Journal of Northeastern University(Natural Science) ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (4): 151-158.DOI: 10.12068/j.issn.1005-3026.2025.20239060

• Resources & Civil Engineering • Previous Articles    

Experimental Study on Electroosmotic Improvement of Mechanical Properties of Tailings Mud

Zuo-an WEI, Xue-yi ZHANG, Hong-wei GUO, Ting LU   

  1. School of Resources and Safety Engineering,Chongqing University,Chongqing 400044,China. Corresponding author: WEI Zuo-an,E-mail: weiza@cqu. edu. cn
  • Received:2023-12-05 Online:2025-04-15 Published:2025-07-01

Abstract:

To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of improving the mechanical properties of tailings mud by electroosmosis, voltage gradient and voltage loading method were used as variables, and the self-made electroosmotic test chamber was used to carry out indoor electroosmotic tests on copper tailings mud and phosphorus tailings mud. By analyzing the drainage volume and current attenuation during the electroosmosis, as well as the moisture, dry density and shear strength of the tailings mud after electroosmotic improvement, combined with the energy consumption of electroosmosis, the effectiveness and best way for improving the mechanical properties of tailings mud by electroosmosis were explored. The test results show that electroosmotic drainage is positively correlated with voltage intensity and voltage loading stages. Compared with single-stage voltage loading, the current attenuation trend of multi-stage voltage loading slows down. After the end of electroosmosis, the water content of tailings mud is lower, the dry density is larger, the shear strength is higher, and the improvement effect of mechanical properties is better. During the electroosmotic process, the average energy consumption of multi-stage voltage loading is lower than that of single-stage loading. The best way to improve the mechanical properties of tailings mud by electroosmosis is 15—20—25—30 V four-stage voltage loading.

Key words: tailings mud, electroosmotic dewatering, multi-stage loading, shear strength, energy consumption analysis

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