Abstract: The present invention relates to an ampholytic polymeric system obtainable by a process comprising the copolymerization of (i) a monomer according to Formula (1), (ii) an ethylenically unsaturated cationic monomer and (iii) a (co)polymer comprising an ethylenically unsaturated anionic monomer which comprises a sulfonate group: (1) wherein X is O or NR2, R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-C6 alkyl groups or wherein R1 and R2 form together a (CR1R2)n- chain, wherein n is 3 to 12, and wherein R3 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and CH3. The present invention further relates to the use of ampholytic polymeric system in separation processes.

Abstract: A system and method for the treatment of wastewater. In one aspect, the invention can be a method of treating wastewater comprising: a) introducing wastewater having a first turbidity level into a wastewater treatment system; b) injecting an aqueous polymer mixture into the wastewater to flocculate suspended solids within the wastewater; c) removing the flocculated suspended solids from the wastewater to form a treated water having a second turbidity, the second turbidity being lower than the first turbidity; and wherein the aqueous polymer mixture of step b) is formed by introducing a raw polymer into a re-circulated portion of the treated water.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a polymer dissolution system comprising a mix tank, a strainer, and a pump. The mix tank is configured to receive polymers, water, and an inlet stream, to form a polymer solution including swollen polymers, and to discharge the polymer solution. The strainer is configured to receive the polymer solution, and to withdraw at least a portion of the swollen polymers therethrough substantially without shear degradation, thereby forming a resultant solution, wherein the swollen polymers are dissolved at least in part. The pump is configured to receive the resultant solution, and to return the resultant solution to the inlet stream. In some embodiments, the strainer and the pump cooperate together to maintain a viscosity of the resultant solution substantially within a predetermined range.

Abstract: Methods of removing one or more oxyanions from an aqueous fluid can comprise increasing the pH of an aqueous fluid containing one or more oxyanions and contacting the aqueous fluid with aluminum metal.

Abstract: A polymeric membrane for separating oil from water has a pore size of 0.005 ?m to 5 ?m, a thickness of 50 ?m to 1,000 ?m, a water contact angle of 0° to 60°, an oil contact angle of 40° to 100°. The membrane contains a hydrophobic matrix polymer and a functional polymer that contains a hydrophobic backbone and side chains. The side chains each have an oleophobic terminal segment and a hydrophilic internal segment. The weight ratio of the matrix polymer to the functional polymer is 99:1 to 1:9. Also disclosed is a method of making the above described membrane.

Abstract: Rheology modifying agents and methods of modifying the rheology of a slurry are disclosed, in addition to methods for the prevention of fouling. The slurry can be a lime slurry or a magnesium oxide slurry. The rheology modifying agent can be a low molecular weight anionic polymer, a high molecular weight polymer, a mixture of a low molecular weight anionic polymer and a high molecular weight polymer, a mixture of a high molecular weight polymer and a chelating agent, and a mixture of a chelating agent, a high molecular weight polymer, and a low molecular weight anionic polymer.

Abstract: The invention teaches a method of efficiently dewatering a microcapsule slurry to form a water re-suspendable filter cake of microcapsules. The process comprises providing an aqueous slurry of microcapsules dispersed in an aqueous solution; adding an agglomeration agent and dispersing the agglomeration agent into the aqueous slurry; adjusting the pH to a pH level sufficient to agglomerate the dispersed microcapsules; and filtering the aqueous slurry of microcapsules by gravity, vacuum or pressure filtration to thereby form a filter cake of dewatered microcapsules. The agglomeration agent is sodium polyphosphate, sodium tetrapolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, and/or sodium tripolyphosphate; or with anionic microcapsules or coatings even alkaline earth metal salts such as magnesium chloride, calcium chloride or barium chloride, or even aluminum salt such as aluminum chloride.

Abstract: A water treatment composition includes a water soluble film formed into a sealed pouch. The pouch contains a composite of a phosphate removing substance, a polymer flocculant, or an enzyme, or any combination. The phosphate removing substance, the polymer flocculant, and the enzyme are bound to each other within the composite. The pouch is added to a body of water. The pouch dissolves to release the compounds and treat the water.

Abstract: A process for dewatering oil sands tailings is provided, comprising providing a tailings feed having a solids content in the range of about 10 wt % to about 45 wt %; adding a flocculant to the tailings feed and mixing the tailings feed and flocculant to form flocs; and centrifuging the flocculated tailings feed to produce a centrate having a solids content of less than about 3 wt % and a cake having a solids content of at least about 50 wt %.

