Enhanced Settlement Thickening of Tailings Slurry by Ultrasonic Treatment: Optimization of Application Timing and Power and Insight into the Underlying Mechanism

Zhu, Liyi; Wei, Zhao; Yang, Peng; Qiao, Xiaofei; Lang, Penglin; Li, Zhengbin; Wang, Kun; Lyu, Wensheng; Zeng, Jialu

doi:10.3390/min16020124

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Enhanced Settlement Thickening of Tailings Slurry by Ultrasonic Treatment: Optimization of Application Timing and Power and Insight into the Underlying Mechanism

by

Liyi Zhu

¹

,

Zhao Wei

¹,

Peng Yang

²,

Xiaofei Qiao

³,

Penglin Lang

³,

Zhengbin Li

¹,

Kun Wang

⁴

,

Wensheng Lyu

^1,* and

Jialu Zeng

^1,*

¹

School of Resources and Safety Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China

²

Beijing Key Laboratory of Information Service Engineering, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100101, China

³

Inner Mongolia Shandong Gold Changtai Mining Co., Ltd., Bayannur 015500, China

⁴

College of Energy and Mining Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Minerals 2026, 16(2), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16020124

Submission received: 1 December 2025 / Revised: 16 January 2026 / Accepted: 20 January 2026 / Published: 23 January 2026

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mine Backfilling Technology and Materials, 2nd Edition)

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Abstract

Efficient thickening of unclassified tailings slurry (UTS) is critical for enhancing mine backfill efficiency and reducing operational costs. Ultrasonic technology has emerged as a promising approach to facilitating the solid–liquid separation process in such slurries. In this study, systematic experiments were conducted using a 20 kHz ultrasonic concentrator. The effects of ultrasonic treatment timing (applied at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 min during free settling) and power (50 to 400 W in eight levels) were investigated by monitoring the solid–liquid interface settling velocity and underflow concentration. The key findings are as follows: Ultrasonic application at the 5 min mark yielded the optimal thickening performance, increasing the final mass concentration by 1.3% compared to free settling alone. The average settling velocity generally increased with ultrasonic power (with the exception of 50 W), and the final underflow concentration exhibited a steady rise. Notably, the 400 W treatment induced a significant settlement acceleration, attributed to the formation of drainage channels. Mechanistic analysis revealed that these drainage channels undergo a dynamic process of formation, expansion, contraction, and closure, driven by ultrasonically induced directional water migration, particle compaction, and energy boundary effects. This research not only enriches the theoretical framework of ultrasonic-assisted thickening but also provides practical insights for optimizing mine backfill operations.

Keywords: backfill mining; ultrasonic; tailings slurry; settlement thickening; ultrasonic mechanism

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MDPI and ACS Style

Zhu, L.; Wei, Z.; Yang, P.; Qiao, X.; Lang, P.; Li, Z.; Wang, K.; Lyu, W.; Zeng, J. Enhanced Settlement Thickening of Tailings Slurry by Ultrasonic Treatment: Optimization of Application Timing and Power and Insight into the Underlying Mechanism. Minerals 2026, 16, 124. https://doi.org/10.3390/min16020124

AMA Style

Zhu L, Wei Z, Yang P, Qiao X, Lang P, Li Z, Wang K, Lyu W, Zeng J. Enhanced Settlement Thickening of Tailings Slurry by Ultrasonic Treatment: Optimization of Application Timing and Power and Insight into the Underlying Mechanism. Minerals. 2026; 16(2):124. https://doi.org/10.3390/min16020124

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhu, Liyi, Zhao Wei, Peng Yang, Xiaofei Qiao, Penglin Lang, Zhengbin Li, Kun Wang, Wensheng Lyu, and Jialu Zeng. 2026. "Enhanced Settlement Thickening of Tailings Slurry by Ultrasonic Treatment: Optimization of Application Timing and Power and Insight into the Underlying Mechanism" Minerals 16, no. 2: 124. https://doi.org/10.3390/min16020124

APA Style

Zhu, L., Wei, Z., Yang, P., Qiao, X., Lang, P., Li, Z., Wang, K., Lyu, W., & Zeng, J. (2026). Enhanced Settlement Thickening of Tailings Slurry by Ultrasonic Treatment: Optimization of Application Timing and Power and Insight into the Underlying Mechanism. Minerals, 16(2), 124. https://doi.org/10.3390/min16020124

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Enhanced Settlement Thickening of Tailings Slurry by Ultrasonic Treatment: Optimization of Application Timing and Power and Insight into the Underlying Mechanism

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