AU595041B2

AU595041B2 - Disposal of particulate waste

Info

Publication number: AU595041B2
Application number: AU74213/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Anthony Wates
Original assignee: FRASER ALEXANDER Ltd
Current assignee: FRASER ALEXANDER Ltd
Priority date: 1986-06-16
Filing date: 1987-06-15
Publication date: 1990-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2007-06-15
Also published as: GB2193716B; AU7421387A; GB8714054D0; GB2193716A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Paten ts Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: F~954~ Lb .AS-A l d* 5W*Ad 49.i Complete Specification Lo-dged: Accepted: Published: Priority saG U U Related Art: 4 II 9 0 49 4.

9 444 44 44 4 494 44 4 4 4 4, 04 9 0 040 0 44~4440 4 04 04 44 0 0 Name(s) of Applicant(s): Address(es) of Applicant(s): Actual Inventor~s): APPLIC NT'S REF.: JOHIN ANTIhONY WATES f oI'o JFF/F 1440 -39 BEVAN ROAD-

-R+VON-IA

TRANSVAAL

SOUTII AFRICA Smrpa'Ip& JOIIN ANTIHONY WATES Address for Service is: PHILLIPS, ORMONDE AND FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne, Australia, 3000 Complete Specifi',atiori for the invention entitled: DIiSPOSAL OF PARTTCULATE WASTE The following statement is a full description of this inv4ntion, iro!uding, the best method of performing it known to applicant(s):* P191/84 1 2 DISPOSAL OF PARTICULATE WASTE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the disposal of particulate waste material, more particularly the disposal of particulate waste material such as slimes that is in suspension in a liquid to form a slurry or the like. Thus, the invention relates to a method of disposing of particulate waste that is in suspension in a liquid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION *9 Accordingly, the invention provides a method of forming a dump of particulate waste materia' characterised in that it includes the steps of: 4 erecting on a dump site a fence-like structure having its lower part secured against movement but its top unsupported from above; supporting on the fence-like structure a flexible liquid-permeable material to provide a barrier extending \upwards from the floor of the dump site and along the length of the fence-like structure in order to define a containment space; discharging into the containment space a slurry containing the particulate waste material so that the slurry covers the floor of the dump site and impinges on the barrier; and allowing at least a portion of the liquid in the slurry to pass through the flexible liquid-permeable material, leaving behind the particulate waste material as a fill which rests on the dump site ~i.i 3 -3within the containment space and extending up at least a part of the height of the barrier but having its upper surface exposed.

The flexible liquid-permeable material may be a textile material. In further embodiments the flexible liquid-permeable material may be a perforated non-woven material.

The flexible material may be supported on the inner side of the fence-like structure. Once the structure has been constructed a slurry constituted by a liquid with the particulate material in suspension therein may be charged into the containment space defined by the barrier.

SOnce the containment space has been filled to a suitable 9level and the particulate material has settled out and hardened to form a fill, a portion of the textile material may be folded to lie on the upper surface of the fill and the fence may be dismantled and re-erected on the surface defined by the fill. Instead, a new fence may be erected.

In this manner, several stages or levelh may be filled to O' o define a dump.

e a The invention is now described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: SFigure 1 shows schematically how particulate waste material in suspension in a liquid may be disposed of; and Figure 2 shows schematically how a dump is formed in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring to Figure 1, a fence 10 is constructed on a piece I 4 of ground 12 providing the floor of a containment space 14. The fence 10 is formed by a number of uprights 16 and stands of wire 18. Other fence constructions are, of course, possible. A liquid-permeable barrier is then formed by means of a length of flexible textile material that is secured to the inner surface and along the length of the fence 10 to further define the containment space 14. A tail portion 22 of material 20 is laid on the ground 12 within the containment space 14 and a free head portion 24 is folded over the fence 10. The material 20 has openings of a suitable size so that a particular liquid, %hich will most often be water, in which a particular particulate waste material is suspended, is able to flow I through the material 20 but the particles of waste material may not. Thus, once the barrier formed by the material tsupported on the fence 10 has been constructed, the liquid with the particles in suspension therein may be charged into the containment space 14. The water (or other liquid) impinging on the barrier than passes through the material leaving the particles of waste material behind. These dry out and solidify to form a layer of fill 26.

It is also possible that the flexible material 20 can be a 4 non-woven material. For example, it may comprise a perforated sheet of plastics material allowing liquid to Sescape through the sheet, or, if the ground on which the containment area is erected is suitably drained a portion of the liquid is allowed to drain into the ground.

4* Referring now to Figure 2, once the layer 26 of fill has solidified, the head portion 24 of the material 20 is folded over ortto the upper surface of the fill 26. The fence 10 is then dismantled and re-erected on the upper surface of the fill 26, enclosing the edges of the fill.

The new fence that has been erected is then lined with further material 28 and further waste material is hydraulically charged into the new containment space

J

5 defined on the upper surface of the fill 26 to define a further level 30. When this fill has hardened the fence is dismantled and re-erected on the upper surface of the new level 30 as shown at 32. Further material 34 is located along the inner side of the fence and further particulate material is charged into the new containment space that is defined to form a further level of fill 36.

Instead of dismantling and re-using the fence 10, new fencing may be utilised, leaving behind the old structure.

By means of the invention a containment space is easily and cheaply defined and is very effective in utilisation, allowing a multi-level dump to be formed with only simple equipment.

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Claims

1. A method of forming a dump of particulate waste material which includes the steps of: erecting on a dump site a fence-like structure having its lower part secured against movement but its top unsupported from above; supporting on the fence-like structure a liquid-permeable material to provide a extending upwards from the floor of the dump along the length of the fence-like structure to define a containment space; flexible barrier site and in order fo #4

9. 0000 t I (I I. #tt It 0 *04* I 0 001 09 0 0 discharging into the containment space a slurry containing the particulate waste material so t-hat the slurry covers the floor of the dump site ard impinges on the barrier; and allowing at least a portion of the liquid in the slurry to pass through the flexible liquid-permeable material, leaving behind the particulate waste material as a fill which rests on the dump site within the containment space and extending up at least a part of the height of the barrier but having its upper surface exposed. 2. A method according to claim 1 in which an additional expanse of the flexible liquid-permeable material is provided, attached to the upwardly extending portion, and laid on the ground within the containment space. 3. A method according to claim I or claim 2 in which the flexible liquid-permeable material is a textile material. 1 7 4. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the flexible liquid permeable material is a perforated non-woven material. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the flexible liquid-permeable material is supported on the inner side of the fence-like structure. 6. A method according to any one of claims I to 5 which includes the further steps of: erecting a second or subsequent similar barrier on top of the fill in the first containment space, to S* create a dump in at least two stages. St S 7. A method according to claim 6 in which the flexible liquid-permeable material supported on the first and any subsequent fence-like structure has a free head portion S*f which is folded to lie on the upper surface of a complete fill prior to erecting the second or subsequent barrier on top of the completed fill. 8. A dump of particulate waste formed by the method of 0, 0 b any one of claims 1 to, 7. A method of forming a dump of particulate waste, substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. A A dump of particulate waste substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. DATED: 28 DECEMBER 1989 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK 'LI4 Attorneys for: %:Ire FRASER ALEXANDER LTD p