A rotary scrubber is a robust industrial machine used in mining and mineral processing to break down and wash clay, slime (sludge), and other sticky materials from ores or gravel. Here’s how it works to clean clay and slime:

Working Principle of a Rotary Scrubber:

Feeding Material:

The raw material (clay-bound ore, gravel, or sand) is fed into the rotating drum through a hopper or conveyor.

Water is added to create a slurry, helping to soften and separate the clay/slime.

Rotating Drum Action:

The drum rotates (typically at 10-30 RPM), causing the material to tumble and scrub against itself and the internal lifters (paddles or flights).

The lifters lift the material and drop it, creating a scrubbing action that disintegrates clay and slime coatings.

Clay & Slime Breakdown:

The mechanical abrasion from tumbling breaks apart sticky clay and slime.

Water helps dissolve and dilute the fine particles, separating them from the valuable ore or sand.

Washing & Discharge:

The slurry flows toward the discharge end, where spray bars or additional water jets further wash the material.

A trommel screen (perforated drum section) allows fine clay/slime and water to exit, while larger, cleaned rocks or minerals discharge at the end.

Separation & Dewatering:

The washed material may pass through a vibrating screen or hydrocyclone to remove remaining slime.

Cleaned ore/sand is collected, while wastewater (with suspended clay) is sent to settling ponds or filtration systems.

Key Advantages for Clay/Slime Removal:

✔ High scrubbing efficiency – Breaks down tough clay lumps.
✔ Water-assisted cleaning – Flushes away slime effectively.
✔ Adjustable retention time – Longer drum rotation improves cleaning.
✔ Low maintenance – Robust design handles abrasive materials.

Applications:

Gold/diamond ore processing (removing clay coatings).

Iron ore/aggregate washing (eliminating sticky fines).

Sand & gravel cleaning (producing high-purity sand).

Conclusion:

A rotary scrubber efficiently removes clay and slime by combining mechanical scrubbing, water washing, and screening. This ensures cleaner, higher-grade mineral products while minimizing downstream processing issues.