Outotec Industrial

water treatment solutions

Outotec industrial water treatment (IWT) provides
tailored water treatment solutions to produce water
that

meets

environmental

discharge

concepts,

maximize water recycling for reuse, while enabling

recovery of valuable elements and reducing water and
energy consumption.

Benefits
Minimized capital expenditure through

optimized process design

Reduced water consumption and

abstraction via treated water recycling

With a long tradition in applying and investigating

Improved productivity and product quality

water treatment processes for mines and metallurgical

plants, Outotec now offers efficient, sustainable and

Improved quality and reduced volume of

best available process solutions and technologies for

the treatment of industrial process and wastewaters.

through secured and clean process water

generated sludge

Reduced chemical usage via efficient

process control

Global service

002 Outotec Industrial water treatment solutions

IWT solutions combine water treatment

and wet chemistry
Outotec has a long history in hydrometallurgy and this

Outotec's approach to industrial water treatment

broad knowhow has now been transferred into the

combines expertise relating to water treatment and wet

field of industrial water treatment in order to provide

chemistry. Outotec provides world leading industrial

customers

water

and capital water treatment solutions, which are

treatment processes. Outotec has expertise on the

with

solution-driven

industrial

built on using Outotecs existing technologies and

whole mining and metallurgical production chain and

proprietary equipment. Outotec technology selection

life cycle, leading to ability to offer solutions that are

expertise is based on laboratory test programs,

based on innovative, sustainable and best available

conceptual and feasibility studies, basic and details

technologies.

engineering, technology-specific equipment supply,

training, erection supervision, start-up assistance, and

Tightening environmental standards, together with

follow-up and technical support services.

reduced water availability leads to the need for efficient

water treatment solutions. Outotec strives to build

Outotec also offers Operation and Maintenance (O&M)

long-term cooperation with the customer in order to

solutions for industrial water treatment plants to

ensure that they receive the very best solution for their

optimize the treatment process and improve the plant

operating environment. We know that every plant and

performance.

process has its own process requirements and strive to

provide tailored solutions to specific needs.

Outotec Industrial water treatment solutions 003

The process of finding a suitable solution for a mining

and metallurgical water treatment and management

Outotec offers:

related challenge starts with Outotec analyzing and

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Tailor-made solutions from

assessing customer and process requirements in

technology package to turn key

order to identify the relevant water treatment and

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Innovative and proven technologies

management issues and define targets. Following

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Laboratory and pilot tests

the analyzes and assessment of the water treatment

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Concept and feasibility studies

and/or management case, thorough research is carried

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Basic and details engineering

out by water experts in order to assess available

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Proprietary and key equipment supply

solutions and discuss their suitability with relevant

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Commissioning and start-up services

process experts in order to find the best potential

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Spare parts

conceptual solutions.

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Shutdown maintenance services

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Process guarantees

In the next step, process modeling is carried out using

Outotec HSC SIM process simulation program in order
to see the effects of the suggested concept solution
on the whole process flow sheet. The other purpose of
the modeling is to optimize, find and evaluate different
processing options. When a suitable processing option
has been established, laboratory testing can be carried
out in order to prove the suitability of the proposed
processing option.

Tailored solution through research and development

Outotecs unique research centers comprise state-ofthe-art research facilities capable of piloting plants
from bench to industrial scale. Building a process
solution usually start with physical modeling of the
equipment, which is followed by chemical testing and

Once suitability of the proposed processing option

has been proven, technical and economic feasibility
of the proposed process concept will be evaluated.
The overall aim is to construct the most economically
and technologically feasible solution with optimized
performance. Depending on the feasibility of the process
concept, process engineering can be commenced, which
can be followed by equipment investment decision.

Building industrial water treatment solution:

Identify issues & define targets
Search & find potential solutions
Carry out process modelling
Carry out laboratory testing
Evaluate technical & economic feasibility
Engineering
Construction and delivery
O&M

piloting in laboratory environment. Fluid dynamical

analysis and mechanical design finishes off the
proprietary equipment design. In line with the results of
the equipment design, an efficient and coherent solution
combining all the relevant equipment is designed.

004 Outotec Industrial water treatment solutions

Typical IWT applications

Waters and wastewater within mining and metallurgical

Outotec industrial water treatment

industries contain elements such as heavy metals (Cu,

solutions are tailor-made for:

Fe, Mn, Zn, etc.), arsenic, sulfate, calcium, magnesium,

nitrates, solids, salts and acidity, which require

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Non Ferrous metal concentrators

treatment prior to discharge to the environment and/or

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Gold processing and concentrator plants

reuse within the processes.

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Non Ferrous smelters and refineries

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Iron and Steel industry

Outotec offers a wide range of effluent treatment and

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Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in different mining sectors

water management solutions for industrial applications.

