Case Histories
Gilmour & Company proven cost-effective solutions
Gilmour & Company has been working with lime and by-product lime products for over 40 years. We bring the equipment, knowledge and skill base to long- and short-term projects requiring lime treatment. Gilmour & Company prides itself on serving the customer and getting the job done right
Case 1: Acetylene Plant Avoids Costly Disposal Fees
An acetylene manufacturing plant had a pond of hydrated lime that needed to be removed. Gilmour & Company was hired to study the potential market for the lime and logistics to supply the market. We found a customer and helped negotiate a contract between the producer and end-user, supplied the equipment and labor to recycle the lime from the pond, and coordinated the logistics for transporting the material.
The pond contained over 1400 tons of lime which we processed into a marketable slurry. The project was completed in less than six months and saved the company massive disposal costs and allowed them to move forward with plans to relocate.
Lime services include by-product lime cleanup and removal.
Case 2: Portable Slaker System Speeds Up Waste Acid Pond Project
A hazardous waste disposal company had been receiving waste acid from various producers and treating the material in ponds. Since their permanent acid neutralization system had not been completed, a temporary system was needed. Lime was chosen as the neutralizing agent because of its relatively low alkalinity cost and ability to precipitate heavy metals.
Site engineers, with input from Gilmour & Company, developed a system consisting of a portable lime slaking unit (capable of slaking up to 100 tons/day of quicklime), portable Baker tank containers for storage of the lime slurry, and a two-stage acid neutralization system. Gilmour & Company recommended how to handle and store the lime slurry, provided the slaking system and related equipment, and delivered the quicklime on a scheduled basis.
Quicklime can be processed through portable lime slaking systems for use at hazardous waste remediation sites, mining sites, etc.
Case 3: Mine Reclamation Project Uses Lime System for pH Control
A mine reclamation project in a remote location in Canada required a lime slurry source for a pond pH control. Gilmour & Company worked with the mine reclamation specialists, operations personnel and consulting engineer and the lime supplier to provide a portable lime slaker and a portable lime silo. The silo was required to alleviate problems in getting lime to the remote site.
The installed system allows the mine the capability to produce thousands of gallons of lime slurry for pH control at several pond locations.
Portable lime slaker is used to produce lime slurry for pH control at several remote ponds.
Case 4: Mining Operation Uses Lime Slaking System as a Backup
A mine in Utah needed a temporary system to back-up existing lime slakers that needed maintenance. Working with lime suppliers, Gilmour & Company provided a portable lime slaking system to allow the mine to continue to operate while rebuilding their existing equipment.
Heap Leach Mine Treats Water Runoff
A heap leach mine in Nevada needed to treat the water runoff into an abandoned pit. Gilmour & Company provided a portable lime slaker and assisted the mining company in applying the lime.
Renting a portable lime slaker system allows mining companies to complete maintenance tasks and continue to operate.
We routinely help mining operations tackle the numerous challenges in lime treatment of heap leach pads.
Case 5: Alkaline Admixture Treats Sludge for Land Disposal
Lime Kiln Dust and other available alkaline admixtures have been used to treat various municipal and industrial waste sludges in preparation for disposal or land application.
Case 6: Slaked Quicklime Neutralizes Waste Acid Pond and Saves Money
A hazardous waste disposal site in California was treating waste acid in a pond until they could upgrade the system to an enclosed neutralization / filtration system. Treatment of the acid pond required a uniform addition of lime to be spread over the surface.
Gilmour & Company recommended the use of quicklime and provided the slaking equipment and site personnel to spray the liquid lime over the acid pond.
The project was completed using 250 tons of quicklime slaked and spread over the surface of the pond.
Choosing to slake quicklime over a plan to use dry hydrated lime as the neutralizing agent saved the company thousands of dollars.
Case 7: Using By-Product Lime Reduces Costs of Lime, Labor and Inventory
An aluminum mill in Washington was using 15-30 tons of quicklime per day to treat fluoride wastes. The existing slakers required the usual high maintenance and operator attention and were running at a low slaking efficiency rate. Acting on recommendations by Gilmour & Company, the mill converted one of the two overhead dry lime storage silos into a storage tank for a by-product lime slurry which Gilmour supplied on a daily basis. These changes immediately:
- reduced the lime cost
- provided a near maintenance-free lime system
- reduced the necessary lime inventory
- provided the mill with benefits of a back-up system
A by-product lime slurry proved as effective in treating fluoride wastes as quicklime and with lower costs.