thesisClay mineral particles such as kaolinite (<2 microns in size), can cause significant problems in flotation processes and tailings disposal, including the processing of Florida phosphate rock and Canadian oil sands. In this thesis research, the sedimentation and consolidation of flocculated kaolinite suspensions are examined. High resolution X-ray Microtomography is used to describe the structure of the consolidated sediment. With this tomographic information, the complex geometry of the pore network structure for the consolidated flocs was established for the first time. With the experimental pore network structure, permeabilities were estimated by Lattice Boltzmann Simulation. Results for kaolinite sediment with and without polymer were compared and discussed as well as the effect of centrifugal forces. Results for flocculated kaolinite sedimentation/consolidation in a gravitational field are presented and discussed; the results show that as the polymer dosage increases the permeability of the flocculated kaolinite sediment increases, and as the suspension pH increases, the permeability of the flocculated kaolinite sediment decreases. Results for flocculated kaolinite sedimentation/consolidation in a centrifugal field are presented and discussed as well; the results reveal that when the centrifugation time increases, the permeability of the flocculated kaolinite decreases. Finally, as expected when the centrifugal forces increase, the permeability of the flocculated kaolinite sediment decreases
