Worlds First: Environmentally Friendly Wastewater Filter Press

Multotec has developed an environmentally friendly filter press believed to be a world first. The new filter press, the result of a significant investment in time and funding, was developed in response to the increasingly critical need to recycle waste water from mining operations in South Africa, specifically Acid Mine Drainage.

Traditionally hydraulically operated filter presses are used in metallurgical processes and water reclamation plants, but these conventional products are associated with a high risk of contamination from oil and other lubricants during operation. It has become essential to overcome this challenge to protect the environment and assist mining companies to comply with the ever-tightening environmental legislation confronting the industry.

Patented technology

Multotec’s state-of-the-art fully automatic filter press, based on the successful Seprotech Rapid Filter (SRF) press, eliminates the risk of any contamination in this application. This exciting new product has been developed using patented technology, with components sourced internationally to ensure long life and spares availability. The new filter press has been 100% locally manufactured at Multotec’s ISO 9001 accredited facility.

The hydraulic power pack has been replaced with a water pressure system which, while achieving the same clamping force, ensures optimum sealing of the plate pack while dramatically reducing noise pollution. The filter cloths have been further developed to ensure longer life, in turn achieving lower consumable consumption. Components have been designed to ensure safe operation, while finite element analysis has been applied to substantiate the integrity of the machine. The filter press is characterised by its energy efficient electric motors.

Acid Mine Drainage

Multotec’s new water filter press is ideal for use in a water reclamation plant where lime is used to neutralise AMD and the resulting gypsum slurry needs to be filtered out. The clean filtrate water is fed back into the plant for further processing and the filter cake produced can be sent for further processing to ultimately enable it to be recycled as a valuable product.

The new filter press can also be used in other liquid/solid separation applications, including copper concentrate, platinum concentrate and coal fines. Capacity is dependent on the application requirements.

Solid/liquid separation solutions

Multotec provides a variety of other solid and liquid separation solutions from its Seprotech division. The company imports and manufactures Siebtechnik centrifuges and Ishigaki polishing filters underlicence. Seprotech also imports the fully automatic Ishigaki filter presses. The South African developed and manufactured Seprotech Rapid Filter Press is a valuable addition to the division’s range of equipment.

Multotec manufactures filtration solutions specifically for coal and water treatment plants. The filters are fully automated, requiring less operator intervention, which results in shorter cycle times, higher safety and less human error.

In addition, the company provides centrifuge solutions for chemical, mining and minerals processing. Multotec has test facilities available for the testing of centrifuges in fine and coarse coal. Multotec’s solid and liquid separation products are international market leaders and are backed by experienced and competent personnel with extensive process knowledge. Additionally, clients are offered comprehensive after sales field service and maintenance contracts, which include servicing and repair work that is quickly and efficiently completed on the centrifuges and filter presses with minimum downtime.

Seprotech is part of the Multotec Group and is ISO 9001:2008 accredited.

Multotec has branches in Africa, Australia, Canada and Chile and representation in India, China, Germany, the United States, Brazil and Turkey. A key factor is the employment of local people who have an intimate understanding of the region and are technically adept. Transfer of the skills sets and knowledge to local people will ensure long term sustainability and commitment within each country.

The cloth wash system on the Seprotech Rapid Filter Press features spray bars permanently installed at the top of every plate	The Seprotech Rapid Filter Press plate pack is clamped in position using a water pressure system
Diagram depicting how the Seprotech Rapid Filter Press plate pack opens in a concertina-type movement	The cake discharge system on the Seprotech Rapid Filter Press is the only filter press that has a plate tilt function