New water clarifying technology boasts successful pre-launch trial

The innovative solution, Flockit Blocks, is an advanced flocculant technology designed to separate silt from water to produce clean water for immediate reuse.

Pre-launch trials held at an Indonesian mine have tested Flockit Blocks’ capabilities, demonstrating its potential to revolutionise water management practices in the mining industry.

Requiring no complex infrastructure or costly liquid dosing equipment, Flockit Blocks is a game-changer for the mining sector and any industrial operation or civil project that recycles water.

The Flockit Block technology is in gel form that dissolves when water flows over it, coagulating the fine particles and weighing them down for more enhanced filtering. The blocks can be strategically placed within drainage channels to optimise flocculant dispersion, making them an accessible and scalable solution for both large-scale mining operations and smaller projects.

RST Solutions Operations and Technical Director, David Handel, said:

“It’s a cost-effective alternative to traditional liquid dosing systems. Flockit Blocks is a more efficient means of separating sediment from water to improve water recycling practices on a mine site, or any industrial operation that uses excess water.

“When the turbid water flows over the Flockit Blocks, the flocculant dissolves and grabs the fine particles, coagulating them and collecting them in a filter, or pulling them down to the bottom. The flocculant residuals in Flockit continue to work when they reach the bulk of the water, bringing together even finer particles to be removed.”

To test Flockit Blocks, Mr Handel and his team worked with an Indonesian mine, setting up two drains side by side, both with a natural filter of rocks. One had Flockit Blocks while the other remained an untreated experimental control.

The difference was significant and impressive. Tests showed Flockit Blocks rapidly aggregated fine particles and reduced water turbidity to produce clean water in a short amount of time, in contrast to the control drain which showed no change from its natural rock filter.

Water that dispersed through the Flockit Blocks contained significantly reduced sediment levels, with clarity improving greatly over the course of the water flow. Initial results concluded that the treated sample had less than 50 ppm sediment, which meets legal discharge limits, and one block, weighing 5 kg per unit, is capable of treating up to 350 000 l of water subject to site conditions.

Mr Handel said:

“Flockit Blocks is a more efficient and improved method of water recycling that we designed for mining and other operations to minimise freshwater consumption and reduce the environmental impact of their activities.

“Flockit Blocks are highly adaptable by just adding more or less, depending on the water quality. The self-dosing nature of the technology ensures ease of application, requiring minimal maintenance and monitoring, while it delivers consistently clear water results.

“The tests confirmed Flockit Blocks’ effectiveness in real-world conditions, and we are excited to be closer to the stage of releasing it to the market to have a positive impact on water conservation efforts and operational efficiency.”

The successful trials of Flockit Blocks at the Indonesian mine are part of RST Solutions’ broader commitment to developing innovative solutions that support sustainable mining practices.

By addressing one of the industry’s most pressing challenges – water management – this breakthrough technology is set to play a crucial role in helping mining companies meet environmental regulations, while improving operational efficiency.

Following the success of the pre-launch trials, RST Solutions is preparing for a market launch of Flockit Blocks, with plans to introduce the technology to mining operations across Australia, Indonesia, and other regions facing similar water management challenges.

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Taxonomy

• Primary Clarifier
• Clarifier
• Mining