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Oil shale/oil sands

Typical Outotec industrial water treatment solutions

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Ferro Chrome industry

include: metal removal and recovery, neutralization,

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Coal mines and washeries

arsenic removal, sulfate removal and oil removal.

Other areas where Outotec has compiled solutions and

Treatment of metal containing effluents

carried out research include: membrane technology,

electrochemical water treatment, halide removal,

When metals enter the treatment process, they are

nitrogen

magnesium

in a stable, dissolved form and are unable to form

removal and water reuse and recycling process

suspended solids. The goal of metal containing effluent

solutions.

treatment is to adjust the pH via raising the hydroxide

and

phosphorus

treatment,

ion concentration of the water so that the metals form

insoluble precipitates. Once the metals are in solid or
insoluble form, they can be easily removed, leaving the
water with low metal concentrations.

Outotec Industrial water treatment solutions 005

The degree of precipitation of metal hydroxides relates

The behavior of metals in aqueous solution is controlled

directly to the hydroxide ion concentrations i.e. pH, but

by their chemical speciation, i.e. the molecular and

the minimum solubility and the pH required for achieving

ionic species that they form. Metal cations (Mz+) will

it varies with the metal species and the precipitation

hydrolyse to form complexes with the hydroxide ion

format (type of alkali reagent) in question. Furthermore,

as a function of pH and the forming complexes can

co-precipitation and suitable precipitation enhancers

be cations, neutral molecules, as well as anions. The

can improve the treatment efficiency. A condition for

different complexes formed are mainly governed by the

successful precipitation is that the metal salts formed

valence of the metal (Z+) and metal ion concentration

are so insoluble that any residual concentration of

in the solution.

dissolved metal ions fulfills the requirements.

Mine

Water treatment

Water treatment

Mine water
Water recycle

Process effluent

Ore and fresh water

Water treatment

T ailings pond

Water recycle

Water recycle

Water treatment

Water treatment

Water recycle

Water treatment
Tailings

Concentrate

Concentrate

Example of concentrator water treatment solution

006 Outotec Industrial water treatment solutions

Iron sulfate
Lime milk

Flocculant
Arsenic stream

Ferric arsenate slurry

Treated water for discharge and re-use
Air
Air
Air

Outotec Larox PF
Ferric arsenate filter cake
Filtrate water

Example of ferric arsenate precipitation solution

Arsenic removal from effluent

Arsenic-rich liquids require treatment prior to
discharge or reuse as process water. The most typical
chemical precipitation As-removal processes include:
nn Calcium arsenate precipitation (Ca3(AsO4)2)
nn Calcium arsenite precipitation (Ca3(AsO3)2)
nn Basic ferric arsenate

precipitation (FeAsO4*xFe(OH)3)
nn Scorodite precipitation (FeAsO4 2H2O)

Arsenic precipitation with lime is to date perhaps

the most straightforward and cost-effective way of
removing arsenic from solution. However, the stability
of the generated calcium arsenite or arsenate sludges
is poor. An effective alternative to lime precipitation
is provided by ferric precipitation (Fe2(SO4)3), chemical
process that generates ferric arsenate sludges, out
of which the crystalline scrorodite or ferric arsenate
dihydrate (FeAsO4 2H2O) is the most stable form.
Precipitation of scorodite requires, however, highly
controlled process conditions.

Any precipitation-based process will benefit from

advanced equipment technology and process design,
but best results are achieved using customer and
process-tailored equipment and process control, which
allow stable, safe, reliable and cost efficient operation
of the process.
With correct process design significant benefits are
obtained, including:
nn Lower chemical consumption
nn Less scaling less maintenance
nn Stable pH profile, allowing precipitation reactions

to take place in the reactors and providing stable
effluent
nn High quality sludge with uniform chemical

composition long-term safe

storage of As residues
nn High quality solid residue with minimum

moisture lower disposal costs

and higher water retention
nn Process effluent with low, residual As
concentrations and low solids carry over

Outotec Industrial water treatment solutions 007

008 Outotec Industrial water treatment solutions

Proprietary equipment within

IWT solution
The

technology

package

combined

with

Outotec

proprietary equipment ensures smooth process operation

Outotec OKTOP Reactor the best solution

for your process

by eliminating unnecessary bottlenecks and shutdowns.

Outotec has been building reactors for various
Outotec equipment solutions are made to optimize

hydrometallurgical

metallurgical results and to ensure reliable operations.

forty years. We have experience both as technology

Outotec equipment are designed to be the most

providers and as plant operators. Outotec has installed

economical solutions for the entire lifetime of your plant.

hundreds of reactors for leaching, precipitation and

Furthermore, we can guarantee equipment performance.

metal recovery. Outotec's expertise provides you with

A complete technology transfer package with proprietary

superior performance, reliable operation and ease of

equipment from Outotec ensures that you get a coherent

maintenance in each OKTOP Reactor.

process with a maximal financial return.

