Bleed Stream

A portion of process stream continuously or periodically withdrawn from a circuit to remove impurity buildup, maintain solution chemistry balance, or prevent accumulation of deleterious elements that would otherwise inhibit process performance. In the Bayer process, bleed streams manage impurity levels in caustic liquor. In gold cyanide circuits, bleed streams control dissolved metal impurities. Bleed streams are a necessary process management tool, though they generate effluent requiring treatment or careful management to prevent environmental impact.