Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of neutralizing acid drainage from particulate mining waste, comprising consolidating the particulate mining waste to form a consolidated waste solid; adding a hydrophobizing material into the consolidated waste solid, and incorporating into the consolidated waste solid a controlled release base formulation, wherein the controlled release base formulation comprises a particulate base and a controlled release system, and wherein the controlled release base formulation responds to a decrease in pH from acid drainage to release the particulate base, thereby neutralizing the acid drainage.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of removing particulate matter from a fluid as a hydrophobized composite, comprising: providing an activating material capable of being affixed to the particulate matter wherein the activating material is an anionic or a cationic polymer; affixing the activating material to the particulate matter to form activated particles in the fluid; providing anchor particles and providing a tethering material capable of being affixed to the anchor particles, wherein the tethering material is a cationic or an anionic polymer; attaching the tethering material to the anchor particles to form tether-bearing anchor particles and adding the tether-bearing anchor particles to the fluid, wherein the tethering material attaches to the activated particles to form removable complexes in the fluid; removing the removable complexes from the fluid, thereby removing the particulate matter from the fluid; and adding a hydrophobizing material at one or more of the preceding steps, thereby removing th

Abstract: A self-suspending proppant comprises a proppant substrate particle and a water-swellable composite coating on the proppant substrate particle comprising the combination of at least two of an anionic hydrogel polymer, a cationic hydrogel polymer and a nonionic hydrogel polymer.

Abstract: Both the inside surface and the outside surface of the hydrogel polymer coating of a self-suspending proppant are surface crosslinked.