Abstract: The present embodiments generally relate to methods and compositions comprising one or more polymers which gradually increase in charge, thereby providing for an increase in viscosity in an aqueous solution or aqueous composition, such as when present in a desired aqueous environment. Use of such compositions and methods comprising one or more polymers which gradually increase in charge, thereby providing for an increase in viscosity in an aqueous solution or aqueous composition during enhanced oil recovery may result in an increase in oil production relative to methods and/or compositions which do not comprise one or more polymers which gradually increase in charge, thereby providing for an increase in viscosity in an aqueous solution or aqueous composition.

Abstract: Nanoparticles may be used in the formulation of long chain poly-alpha-olefins, commercially known as Drag Reducer Additives (“DRA”). These nanoparticles may be embedded in the original DRA formulation and/or added at some point in the pipeline application so they can then be used to destroy the DRA polymer by cleaving, interrupting, or restructuring the DRA or otherwise breaking its bonds or to agglomerate or coagulate the polymer so it can be removed mechanically or chemically.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for measuring sulfate in an aqueous sample, including: introducing an aqueous sample containing an amount of sulfate to a barium dye complex, thereby creating a solution; adding a clarifying agent to the solution, thereby causing the solution to be clarified; and measuring the amount of sulfate in the aqueous sample by measuring a change in color of the solution, the change in color caused by the barium dye complex mixing with the sulfate. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Abstract: A solution and method of creating such for producing silicon nanowires or silicon nano-plates. The solution comprising distilled water, Potassium Hydroxide (KOH), at least one catalyst, Sodium Methyl Siliconate (CH5NaO3Si), Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (EDTA), which act as a first chelating agent, Sodium Diethyldithiocarbamate (C5H10NS2Na), which acts as a second chelating agent, and Dimethylacrylic Acid, which acts as a buffer that is able to regulate the amount of silicon nanowires or plates formed and to prevent agglomeration. The concentration of the Sodium Diethyldithiocarbamate in the solution is greater than concentration of the EDTA in the solution for forming a plurality of thick and short nanowires, and the concentration of the Sodium Diethyldithiocarbamate in the solution is less than the concentration of the EDTA in the solution for forming a plurality of thin and long nanowires.

Abstract: A floating dispenser for floatingly delivering a dispersant or dispersants to a body of water with the floating dispenser floating in an upright condition when a dispersant is present in a dispenser cartridge of the floating dispenser with the dispenser self inverting 180 degrees in response to consumption of the dispersant in the dispenser cartridge to thereby provide a visual alert that one should replace the dispenser cartridge in the dispenser with a fresh dispenser cartridge.

Abstract: Nanoparticles may be used in the formulation of long chain poly-alpha-olefins, commercially known as Drag Reducer Additives (“DRA”). These nanoparticles may be embedded in the original DRA formulation and/or added at some point in the pipeline application so they can then be used to destroy the DRA polymer by cleaving, interrupting or restructuring the DRA or otherwise breaking its bonds or to agglomerate or coagulate the polymer so it can be removed mechanically or chemically.

Abstract: A solid-jacket screw centrifuge is disclosed. The centrifuge has a rotatable drum with a horizontal axis of rotation which encloses a bowl with a rotatable screw, an inlet for introducing material to be centrifuged into the bowl, at least one liquid and at least one solid discharge, where at least the solid discharge is assigned a non-rotatable housing surrounding it, at least radially bounding a discharge chamber, where the discharge chamber is designed as a drying chamber for the solid matter and has axial walls and one or more walls in the radial direction. The housing extends axially parallel to the axis of rotation at most into the conical region of the drum or the screw.

Abstract: A method of removing fines and coarse particles from tailings comprises forming a slurry comprising water and oil sands and separating bitumen from tailings comprising fines and coarse particles. Functionalized nanoparticles each comprising a core of carbon nitride and functionalized with one or more exposed cationic groups are mixed with the tailings. The functionalized nanoparticles and the fines interact to form agglomerates comprising the functionalized nanoparticles and the fines attached to the one or more exposed cationic groups. The agglomerates are removed from the tailings to form an aqueous solution having suspended therein fewer fines and coarse particles than are suspended within the tailings.

