Abstract: Aqueous dispersions of cationic water-soluble polymers are provided, as well as processes for making and methods of using the same.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for reducing the viscosity of the settled mud or underflow of a raked thickener thereby reducing the torque necessary to move the rake blade through the settled mud. The method includes the step of delivering a viscosity modifier to the settled mud and in front of the rake blade by pumping the viscosity modifier down the rake arm to an area in front of the rake blade. The method also includes an improved rake mechanism that includes a means for delivering viscosity modifier to the settled mud and in front of the rake blade. The present invention also includes a method for increasing the rate of consolidation of flocculated solids in a slurry.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of clarifying and dewatering industrial waste water using anionic and nonionic dispersion polymers.

Abstract: A process is provided which can be used, for example, to clarify substantially aqueous fluids and separate solids from the fluid. The process comprises combining the fluid with a composition which comprises an anionic silica-based colloid having an S value of less than 50% and a cationic organic polymer.

Abstract: A method of coagulating particulates, as in papermaking or water clarification applications, for example, is provided wherein a zeolite crystalloid coagulant is added to water containing the solid matter, a source of multivalent cations, and a cationic acrylamide polymer. The zeolite crystalloid coagulant is preferably prepared by admixing aqueous sodium silicate and sodium aluminate solutions to form a reaction mixture and allowing a reaction to proceed for a sufficient time to form a zeolite crystalloid coagulant particles having particle sizes of at least about 4 nm before terminating the reaction.

Abstract: A method for the removal of metal cyanides or oxoanions from aqueous streams such as waste water streams with compounds containing 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane. Preferred compounds are polymers formed by free radical polymerization of N-4-vinyl benzyl-N1-1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane dichloride (VBBD) such as copolymers poly (VBBD/acrylamide) and poly (VBBD/dimethyl amino ethyl acrylate benzyl chloride quaternary salt. Poly(1,4-dimethylbenzyl-1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane dichloride) for the same purposes is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process of thickening an aqueous suspension of mineral solids by sedimentation comprising adding to the suspension water-soluble anionic bridging polymeric flocculant having intrinsic viscosity at least 5 dl/g and water-soluble cationic polymeric flocculant, allowing the solids to settle under gravity so as to form a lower underflow fraction containing a concentration of solids greater than that of the suspension and an upper overflow fraction containing a concentration of solids lower than that of the suspension and removing the underflow fraction, characterised in that the anionic and cationic flocculants are added to the suspension as an aqueous composition formed by blending 1 part by weight of the cationic polymeric flocculant with 2 to 99 parts by weight of the anionic polymeric flocculant and sufficient water to give a total polymer concentration of below 5 wt % and under conditions whereby counter-ionic precipitation can occur and in the aqueous composition substantially all of the anionic polymer

Abstract: The invention is a method for clarifying, dewatering or improving retention and drainage of industrial waste water or paper furnish with an effective amount of at least one dispersion of a water soluble cationic polymer flocculant wherein the improvement comprises the addition of said polymer which has a concentration of at least twenty five percent to said waste water or paper furnish. The industrial waste is preferably food processing waste water, oily waste water, paper mill waste water and inorganic contaminated waste water. The paper furnish may be an aqueous cellulosic suspension.

Abstract: A process is provided which can be used to clarify substantially aqueous streams and optionally separate biosolids, especially proteins, from food processing operations which comprises contacting an aqueous stream comprising biosolids with an anionic inorganic colloid and an organic polymer, to flocculate the biosolids.

Abstract: Methods for removing suspended particles from a solution are disclosed. These methods generally comprise adding to the solution to be treated an effective amount of a composition comprising a Mannich derivatized polyether. The polyether is generally described as the condensation polymer of Mannich derivatized bisphenol and a difunctional monomer. The methods have broad application in a wide variety of industries and are effective in removal of all types of suspended particles even when numerous types of particles are contained within the same solution.

Abstract: A treatment process for recovering protein, fatty and water component products from a float material produced by a waste water treatment system, wherein the protein and fatty components possess improved stability and are suitable for further processing for inclusion in various products, such as animal feed. The recovered water component can also be further processed before discharge into a sewer system.

Abstract: In this process for reducing the quantity of water contained in pulps of nickel-bearing ores, the pulp is diluted with water, a dilute aqueous solution of a flocculant based on an acrylic acid copolymer is injected, the mixture is left to decant, then the underflow and overflow are separated.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improvements in the Bayer mining process, used for the recovery of alumina from bauxite ore. Water-continuous emulsion polymers are advantageously used to improve the clarification, filtration and scale control of red-mud containing liquors generated during the Bayer process. Preferred polymers are high molecular weight poly(methyl acrylate/acrylic acid), poly(methyl acrylate), poly(vinyl acetate/acrylic acid/methyl acrylate) and a combination of a high molecular weight poly(methyl acrylate/acrylic acid) with a lower molecular weight poly(methyl acrylate/acrylic acid).

