The knowledge of factors that influence the rheology of bauxite pulp is necessary and important for the quality control of the flow through the pipeline process.This work evaluated the effect of different granulometric fractions (-100#+150#; -150#+200#; -200#+270#; -270#+325# and -400#) on rheology of bauxite pulp that is carried through Mineração Paragominas S/A (MPSA) pipelines. Distinct fractions of bauxite obtained by wet screening were analyzed by an X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) to determine the mineralogical composition of the samples. The results of those analysis revealed that each fraction has a similar composition (gibsite, kaolinite, hematite, goethit and anatase) though different proportion in the fractions. The studies of rheological parameters were developed by using Thermo Scientific HAAKE Viscotester 550 and the SV1 coaxial cylinder sensor at 30ºC. Bauxite pulps, with constant solids content and equal to 50 wt% were prepared in order to simulate the actual conditions of flow through the pipeline. Testing of apparent viscosity curves versus additive concentration were carried out using sodium polyacrylate at concentrations that ranged from 0 – 1 wt% in order to determine the optimal concentration of additive necessary to stabilize the bauxite pulp. From the results found of optimal concentration of sodium polyacrylate, the hysteresis tests were performed. It was found that the smaller the average particle diameter, the greater the amount of additive is necessary to stabilize the pulp and the addition of sodium polyacrylate in the finer fraction of bauxite caused the flocculation of system. In general, the rheological behavior of the bauxite pulps with their optimal concentrations of sodium polyacrylate was shown to be non-Newtonian and time dependent, with rheopetic behavior for fractions with granulometry between 127 and 48.5 micrometers and thixotropic behavior to fine fraction with average diameter smaller than 37 micrometers. The bauxite pulp formulated with the fine particle size and without addition of sodium polyacrylate showed rheopetic behavior. It was observed, for the dispersed bauxite pulps, that the decrease the average particle size influences the size of the hysteresis area formed, causing a decrease in rheopetic behavior.
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