Industrial water treatment takes advantage of three
separate Outotec proprietary equipment types, namely
reactors, thickeners/clarifiers and filters. All of the
three

different

equipment

types

include

several

different types. Furthermore Outotec industrial water

treatment takes advantage of the Outotec Courier
online elemental analyzers for process control within
the solutions.

applications

for

more

than

Outotec Industrial water treatment solutions 009

We know that every plant and process is unique, so each

After decades of experiments, design work and

OKTOP Reactor is designed for its specific purpose.

operational experience, Outotec now presents the

Process outcome is the guiding principle for reactor

OKTOP Reactor Family. The Reactor Family includes

design and each reactor is tailored to deliver the best

several different reactors and the choice will be based

possible yield.

on the application in question. The OKTOP Reactors have

been successfully applied in solid-liquid, gas-liquid,

The combination of years of R&D and a wealth of data

gas-liquid-solid and liquid-liquid systems for leaching,

collected from both our own and customers' plants have

precipitation, crystallization, oxidation, reduction and

enabled Outotec to develop a family of reactors using

solvent extraction.

modular design principles. The result is five series of

reactors with modular design, which can be tailored for
each individual application.
Modular design enables us to select the optimum
reactor solution quickly and effectively. Outotec will
provide you with a complete reactor package, with
flexibility for you to choose the accessories you need.
For us, the reactor is more than just a tank. It is the
heart of a successful operation.

010 Outotec Industrial water treatment solutions

Outotec Thickening technologies

Outotec is a global leader in the design, fabrication and
supply of thickening and clarifying solutions for the
waste water treatment industries.
The revolutionary Outotec High Rate Thickener concept
has pioneered and redefined the methods of clarification
and thickening around the world. With more than 1,400
thickener installations in over 70 countries in the last
20 years alone, Outotec knows how to provide process
solutions to enable longer-term cost benefits for
thickening and clarification duties and paste applications.
Outotec thickeners include a number of innovative
features in their design. Special attention is given to
the design of feedwells, rake profiles, drive systems
and control strategies to meet the challenge of
dewatering materials that are often problematic for
normal thickeners. Our experience in testwork, design,
operation, installation and service of thickeners and
clarifiers is renowned throughout the world and is your
guarantee of quality.

Outotec Filtration solutions

Outotec is a leading innovator, developer and supplier
of solid-liquid separation products, which are used as a
part of the industrial water treatment solutions.
Outotec Larox filters are built to last, delivering
maximum production performance, availability and the
best process results at the optimum operating cost for
a wide range of processes and process environments.
The broad product range includes filters and solutions
based on several different filtration principles, variety
of sizes, capacities and related services, all performing
in the toughest operating conditions.
A wide range of test filtration solutions and high-tech
automation systems are also available.

Outotec Industrial water treatment solutions 011

Outotec life cycle services improve water

treatment process performance and
guarantee plant availability
Outotec offers comprehensive Services and Operation &

In order to guarantee high-level performance, water

Maintenance solutions for water treatment concepts.

treatment operation and maintenance concepts are

A long-term partnership with Outotec ensures that the

built using a top-down and bottom-up approach, where

full value of customers' operations and equipment is

the customers needs and selected key performance

realized. Outotec O&M solutions include for example:

indicators are also considered on a strategic level.

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Developing the maintenance

Outotec's global network of service centers is dedicated

strategy and annual planning

to providing continuous technical and maintenance

Process support as well as plant,

support. Outotec service centers offer customers

equipment and field services

unparalleled access to our broad knowledge base and

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Process optimization

operational experience.

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Water and energy assessments

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Quality, safety and environmental systems

Water treatment operation and maintenance concepts

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Supply chain management for

are generally incorporated into other operational

spare parts and chemicals

services. This enables a comprehensive tie-in between

Information Technology Management

the core process and the water treatment plant. This

system, including remote control,

arrangement ensures the efficient performance of

monitoring and performance reporting

the core process, while minimizing the cost of water

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nn

treatment.

Finland, September 2013.

Outotec provides leading technologies and services for the sustainable use of Earths natural
resources. As the global leader in minerals and metals processing technology, Outotec has developed
many breakthrough technologies over the decades. The company also provides innovative solutions
for industrial water treatment, the utilization of alternative energy sources and the chemical industry.
Outotec shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki.

iwt@outotec.com
www.outotec.com
Copyright 2013 Outotec Oyj. All rights reserved.