Abstract: Polysaccharide agents for removing solids from an aqueous suspension and methods for using the polysaccharide agents to remove solids from an aqueous suspension.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to corn dry-milling, and more specifically, to methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol and a system therefore. In one embodiment, a method for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct includes, in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol, separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion. The thin stillage portion is separated into a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion. Next, the protein portion is dewatered then dried to define a high protein corn meal that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques to optimize dewatering process in a production facility. A process separates components in a mixture by using a separation device and a dewatering device. The process receives the mixture of liquids and solids, and separates out suspended solids from the mixture of liquids and solids by using the separation device, wherein a liquid with insoluble solids stream is created. The process dewaters the liquid with insoluble solids stream by using the dewatering device to produce a liquid with small particles stream and insoluble solids having particle sizes that are greater than about 20 microns to about 1000 microns.

Abstract: A method for transforming existing ground of a given site into a more stable foundation ground is provided. The method includes the steps of defining an outlined area about a surface of the existing ground, excavating soil throughout the outlined area to a depth extending through layers of different soil types; conditioning the excavated soil by mixing together layers of different soil types homogeneously, including in some cases soil imported from an external source; returning the conditioned soil to the outlined area to fill the excavated depth, and compacting the conditioned soil returned to the outlined area, thereby forming the stable foundation ground of high structural capacity and low compressibility.

Abstract: This disclosure describes providing techniques to treat large-size solids obtained from a slurry or a mash in dextrin production process as can be used in an alcohol production process. This disclosure describes a process for separating a large-particles stream from a liquid stream containing small particles of a process stream using a first mechanical separation device. The process further includes adding water to the large-particles stream to create a lower-solids stream in a cook tank. In an embodiment, the process may grind the large particles from the large-particles stream. In another embodiment, the process may adjust conditions (temperature, pH, processing aids addition) of the lower-solids stream in the cook tank and incubating for a predetermined amount of time. The process further includes separating components from the lower-solids stream by using a second mechanical separation device.

Abstract: Powder blends are described comprising blends of particulate water soluble high molecular weight polymer flocculants. The polymer flocculants can include polyethylene oxide, polyDadmac, Dadmac-acrylamide copolymers, copolymers thereof and combinations thereof. The powder blends allows the use of fine powders while reducing potential air quality and safety issues. The powder blends can be used for waste water purification, fiber dewatering, and the like. The powder blends can be diluted by a water dilution flow prior to entering a waste water stream.

Abstract: A gas-barrier laminate (10) of a structure in which a first inorganic barrier layer (3), a water-trapping layer (5) and a second inorganic barrier layer (9) are provided in this order on a plastic base material (1), wherein the water-trapping layer (5) is a layer in which a granular moisture-absorbing agent is dispersed in a matrix of an ionic polymer, the granular moisture-absorbing agent being capable of absorbing moisture to a degree lower than that attained by the matrix, and an organic layer (7) is provided between the water-trapping layer (5) and the second inorganic barrier layer (9), the organic layer (7) serving as an underlying layer for forming the second inorganic barrier layer. The water-trapping layer has excellent barrier property against water and is, at the same time, effectively suppressed from swelling despite it has absorbed moisture. The water-trapping layer is, further, effectively suppressed from losing its activity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for improved apparatus and methods for cleaning swimming pools or similar bodies of water. The apparatus includes a device selectively engageable with an elongated pole, which can be disengaged from the pole and thrown into the pool water where it will dispense surfactant during the cleaning process.

Abstract: A composition, and its method of manufacture, is provided for the settling of solids suspended in liquids passing through a reactor housing containing the composition whereupon the composition can dissolve and enter into the liquid and then contact the suspended solids in the liquid. A system and method of for treating water or sewage is further provided. The system can include a screening tank, a septic tank, a flocculant and mixing reactor, a primary clarifier, a secondary clarifier, a sludge dewatering tank, a surge tank, one or more filter tanks and a disinfection tank. The method can include the steps of receiving water or sewage to be treated and passing it through a screening tank and septic tank, a flocculant reactor, a primary clarifier, a secondary clarifier, a sludge dewatering tank, a surge tank, one or more filter tanks and a disinfection tank.

Abstract: Disclosed are combinations of one or more cationic starch(es) and aluminum salts to produce a composition for detackifying paint at lower doses than those required using conventional treatments while providing improved handling and a more “green” environmental profile. The compositions may be utilized in methods of detackifying and dispersing solvent borne paints and/or coagulating/flocculating and dispersing waterborne paints during the treatment of paint spray booth water.

Abstract: A method of removing fines and coarse particles from tailings comprises forming a slurry comprising water and oil sands and separating bitumen from tailings comprising fines and coarse particles. Functionalized nanoparticles each comprising a core of carbon nitride and functionalized with one or more exposed cationic groups are mixed with the tailings. The functionalized nanoparticles and the fines interact to form agglomerates comprising the functionalized nanoparticles and the fines attached to the one or more exposed cationic groups. The agglomerates are removed from the tailings to form an aqueous solution having suspended therein fewer fines and coarse particles than are suspended within the tailings.

