducing water consumption at Skorpion Zinc
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
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