Abstract: Described herein is combination of flocculants for flocculating fines solids in a suspension thereof. The combination includes: (a) an anionic polymer flocculant, and (b) a charged particle-polymer hybrid flocculant that includes charged core particles having an average size between about 150 nm and about 800 nm and each having a polymer polymerized thereon. The anionic polymer flocculant is to be added before, or at substantially the same time as, the charged particle-polymer hybrid flocculant.

Abstract: Described herein is combination of flocculants for flocculating fines solids in a suspension thereof. The combination includes: (a) an anionic polymer flocculant, and (b) a charged particle-polymer hybrid flocculant that includes charged core particles having an average size between about 150 nm and about 800 nm and each having a polymer polymerized thereon. The anionic polymer flocculant is to be added before, or at substantially the same time as, the charged particle-polymer hybrid flocculant.

Abstract: Described herein is a charged particle-polymer hybrid flocculant that includes charged particles having an average size between about 150 nm and about 800 nm and each having a polymer polymerized thereon. Charged particle-polymer hybrid flocculants are made by forming charged particles having an average size between about 150 nm and about 800 nm; and polymerizing a monomer on the charged particles to form the polymer. Fine solids are separated from a suspension thereof by adding the charged particle polymer hybrid to the suspension to produce floccules and a supernatant, and separating the produced floccules from the supernatant.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a reflectance property indication of a sample which includes making a reflectance measurement of the sample and correcting the reflectance measurement in order to obtain the reflectance property indication. The reflectance measurement represents an observed reflectance of the sample, the reflectance property indication represents a standardized reflectance of the sample, and correcting the reflectance measurement accounts for a difference between the standardized reflectance and the observed reflectance. An apparatus for making a reflectance measurement of a sample which includes a housing defining a viewing port, a temperature control mechanism for controlling the temperature within the interior of the housing, and an optical reflectometer contained within the interior of the housing. The reflectometer has a measurement direction and is movable within the housing so that the measurement direction can be selectively aligned with the viewing port.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a reflectance property indication of a sample which includes making a reflectance measurement of the sample and correcting the reflectance measurement in order to obtain the reflectance property indication. The reflectance measurement represents an observed reflectance of the sample, the reflectance property indication represents a standardized reflectance of the sample, and correcting the reflectance measurement accounts for a difference between the standardized reflectance and the observed reflectance. An apparatus for making a reflectance measurement of a sample which includes a housing defining a viewing port, a temperature control mechanism for controlling the temperature within the interior of the housing, and an optical reflectometer contained within the interior of the housing. The reflectometer has a measurement direction and is movable within the housing so that the measurement direction can be selectively aligned with the viewing port.