mixing matters blog

Anaerobic digesters (or anaerobic mixers) are a versatile wastewater treatment technology that sees wide use in agricultural, municipal, and other applications. Bacteria break down incoming waste in the absence of oxygen, a process that produces biogas (a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide) and digestate (a nutrient-rich fertilizer). Because anaerobic digestion relies on sensitive bacteria, significant design consideration must be dedicated to keeping process parameters just right. Agitation Improves Anaerobic Digestion on Multiple Fronts Anaerobic digesters rely on a delicate balance of pH and temperature to operate effectively. The most widely used designs are continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTRs), with the assumption that these parameters will be uniform throughout the tank. A CSTR operates on the principle that incoming feedstocks

Most new production today of germanium today is from zinc ores or coal fly ash. Both processes involve acid leaching, an already difficult process further complicated by the unique challenges posed by germanium, notably its hardness. Dynamix designs mixers that deliver longevity and reliability in germanium recovery. The Germanium Recovery Process Germanium is typically found in very low concentrations and requires significant refining. Sources of recoverable germanium include zinc, silver, lead, and copper ores, along with fly ash from the combustion or gasification of coal. The refining process begins with acid leaching using sulfuric, phosphoric, or other acids. This dissolves the germanium into the leachate, separating it from the remaining solids. However, some impurities are dissolved as well and must

Essentially every industry must at some point contend with solids suspension. Whenever a slurry with solid particles is present, the process will require some way to keep those particles suspended. This is key to preventing buildup on tank bottoms and sides. It also plays an important role in providing the required solid-liquid contact for many processes. In most cases, agitators are the chosen method for maintaining solids suspension. Determining the optimal agitator configuration for solids suspension isn’t a simple process. It takes an understanding of both the solids and liquids involved, along with their complex interactions. Dynamix designs solutions that provide the agitation required to maintain solids suspension for applications within any industry. Defining Your Solids Suspension Requirements Applications that

Biogas production operations with biogas mixers is rapidly becoming an integral component of the developing renewable energy landscape. It takes biomass from practically any source and breaks it down using bacteria. This creates a mixture of primarily methane and carbon dioxide that can suit natural gas applications and infrastructure when refined. Waste from wastewater treatment, agriculture, forestry, and other industries can be safely and responsibly disposed of while generating additional power. Individual operations can vary widely in their design. The waste slurries they handle range from as little as 1% solids to as high as 80%. Most will find themselves dealing with a slurry of around 30% solids. In any case, agitation is an essential component of multiple process steps.

Hydrometallurgical processes, including gold leaching, require numerous storage and surge tanks. These tanks need agitation in order to provide a homogeneous feed to the next process step and prevent solids settling. Storage and surge tank agitators must meet these blending and suspension requirements while maintaining a low power requirement. At Dynamix, we provide innovative engineered solutions for storage and surge tank agitators with our GMX and NMX lines. The Problems Facing Slurry Storage and Surge Tanks The slurries handled in hydrometallurgical processes have varied parameters that make every application unique. Generally, the ore grind sizes are very fine, with a high solids concentration. Slurries will have increased viscosity and often show unexpected flow patterns. Anticipating these patterns is critical to

The treatment of mining effluents presents many challenges. Traditional methods have relied on the addition of lime to neutralize acidic effluents and precipitate heavy metals. These methods produced low density sludges between 2 to 5 percent solids. At this density, thickening, pressing, and filtering proved difficult. High density sludge mixers allow for drastic improvements to this process. Today, high density sludge processes improve the handling of sludge and the quality of effluents. Dynamix engineers design high density sludge mixers for the mixing and agitation steps required in these processes. Through our GMX and NMX lines, we provide high density sludge mixers at any scale. Treating Wastewater With the High Density Sludge Process High density sludge processes begin with blending mining