Abstract: The aqueous clay waste formed during a phosphate or other mineral recovery processes is flocculated in a well which is generally formed in a sedimentation lagoon, the supernatant is taken from the top of well and is recycled to the main flotation or other separation process (generally after running across sediment in the lagoon) and the thickened sediment which is formed in the well is pumped from the base of the well to one or more final lagoons where it is converted to a solid sediment by sedimentation and evaporation.

Abstract: Belt pressing or other pressure dewatering of a high solids mineral suspension is facilitated by flocculating the suspension by mixing into the suspension anionic flocculant having IV at least 5 dl/g and a minor amount of a cationic flocculant which generally has IV at least 4 dl/g. The flocculants are normally such that counterionic precipitation occurs.

Abstract: A method for dewatering coal tailings, clean coal products and mineral slurries with an effective coagulating amount of a combination of a cationic polymer and a starch. A preferred cationic polymer is poly(dimethylaminoethylacrylate methyl chloride quaternary salt) and preferred starches are unmodified.

Abstract: A method and treatment composition for neutralizing formaldehdye. The treatment composition contains polyethylenimine, urea and an acid having a pH of less than 6. Treatment of formaldehyde solutions with the treatment composition results in a suspension that it easily disposable and non-toxic.

Abstract: Processes for spray drying water-soluble and water-swellable vinyl-addition polymer-containing dispersions, emulsions and microemulsions to obtain substantially dry water-soluble or water-swellable polymer particles, compositions of substantially dry water-soluble or water-swellable polymer particles, methods of agglomerating spray-dried polymer particles, and methods of using spray-dried polymer particles and agglomerates in water-treating, mining, paper, food processing, soil conditioning, solution thickening, biotechnological, and oil recovery applications are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for dehydrating a waste hydrocarbon sludge, includes the steps of: (a) providing a waste hydrocarbon sludge in the form of an emulsion of water and oil having a water content greater than or equal to about 10% vol; (b) providing a solution of a clarifying agent in formation water; (c) mixing the waste hydrocarbon sludge with the solution so as to provide a sludge-water mixture having a ratio of water to hydrocarbon of at least about 1:1; (d) adding a demulsifier to the sludge-water mixture to provide a sludge-water-demulsifier mixture; (e) heating the sludge-water-demulsifier mixture to a sufficient temperature and holding for a time sufficient to provide a hydrocarbon phase having a water content of less than or equal to about 1% vol.

Abstract: Inverse microemulsions having a Standard Viscosity of at least about 3.3 cps are disclosed which comprise an aqueous phase of dispersed micelles containing water and an (alk)acrylamide-based polymer substituted with at least 1 mole percent of quaternized tertiary aminomethyl groups, wherein said microemulsion is derived from a microemulsion containing greater than about 20 percent, by weight, and less than about 40 percent, by weight, of aqueous phase polymer solids, based on said microemulsion. A method of making said microemulsions and use thereof to dewater dispersions of suspended solids are also taught.

Abstract: A method for removing emulsified oil from industrial waste water streams utilizing dispersion copolymers is disclosed. Preferred dispersion copolymers are poly(dimethylaminoethylacrylate methyl chloride quaternary salt/acrylamide) and poly (diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride/acrylamide).

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for clarifying ink-laden water obtained from the recycling of paper stocks by treating said water with a hydrophilic dispersion polymer. The hydrophilic dispersion polymer of the invention is a copolymer of a diallyl N,N-disubstituted ammonium halide cationic monomer and (meth)acrylamide (AcAm). Following dosing with the polymer, a floc is formed. The floc contains ink and impurities which are removed from the water process stream by means of solid liquid separation; the solid liquid separation comprising a dissolved air flotation method. A preferred copolymer is formed from DADMAC and AcAm.

Abstract: A liquid filtering system in machine tools which uses, in a recycling circuit, a work tank, a dirty liquid tank, a filter and a clean liquid tank in which water of a very low conductivity is used and adding at least one ferric oxide flocculent based on a polyelectrolyte polymer to the low conductivity water.

Abstract: There is provided water insoluble cross-linked polycarboxylic acid having at least two strands in a strand skeleton of the formula: ##STR1## wherein one carbonyl group of at least one maleoyl moiety thereof in each strand is covalently linked to a--HN.[(H).sub.p (CH).sub.2.(OH).sub.m ].NH-- moietyto provide the presence therein of at least one cross linked moiety of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R is hydrogen or lower alkylene or lower alkoxy of 1-4 carbon atoms, or phenyl, x and y are integers, z is an integer of 1-6, p is 0 or an integer up to z-1, m is 0 or an integer up to z, and w is an integer from 2-12. There is disclosed a method of making such polycarboxylic acid as well as methods of utilizing same to remove proteins from aqueous media containing same to provide a matrix. Methods are disclosed for recovering proteins from said matrix without denaturing them and methods for recovering the polycarboxylic acid from said matrix.

