Use of the early generation carbon adsorption circuits showed that the process of interstage screening of activated carbon and pulp could be improved upon. Kemix supplied the North Kalgoorlie Mines (NKM) interstage screens under licence to Anglo American Corporation (AAC). This represented a significant improvement in the screening process and was later further developed in partnership with AAC into the Mineral Processing Separating (MPS) screen.
The pumping version of the MPS screen, the MPS(P) was developed to allow the adsorption tanks to be positioned on the same elevation.
MPS and MPS(P) Interstage Screens
These are used in CIL and CIP applications to screen pulp and activated carbon from each other. Typically, CIL or CIP applications operate in a cascade arrangement, where pulp is either pumped or gravitates down the adsorption circuit while carbon is pumped up the circuit. The pulp and carbon need to be separated from each other prior to the pulp proceeding down the circuit.
The MPS interstage screen is utilised in circuits with adsorption tanks staggered in a cascade arrangement, allowing the pulp to gravitate down the circuit.
The MPS(P) interstage screen is equipped with an impeller which generates a pulp height differential allowing the pulp to flow into the next adsorption tank. This allows all adsorption tanks to be located on the same elevation, achieving ergonomic as well as installation capital cost benefits over a cascade circuit.
