Minerals

On the red side of the process, Sefar offers worldwide proven filter solutions for security filtration on pressure leaf filters (Diastar and Kelly Filters) to fit each specific plant condition. Filter bags and filter covers are perfectly fitted to your equipment, reliably fabricated for unrivalled service life and the best possible filtration performance.

Red mud residue dewatering is one of the major technical and economic challenges in the Bayer process where filtration plays an important role. Sefar is the leading manufacturer of filter media used for red mud management on drum filters and press filters. Together with market leading partners, Sefar has developed a dedicated range, specially adapted to the needs of seed and hydrate filtration. Sefar products are the proven choice for precipitation (fine and coarse Seed Washing) on vacuum disc filters as well as calcination (hydrate washing) on rotary pan and rotary drum filters. Oxalate removal circuits are also served successfully by Sefar filter solutions. A large selection of filter cloths allows an optimal installation, depending on the specific filter requirements.

Treating and filtering concentrates and residue tailings requires a wide range of filter media to cover the large variety of requirements resulting from the various products and production processes. The main equipment found in these processes are centrifuges, horizontal vacuum belt filters, filter presses, rotary discs and drum filters as well as pressure leaf filters. Sefar is the trusted and reliable source of choice for innovative filter solutions in major mining and refining operations all over the world.

Mineral based fertilizers are a vital component when reacting to the growing population. There is a growing need to feed humans and animals, as well as to support plant and crop growth. The main components of industrial produced fertilizers after granulation are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Main elements, which are involving Sefar filter solutions are phosphate and potash based fertilizers and their production.

The separation process is performed on horizontal vacuum belt filters or with rotary pan filters under harsh chemical and temperature environment. By using Sefar filter solutions, low filter downtime and excellent yield in extracted acid from the gypsum are achieved and through high washing efficiency recovery is maximized. Fluorine content in the process represents also a challenge for most filter media. Sefar has developed a dedicated product offering to match these process conditions and is the supplier of choice to major phosphoric acid production facilities worldwide.

Concentration includes all the processes that will increase the iron content of ore by removing impurities. Most iron ore mines employ some form of beneficiation to improve the physical properties of their products (e.g. pelletizing and sintering). Sefar filter media play a major role in the beneficiation and waste management process. The dewatering of iron ore concentrate and iron ore tailings is performed on rotary (hyperbaric) disc filters, horizontal vacuum belt filters, rotary drum filters and/or filter presses.
 

Three important parameters are remarkably improved by using Sefar filter solutions:

Sefar filter solutions are closely developed in cooperation with leading OEMs and are the proven solution for major pelletizing plants all over the world.

This trend also replaces rotary drum filters and rotary disc filters for tailings treatment. The major equipment being able to fulfill these requirements are filter presses. Sefar is working together with major OEMs and refineries to address this topic and to further improve the filter cloth performance in terms of lifetime and productivity. This will contribute to plant efficiency, reduce press downtime and meet health and safety standards set by the refineries.
Waste water treatment in the plant and corresponding filtration technology is a task, where Sefar is the capable partner of choice to improve waste water treatment filter efficiency. With the target in mind, to consume only minimal clean water resources and the potential to create sustainable filtration solutions together with the end user, Sefar application specialists support the specific needs of the refineries to improve the filter media performance in this process step which is carried out on filter presses or centrifuges.

Still the most common process for titanium dioxide production is the sulfate process where Sefar filter solutions play an important role. A carefully controlled blend of ilmenite and slag is mixed with highly concentrated sulfuric acid to digest the TiO2-containing feedstock to so called 'upgraded slag'. The pre-processes of sludge treatment and preparation involve either filter presses, rotary drum filters or horizontal vacuum belt filters. Sefar has developed a dedicated range of filter media in order to maximize the filter equipment performance. The clarified liquor is separated from the solution by flocculation (decantation) and filtration. The clarified liquor is then hydrolyzed with steam in order to precipitate hydrated titanium. Vacuum leaf filters (mostly Moore Filters) separate the precipitated hydrated TiO2 from the mother liquor. Best clarification results are obtained by using Sefar filter solutions for vacuum leaf filters. Obtained TiO2 pulp ex vacuum filters (mostly Moore Filters) is dewatered and dosed with crystallization promoting chemicals and then calcined in rotary kilns in temperatures of around 1000 °C to form the required crystalline, either rutile or anatase,TiO2 form. Calcined discharge is ground, coated with oxides washed using rotary drum filters, dried and finally milled ('micronized') and TiO2 pigment is separated from superheated steam in bag house filters. High temperature Sefar X-600 pleated elements designed for micronizing bag houses are the industries` preferred solution and have proven their advantages (increased surface area at best emission values) compared to conventional filter bags of any type in various TiO2 production plants worldwide. 

Our products meet the specific needs of these filtration applications and are successfully running all over the world on all known equipment brands and OEMs, such as: