A series of laboratory investigations are conducted to analyze the effect of flocculant type on the spatial morphology and microstructural characteristics of flocs during the flocculation and settling of tailings. Four flocculant types (i.e., ZYZ, JYC-2, ZYD, and JYC-1) are considered in this study. The fractal characteristics and internal structures of tailings flocs with different flocculant types and settlement heights are analyzed by conducting scanning electron microscopy and X-ray micro-computed tomography scanning experiments based on the fractal theory. Results show that unclassified tailings flocs are irregular clusters with fractal characteristics, and the flocculation effect of the four flocculant types has the following trend: ZYZ > JYC-2 > ZYD > JYC-1. The size and average grayscale value of tailings flocs decrease with the increase in settlement height. The average grayscale values at the top and bottom are 144 and 103, respectively. The settlement height remarkably affects the pore distribution pattern, as reflected in the constructed three-dimensional pore model of tailings flocs. The top part of flocs has relatively good penetration, whereas the bottom part of flocs has mostly dispersed pores. The number of pores increases exponentially with the increase in settlement height. By contrast, the size of pores initially increases and subsequently decreases with the increase in settlement height.

进行了一系列实验室调查，以分析絮凝剂类型对尾矿絮凝和沉降过程中絮体空间形态和微观结构特征的影响。本研究考虑了四种絮凝剂类型（即 ZYZ、JYC-2、ZYD 和 JYC-1）。基于分形理论，通过扫描电镜和X射线显微计算机断层扫描实验，分析了不同絮凝剂类型和沉降高度的尾矿絮体的分形特征和内部结构。结果表明，未分级尾矿絮体是具有分形特征的不规则团簇，4种絮凝剂的絮凝效果具有以下趋势：ZYZ>JYC-2>ZYD>JYC-1。尾矿絮体的大小和平均灰度值随着沉降高度的增加而减小。顶部和底部的平均灰度值分别为 144 和 103。沉降高度显着影响孔隙分布模式，如构建的尾矿絮体三维孔隙模型所反映的那样。絮体顶部有较好的渗透性，而絮体底部多为分散孔隙。随着沉降高度的增加，孔隙的数量呈指数增加。相比之下，孔隙尺寸随着沉降高度的增加而先增大后减小。正如所构建的尾矿絮凝体三维孔隙模型所反映的那样。絮体顶部有较好的渗透性，而絮体底部多为分散孔隙。随着沉降高度的增加，孔隙的数量呈指数增加。相比之下，孔隙尺寸随着沉降高度的增加而先增大后减小。正如所构建的尾矿絮凝体三维孔隙模型所反映的那样。絮体顶部有较好的渗透性，而絮体底部多为分散孔隙。随着沉降高度的增加，孔隙的数量呈指数增加。相比之下，孔隙尺寸随着沉降高度的增加而先增大后减小。