Abstract: A surface active compound is supplied into contact with an oilfield production fluid that comprises a mixture of water and oil including water soluble organics. The surface active compound comprises at least one alkoxylate chain and at least one end group attached to each of the at least one alkoxylate chain. The surface active compound is supplied into the oilfield production fluid at a dosage rate that is effective to self-associate at interfaces between the water and oil and inhibit the water soluble organics in the oil from entering the water when the oilfield production fluid is depressurized.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling metals in a liquid are described. The liquid is contacted with a hexahydrotriazine and/or a hemiaminal material, and metal is adsorbed from the liquid onto the material. The hexahydrotriazine and/or hemiaminal material may be made from a diamine and an aldehyde.

Abstract: A single step pretreatment of wastewater or recreational water is provided comprising treatment with nanocomposites consisting of an anchoring particle such as a clay mineral and one or more polymers.

Abstract: A washing method of red mud that is produced when an alumina-containing ore having a goethite to hematite mass ratio of 60/40 (goethite/hematite) or more in the iron component thereof is heat-treated with an alkaline solution at a temperature of 110° C. to 160° C. to obtain an aluminate liquor, including: mixing the red mud with a diluting fluid to obtain suspension that has an aluminum concentration of 95 g/L or less in terms of Al2O3; adding a flocculant to the suspension, wherein, the flocculant includes a polymer having a repeating unit derived from (meth)acrylic acid or a salt thereof and being substantially free from a repeating unit derived from vinylhydroxamic acid compound or a salt thereof; and settling and separating the red mud so as to wash the red mud.

Abstract: A method and system treat contaminated water. In one embodiment, the method comprises treating contaminated water by introducing a methylmorpholine-N-oxide solution to a vessel. The vessel contains the contaminated water and iron oxide. The contaminated water comprises contaminants. In addition, the methylmorpholine-N-oxide solution comprises methylmorpholine-N-oxide and water. The method further comprises contacting the methylmorpholine-N-oxide solution with the contaminated water. In addition, the method comprises treating the contaminated water by allowing the methylmorpholine-N-oxide to react with the contaminants in the presence of the iron oxide.

Abstract: A membrane is provided including a coating layer having cellulose nanofibers produced from oxidized cellulose microfibers and an electrospun substrate upon which the coating layer is applied. The nanofibers of the electrospun substrate have a diameter greater than that of the cellulose nanofibers. The membrane also has non-woven support upon which the electrospun substrate is disposed. Microfibers of the non-woven support have a diameter greater than that of the nanofibers of the electrospun substrate. Application of electrospun membrane is in microfiltration area, while the cellulose nanofiber membrane serves in ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis after chemical modification.

Abstract: Described are chemical formulations that remove heavy metals from waste solutions containing a chelating agent. Also disclosed are methods for removing heavy metals from waste solutions utilizing such chemical formulations.

Abstract: Processes for recovering an organic solvent extractant phase from a solid-stabilized emulsion formed in a hydrometallurgical solvent extraction circuit are disclosed. One such process includes mixing a de-emulsifier comprising an effective amount of a polymeric aggregating agent with the solid-stabilized emulsion, thereby separating the emulsion into its aqueous, organic, and solid phase components; and removing the organic solvent extractant phase from the other components, thereby recovering the organic solvent extractant phase from the solid-stabilized emulsion.

Abstract: A method for processing fluoride-containing wastewaters from a factory, which includes the following steps: Step 1: collecting the fluoride-containing wastewaters into three pools: an acidic high-fluoride wastewater, an acidic low-fluoride wastewater, and an alkaline wastewater; Step 2: adding a calcium compound to the acidic low-fluoride wastewater to produce a calcium-containing solution; Step 3: reacting a portion of the calcium-containing solution with the acidic high-fluoride wastewater at a calcium-to-fluoride molar ratio of from about 0.5:1 to about 1.

Abstract: An RF inductor such as a Tesla antenna splices nanotube ends together to form a nanostructure in a polymer foam matrix. High Internal Phase Emulsion (HIPE) is gently sheared and stretched in a reactor comprising opposed coaxial counter-rotating impellers, which parallel-align polymer chains and also carbon nanotubes mixed with the oil phase. Stretching and forced convection prevent the auto-acceleration effect. Batch and continuous processes are disclosed. In the batch process, a fractal radial array of coherent vortices in the HIPE is preserved when the HIPE polymerizes, and helical nanostructures around these vortices are spliced by microhammering into longer helices. A disk radial filter produced by the batch process has improved radial flux from edge to center due to its area-preserving radial vascular network. In the continuous process, strips of HIPE are pulled from the periphery of the reactor continuously and post-treated by an RF inductor to produce cured conductive foam.

Abstract: A method is described use of hydrocolloids for removal of organic and inorganic pollutants from a continuous stream of liquid where chemical composition of the water inhibits the reactants for linking/cross linking hydrocolloids. The method is comprising the steps of enabling said reactants present in the liquid stream and bring them to reaction with the hydrocolloid already brought to attachment with pollutants, where after flock formation allows for separation. Applications of the method are also described.