MaxiFlox®MaxiFlox® R Series chemistry combined with SciDev’s engineering and professional services delivers a significant reduction in the treatment costs at a nickel lateriteNickel laterite processing plantProcessing plant in Australia. This has been achieved through a combination of reduced dosage consumption and increased underflow densityUnderflow density across a series of thickening stages on the front end of the circuit. ProcessingProcessing of a nickel lateriteNickel laterite to produce a mixed hydroxide product (MHPMixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP)) is a complex process from beneficiationBeneficiation, leachingLeaching and selective precipitationPrecipitation. The limonite component of the ore body passes through beneficiationBeneficiation, thickening, pre-heat thickening, pressure acidAcid leach, atmospheric leach), counter-current decantation to the precipitationPrecipitation and bagging circuits. The saproliteSaprolite component is separated at the start of the process, thickened, pre-leached and combined with the leached limonite slurry in atmospheric leach. The role of dewatering in this complex process increases plant throughput whilst reducing acid consumptionAcid consumption as a function of slurry dilution. In this case, critical to the success of the clients operation is low flocculantFlocculant dosages and high-density thickener underflows. There is also a requirement to minimise the underflow yield stressYield stress due to pumping requirements. The key challenges identified for our client in achieving these success criteria are as follows: (1) process water quality and high salinity levels > increases required flocculantFlocculant dissolutionDissolution time; (2) feed variations due to the variable ore body; (3) no automated flocculantFlocculant dosage control on the thickeners, with operations personnel being conservative to ensure over flocculation of the thickener in case of rapid change in processingProcessing efficiency; (4) minimise thickener underflow yield stressYield stress whilst maximising the density to ensure pumping efficiency. Understanding these challenges, SciDev was able to present a solution through a combination of tailored flocculantFlocculant chemistry, an experienced team of engineers delivering valued professional services and introduction of an automated dose control system offering valued benefits to the client.