Wet Processing and Washing

Wet processing and washing generally involve cleaning and separating materials through the combined action of water and mechanical forces. The process removes unwanted matter from raw materials such as ores, minerals, sand and gravel. Feed material first enters the washing plant and is thoroughly saturated with water. This initial soaking softens and loosens unwanted coatings, making them easier to separate from the valuable material. Inside the plant, high-pressure zones, paddles and water jets create intensive turbulence that scrubs and agitates the feed, removing dirt, clay, silt and other contaminants. Continuous water movement further releases these impurities and ensures thorough cleaning.

The slurry then typically passes through hydrocyclones or similar classification equipment, where centrifugal force provides density-based separation. High-speed rotation forces heavier particles toward the cyclone wall and downward to the underflow, while lighter impurities and slimes move upward and discharge through the overflow. Depending on process requirements, additional stages may recover ultrafine particles or further clarify the process water. The final result is clean, classified material prepared for a wide range of industrial applications.