Abstract: Described herein are tools, systems and methods for conditioning, strengthening and/or improving in situ soil geotechnical or agricultural properties while at least temporarily reducing soil density, energy requirements, and tool wear.

Abstract: The disclosed technology regards a method and system for removing sodium chloride from production water or fracking water produced in an oil well operation, or other wastewater. Generally, the method includes adding a calcium chloride feed to the source water to create a mixture in an amount so that the calcium chloride present in the mixture is at least 31% w/w of the mixture. The mixture is then agitated, and settled to allow sodium chloride crystals to precipitate out of the mixture, leaving a calcium chloride mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the well drilling field in petroleum industry, in particular to an additive composition suitable for viscosity reduction of oil-based drilling fluids, an oil-based drilling fluid and use thereof. The double-block copolymer mainly consists of a block A and a block B, wherein, the block A is composed of structural units represented by formula (1), the block B is composed of structural units represented by formula (2), and the number-average molecular weight of the block A is 1,500-10,000. The double-block copolymer provided in the present invention can be used as a viscosity reducer in oil-based drilling fluids, especially can be used as a viscosity reducer in high-density clay-free oil-based drilling fluids, and can greatly decrease the apparent viscosity and plastic viscosity of oil-based drilling fluids in high-temperature and high-pressure reservoir while maintaining appropriate shearing force, so as to increase the drilling rate and reduce drilling difficulties.

Abstract: A method for recycling waste water containing slurry from a semiconductor treatment process; including: Filtration in which waste water containing the fresh slurry is continuously introduced into a circulation tank, during which time the mixed waste water is continuously extracted from the circulation tank, the extracted waste water is guided through an ultrafilter device and is concentrated by removing the fluid to form concentrated waste water and the concentrated waste water is introduced into the circulation tank and mixed with the contents of the circulation tank; and concentration in which the addition of fresh waste water to the circulation tank is essentially stopped when the mixed waste water is continuously extracted from the circulation tank, said extracted mixed water waster being introduced through the ultrafilter device and is concentrated by removing the fluid to form concentrated waste water and the concentrated waste water is introduced into the circulation tank.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems for removing particulate matter from a fluid, comprising a particle functionalized by attachment of at least one activating group or amine functional group, wherein the modified particle complexes with the particulate matter within the fluid to form a removable complex therein. The particulate matter has preferably been contacted, complexed or reacted with a tethering agent. The system is particularly advantageous to removing particulate matter from a fluid waste stream following mining or ore processing operations.

Abstract: Flocculant compositions containing a cellulosic compound, a superabsorbant polymer, and a flocculant, are useful for preventing the formation of an aqueous phase during the shipping of fly ash slurries.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing solid or liquid water-conditioning/treating agents into a body of water (such as a pool, hot tub, or the like) comprises a hollow body adapted to receive water treating agent which can be solid (tablet form), granular, powder or liquid. The dispenser has an overall specific gravity such that, when the dispenser is substantially empty of water-conditioning/treating agent(s), the dispenser will float, but when the dispenser contains water-conditioning/treating agents, the dispenser will sink.

Abstract: Powder blends are described comprising blends of particulate water soluble high molecular weight polymer flocculants. The polymer flocculants can include polyethylene oxide, polyDadmac, Dadmac-acrylamide copolymers, copolymers thereof and combinations thereof. The powder blends allows the use of fine powders while reducing potential air quality and safety issues. The powder blends can be used for waste water purification, fiber dewatering, and the like. The powder blends can be diluted by a water dilution flow prior to entering a waste water stream.

Abstract: A method of treating a suspension of particles in a fluid including the steps of promoting flocculation of the particles, and dewatering the flocs to form a cake with a solids content, an improvement including the step of exposing the suspension to chemicals of the protein family. The suspension can include a suspension of biological sludge in water. The suspension can be a suspension of non biological material.

