The Global Benchmark for Mining Process Water Storage: Engineering Resilience with Center Enamel
Created on 02.05
The Global Benchmark for Mining Process Water Storage: Engineering Resilience with Center Enamel
In the high-velocity world of mineral extraction, water is the primary vehicle for production. From the moment ore is crushed to the final stage of concentrate filtration, water acts as a transport medium, a solvent, and a coolant. However, in the global mining sector, "Process Water" is rarely benign. It is often a complex, abrasive, and chemically aggressive slurry that can compromise the structural integrity of standard storage systems within months.
As the leading authority in the bolted tank industry and the Global Leader in Glass-Fused-to-Steel (GFS) technology, Shijiazhuang Zhengzhong Technology Co., Ltd (Center Enamel) provides the ultimate solution for mining process water storage. With over 30 years of expertise and a footprint in more than 100 countries, we understand that a mining plant’s uptime depends on the reliability of its containment infrastructure.
1. Defining the Challenge: The Harsh Nature of Mining Process Water
In a mining plant—whether it is a copper concentrator in Chile, a gold CIL plant in Nevada, or a lithium brine facility in Australia—water is recycled through various closed-loop systems. This "process water" typically presents three major threats to storage infrastructure:
A. Chemical Corrosion
Process water often contains residual reagents from flotation, high chloride levels from saline groundwater, or extreme acidity/alkalinity depending on the ore's mineralogy. Standard welded steel tanks or concrete structures are highly susceptible to chemical attack, leading to leaks and structural failure.
B. Physical Abrasion
Mining slurries contain suspended solids, grit, and rock particles. The constant movement and agitation of these fluids act like liquid sandpaper, eroding traditional internal coatings and exposing the raw steel underneath to rapid oxidation.
C. Logistical and Environmental Extremes
Mines are frequently located in some of the most remote regions on Earth. Infrastructure must be transported over rugged terrain and installed in record time, often in extreme temperatures or seismic zones, without the luxury of specialized local labor.
2. The Center Enamel Solution: Glass-Fused-to-Steel (GFS) Technology
To combat these challenges, Center Enamel pioneered the use of Glass-Fused-to-Steel for the mining industry. This advanced material is a physical and chemical molecular bond created by firing glass onto steel at temperatures ranging from 820°C to 930°C.
Why GFS is Superior for Process Water:
The "Titanium" of Coatings: We use high-strength, titanium-rich steel plates. The double-sided enameling process ensures that both the interior and exterior of the tank are fully protected from both the stored liquid and the external environment.
Inert Glass Barrier: The glass surface is chemically inert. Unlike epoxy coatings that can degrade over time, our glass lining provides a permanent barrier with a pH resistance of 1–14.
Hardness & Wear Resistance: Scoring a 6.0 on the Mohs scale, the glass surface is as hard as quartz. This makes it exceptionally resistant to the abrasive particles found in thickener underflow and slurry storage.
Impermeability: The fusion process ensures the tank is gas and liquid impermeable, preventing hazardous process chemicals from leaching into the soil.
3. Applications Across Every Mining Plant Type
Center Enamel’s GFS tanks are engineered to integrate seamlessly into every critical stage of the mineral processing circuit:
Mineral Processing & Beneficiation Plants
In crushing, grinding, and flotation circuits, GFS tanks serve as the primary storage for process water reservoirs. The smooth, anti-adhesive surface of the glass prevents the buildup of mineral scale on the tank walls, reducing maintenance downtime.
Hydrometallurgical & Chemical Plants
For plants utilizing heap leaching or Solvent Extraction (SX), our tanks handle highly corrosive solvents and acids. They are widely used as cyanide solution tanks in gold mining and acid storage in copper leaching operations.
Tailings & Water Reclamation
Modern mining demands high water recovery rates. Our large-scale GFS tanks—including our record-breaking 32,000m³ capacity designs—are used in tailings thickening and reclaimed water circuits, where they store treated water for re-introduction into the plant.
Fire Water & Potable Water
Mine safety is paramount. We provide FM-approved fire water tanks that remain rust-free for over 30 years, ensuring that emergency systems are never compromised by internal corrosion. Our NSF/ANSI 61 certification also makes our tanks the first choice for drinking water in remote mining camps.
4. The Engineering and Installation Advantage
As a global leader, Center Enamel provides more than just a product; we provide a logistical and engineering advantage that welded or concrete tanks cannot match.
Modular Bolted Design
Our tanks are factory-manufactured and shipped as flat-packed plates. A 10,000m³ tank can be transported in standard sea containers. This modularity allows for:
Lower Shipping Costs: Minimal volume compared to bulky welded sections.
Rapid Site Assembly: Tanks are bolted together on-site using specialized jacking systems. This "top-down" construction method allows the tank to be built at ground level, significantly improving worker safety and eliminating the need for massive cranes.
Global Compliance
Every Center Enamel tank is designed in strict accordance with international standards, including AWWA D103-09, ISO 28765, OSHA, and Eurocode. With nearly 200 enameling patents, we are the only Chinese GFS manufacturer widely accepted in the rigorous USA and Australian mining markets for decades.
5. Comparative Analysis: Why Leading Mines Choose GFS
Feature | GFS (Center Enamel) | Welded Carbon Steel | Concrete Tanks |
Service Life | ≥30 Years | 10–15 Years | 20 Years |
Maintenance | Minimal (No repainting) | High (Every 5 years) | High (Crack sealing) |
Corrosion Resistance | Excellent (pH 1–14) | Poor (Rusts quickly) | Fair (Porous) |
Installation Time | Fast (Weeks) | Moderate (Months) | Slow (Months) |
Environmental Impact | Low (Recyclable) | High (VOCs from paint) | High (Carbon intensive) |
6. Sustainable Mining and ESG Commitment
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria are now the bedrock of the global mining industry. Center Enamel supports your ESG goals by:
Water Stewardship: Our leak-proof bolted design ensures zero waste of process water, critical for mines operating in water-scarce regions like Chile or South Africa.
Resource Efficiency: The longevity of GFS technology reduces the need for frequent replacements, lowering the total carbon footprint of the mine’s infrastructure.
Recyclability: Both the steel and glass are 100% recyclable at the end of the tank's 30+ year service life.
7. A Legacy of Global Success
From the SINOPEC Wastewater Projects in China to Drinking Water Projects in Costa Rica and Treated Water Projects in Saudi Arabia, Center Enamel’s expertise is proven. Our recent milestones include:
2020: Fabricated the largest GFS tank in Asia (21,094m³).
2024: Successfully designed and installed a massive 32,000m³ GFS tank, setting a new industry benchmark for large-scale liquid containment.
Conclusion: Partner with the Global Leader
Mining is a business of endurance. Your infrastructure should be no different. By choosing Shijiazhuang Zhengzhong Technology Co., Ltd (Center Enamel), you are selecting a partner with the R&D power of 200 patents, the manufacturing scale of 150,000m², and a global reputation for excellence.
Our Glass-Fused-to-Steel tanks provide the chemical resistance of glass with the structural power of steel, ensuring that your process water storage is a permanent asset rather than a recurring maintenance liability.
Build for the future. Build with Center Enamel.
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