Abstract: The invention is directed to systems and methods of removing particulate matter from a fluid, comprising: pre-activating the particulate matter to form a pre-activated particulate matter; providing an activating material capable of being affixed to the pre-activated particulate matter; affixing the activating material to the pre-activated particulate matter to form an activated particle; providing an anchor particle and providing a tethering material capable of being affixed to the anchoring particle; and attaching the tethering material to the anchor particle and the activated particle to form a removable complex in the fluid that comprises the particulate matter, wherein the particulate matter is derived from a mining operation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for recovering a target material from an aqueous stream. The target material can be a natively hydrophobic target material, such as a hydrocarbon material, such as coal. The target material can also have a surface modification that renders it hydrophobic. Systems for recovering the target material can comprise an extractant formulation comprising a light hydrocarbon solvent and a high molecular weight hydrophobic polymer, wherein the extractant formulation is mixable with the aqueous stream in a mixer to form an admixed solution having a hydrophobic portion and an aqueous portion, with the target material partitioning to the hydrophobic portion; a separator for isolating the hydrophobic portion from the aqueous portion; and a collector to which the hydrophobic portion is directed, wherein the target material is recovered from the hydrophobic portion.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods of removing particulate matter from a fluid, comprising: pre-activating the particulate matter to form a pre-activated particulate matter; providing an activating material capable of being affixed to the pre-activated particulate matter; affixing the activating material to the pre-activated particulate matter to form an activated particle; providing an anchor particle and providing a tethering material capable of being affixed to the anchoring particle; and attaching the tethering material to the anchor particle and the activated particle to form a removable complex in the fluid that comprises the particulate matter, wherein the particulate matter is derived from a mining operation.