Abstract: Methods for clarifying water, reducing turbidity of water, and removing phosphate from water include adding a water treatment composition having an aluminum-containing coagulant, and a natural non-charged polysaccharide, such as guar. The aluminum-containing compound can include polyaluminum chloride, aluminum chlorohydrate, polyaluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum sulfate, sodium aluminate, polyaluminum sulfate, polyaluminum silicate chloride, polyaluminum silicate sulfate, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a coagulation processing method capable of adding a sufficiently-dissolved coagulant aqueous solution to being processed water and materializing high-efficiency coagulation processing, a coagulation processing unit, and a water processing apparatus. A coagulation processing unit includes a coagulant aqueous solution storage tank 1 to have a stirrer 5 and store a coagulant aqueous solution, a particle size distribution measurement device 50 to measure the particle size distribution of the coagulant aqueous solution in the coagulant aqueous solution storage tank 1, a coagulation tank 11 to mix being processed water with an added coagulant aqueous solution and form a coagulation, a coagulation removing section 9 to remove the coagulation from the being processed water containing the coagulation, and a control section 6 to control the stirrer 5 so that a median size in the particle size distribution of the coagulant aqueous solution may be not more than 1.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for reducing oil in water emulsions in coking processes. One exemplary method comprises: providing an aqueous stream with an oil in water emulsion; providing a treatment composition, wherein the treatment composition comprises at least one cationic polyacrylamide; and contacting the aqueous stream with the treatment composition.

Abstract: Provided are a method for treating water and a flocculant used in the method. The method includes the steps of adding a first polymer compound formed by multiply binding a first repeating unit into water to be treated, and adding a second polymer compound formed by multiply binding a second repeating unit into the water. The first repeating unit includes a first linked main chain which constructs a main chain via repeatedly bound one another, and an adsorption site directly or indirectly bound to the first linked main chain so as to adsorb organic compounds contained in the water to be treated. The second repeating unit has a similar structure to the first repeating unit except that the number of carbon atoms in the second linked main chain is different from that in the first linked main chain. The flocculant includes the first and second polymer compounds.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for utilizing encapsulated tracer dyes in difficult liquids such as wastewater or with highly reactive treatment chemicals such as aluminum-based coagulants. In difficult liquids or highly reactive treatment chemicals even so-called “inert” tracers end up reacting and their fluorescence changes. As a result they are inconsistent and cannot be used to measure the amount of treatment chemical present. But by encapsulating the tracer dyes, even non inert tracer dyes become inert and they can reliably be used to measure the amount of treatment chemical present even if highly reactive or in a difficult liquid.

Abstract: Dewatering agents and methods of dewatering wastewater slurries are provided. Also disclosed are methods for improving the separation of solids from water. The water may be produced water, raw water, or wastewater, for example. The dewatering agents can be in solutions and the dewatering agent solutions may include flocculants, soy based components, and surfactants. The soy based components can include, for example, soy flour and soy protein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for removing fine particulate matter from a fluid, comprising a separator that separates an inflow fluid stream into an overflow fluid path and an underflow fluid path, where the underflow fluid path is treated with a tethering material that attaches to the coarse particulate matter to form tether-bearing anchor particles and where the overflow fluid path is treated with an activating material so that the activating material interacts with the fine particulate matter to form activated particles. After these treatments, the underflow fluid path containing the tether-bearing anchor particles is commingled with the overflow fluid path containing the activated particles, so that a removable complex is produced that can be removed in a settling facility, thereby removing the fine particulate matter from the fluid.

Abstract: The suspended solids content of a Bayer process stream is reduced by contacting the stream with silicon-containing polymers.

Abstract: A composition for treating an aqueous suspension of mineral particles includes at least one water soluble polymer and at least one calcium salt, magnesium salt or both a Calcium salt and a Magnesium salt. The composition is in powder form.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the purification of water and/or dewatering of sludges and/or sediments, to the use of a surface-treated calcium carbonate for water purification and/or dewatering of sludges and/or sediments, as well as to the use of a surface-treated calcium carbonate for reducing the amount of polymeric flocculation aids in water and/or sludges and/or sediments and to a composite material comprising a surface-treated calcium carbonate and impurities originated from different sources obtainable by said process.

Abstract: A method for collecting metals from a solution, in which method solid insoluble or sparingly soluble bisphoshonate of formula I is mixed with the solution, whereby metals possibly present in the solution react with the bisphosphonate, and the bisphosphonate together with the metals reacted with it is separated from the solution. The method can be used for collecting metals e.g. from waste water or from household water.

Abstract: Polymer flocculants are described comprising blends of high molecular weight polyethylene oxide and high molecular polyacrylamides. When introduced in desired amounts and with desired molecular weight ranges, excellent flocculation function is found that can be used to reduce polymer consumption to obtain a desired purity of clarified waste water. It has been found that the desirable polymer blends can be effectively added upstream from locations in which polyethylene oxide would generally be added so that the polymer blend can effectively mix with the slime flow to reduce or eliminate the need for excess polymer use to compensate for less effective mixing with the slime flow. Suitable waste treatment systems are described to provide for the delivery of the flocculants in the waste treatment process.

Abstract: Composition for conditioning sludge, comprising a mineral compound that is lime and an organic compound that is a cationic organic coagulant having an average molecular weight less than or equal to 5 million g/mol and greater than or equal to 20,000 g/mol, the said cationic organic coagulant being chosen from the group of linear or branched polymers based on diallyldialkyl ammonium salts.

Abstract: Lysine-based polymers, particularly copolymers of lysine and maleic acid, are useful as coagulants for clarification of wastewaters, including produced waters from oils sands mining operations. They can be advantageously used in combination with commercial coagulants, and in combination with flocculants. Such combinations may include dry blends. Also described are methods of preparation of lysine homopolymers and copolymers.

Abstract: Powder blends are described comprising blends of particulate water soluble high molecular weight polymer flocculants. The polymer flocculants can include polyethylene oxide, polyacrylamide, copolymers thereof and combinations thereof. The powder blends allows the use of fine powders while reducing potential air quality and safety issues. The powder blends can be used for waste water purification, fiber dewatering, and the like. The powder blends can be diluted by a water dilution flow prior to entering a waste water stream.

Abstract: Methods for reducing mercury content from a mercury-laden aqueous stream comprise contacting the aqueous stream with a tannin coagulant, a sulfide, such as a polyorganic sulfide, and an optional cationic flocculent. The invention is particularly well suited to reduce mercury content in mercury-containing wastewater streams of the type generated during oil and natural gas production.

Abstract: A method for enhancing filtration performance in separating solids from liquids in an aqueous dispersion comprising a solids phase and a liquid phase in a two step process having a physical separation step and a filtration step comprising adding at least one filtration aid promoter and at least one synthetic polymer to the aqueous dispersion during and/or before the physical separation step resulting in concentrate and filtering the concentrate. The method may be applied in mining operations for dewatering mining slurry. Also, a composition applied in such method comprising at least one filtration aid promoter and at least one synthetic polymer. The filtration aid promoter comprises natural polymers, semi-natural polymers, coagulants and combinations thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a double-layered compacted solid water-purification product, comprising at least one first layer and at least one second layer, characterized in that the first layer comprises at least one flocculating system and at least one dispersion system, the second layer comprises at least one disinfectant which liberates free chlorine on contact with water and at least one excipient for the disinfectant, whereby said excipient releases the disinfectant into the water at a controlled rate such that the combination of excipient and disinfectant releases 0.1 to 100 mg/l of free chlorine per hour. The invention further relates to the method for production of such a product.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to purge fluids, methods of using the purge fluids, and systems to be used for recycling the purge fluids. In some aspects, the purge fluid may be used to clean or purge an automated spray coating apparatus, such as a paint gun. The purge fluid may include a solvent and water. After the purge fluid is utilized for purging or cleaning certain system components, the purge fluid may be treated, subjected to a liquid-solid separation technique, and reused as a purge fluid.

Abstract: A method includes the steps, adding divalent calcium to an aqueous medium containing sulfate anions in solution and forming insoluble calcium sulfate in the aqueous medium; adding a water-soluble chitosan to the aqueous medium and forming a chitosan sulfate complex; adding a water-soluble anionic polymer to the aqueous medium to form aggregates comprising the chitosan sulfate complex with the anionic polymer; andremoving the aggregates from the aqueous medium to remove the sulfate anions.

Abstract: A method of flocculating coal fines from produced water that includes the steps of: (A) mixing at least: (i) produced water, wherein the produced water comprises suspended coal fines; (ii) one or more oil-soluble phosphate esters; and (iii) water-immiscible solvent; wherein the mixing is in proportions to obtain an oil-in-water emulsion; (B) allowing or mechanically causing the oil-in-water emulsion to substantially break into: (i) a first fluid having a continuous phase comprising at least some of the water from the produced water; and (ii) a second fluid having a continuous phase comprising at least some of the water-immiscible solvent; and (C) mechanically separating the first fluid and the second fluid. Optionally, the step of mixing further includes mixing with a crosslinker for the one or more phosphate esters to form a gel for suspending the separated coal fines.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards methods and compositions for treating slurry to better dewater alumina trihydrate precipitated from the Bayer process. The method comprises using a product comprising the combination of at least two surfactants together with an optional coupling agent to treat the alkaline slurry with certain amount of alumina trihydrate present. Synergistic effects between binary combinations of nonionic and anionic surfactants result in more efficient dewatering aids for alumina trihydrate slurry when combinations of such surfactants are applied. A coupling agent may be used in formulations to reduce viscosity of such surfactant combinations, allowing the practical application of such products.