Abstract: A process and system for removing silica from large volumes of wastewater is disclosed. In the process, a wastewater stream containing silica is treated with a chemical coagulant, such as a epichlorohydrin/dimethylamine polymer, to create spherical particles which agglomerate into clusters having a diameter greater than 5 microns. Treated wastewater is passed through a microfiltration membrane which physically separates the silica contaminant particle from the wastewater. Commercially available microfiltration membranes having a pore size from 0.5 micron to 5 microns may be used. The treated wastewater flow rate through the microfiltration membranes can range from 150 gallons per square foot of membrane per day ("GFD") to 600 GFD. Solids are removed from the membrane surface by periodically backflushing the microfiltration membranes and draining solids at timed intervals from the filtration vessel within which the membranes are located.

Abstract: Unsheared, water-soluble, branched, high molecular weight, anionic, polymeric flocculants are produced by polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated anionic, and optionally non-ionic, monomers and a branching agent in the presence of a chain-transfer agent. They are useful as flocculating agents for releasing water from dispersions of suspended solids.

Abstract: A method for clearing water in ornamental lakes, ponds, streams and other bodies of water comprises the steps: identifying the amount of water to be treated; determining the amount of a polyacrylamide flocculant to be applied necessary to obtain a desired clarity; determining flow rate of the water to be circulated; and applying the polyacrylamide flocculant to the water; wherein the polyacrylamide flocculant has a positive charge density in the range from about 40% to 100% and an average molecular weight in the range from about 6,000,000, to 18,000,000.

Abstract: Processes for removing color from a paper mill waste effluent and for removing color from a textile plant waste effluent utilizing an amphoteric copolymer/polyamine combination are described. A preferred amphoteric copolymer is poly(dimethylaminoethylacrylate methyl chloride quaternary salt/acrylic acid) and a preferred polyamine is a polymeric reaction product of epichlorohydrin and dimethylamine.

Abstract: Processes for improving solids/liquids separation efficiency in the Bayer process are disclosed, wherein solids are flocculated with hydroxamated polymers and centrifuged.

Abstract: A method for reducing turbidity in laundry waste water comprising the steps of treating said water with effective amounts of a first polymer comprised of a dialkyl diallyl ammonium halide containing (meth)acrylic acid moieties and a second anionic, nonionic or cationic acrylamide polymer is disclosed.

Abstract: Hydrophilic cationic copolymers of acrylamide are prepared as dispersions in a salt media. These polymers have high molecular weights and are readily soluble by diluting in water. These polymers are useful flocculants for such applications as sludge dewatering, raw water clarification aids, emulsion breakers and waste water clarification aids.

Abstract: A process for filtering kaolin clay slurries in the presence of a filter aid which increases the percent solids in the filter cake, decreases the product solids in the waste filtrate, increases the rate of filtration, and yet does not interfere with redispersal of the filter cake after filtration. The process utilizes high molecular weight, highly anionic polyacrylic acid homopolymers or copolymers, or water soluble salts thereof, as filter aids for thickening and dewatering kaolin clay slurries. The flocculated clay may be redispersed after the separation process by normal means, such as the addition of low molecular weight anionic polymers with mixing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the purification of a medium containing organic waste. The process according to the present invention is characterized in that the starting medium (or effluent) containing the organic waste is subjected to the following stages: (i) treatment with at least one oxidizing agent; (ii) treatment with at least one flocculating agent; (iii) treatment with at least one polyelectrolyte, and in that the effluent obtained on conclusion of all of these stages is subjected to a filtration stage (iv), whereby a filtration cake and a filtrate are obtained. The process according to the present invention is more particularly useful for the treatment of pig manure.

Abstract: A process and system for removing heavy metals, fluoride, silica and other contaminants from large volumes of wastewater is disclosed. In the process, a wastewater stream containing the contaminant is treated with a chemical coagulant to create a particle having a diameter greater than 5 microns. Treated wastewater is passed through a microfiltration membrane which physically separates the metal contaminant particle from the wastewater. Commercially available microfiltration membranes having a pore size from 0.5 micron to 5 microns may be used. The treated wastewater flow rate through the microfiltration membranes can range from 700 gallons per square foot of membrane per day ("GFD") to 1500 GFD. Solids are removed from the membrane surface by periodically backflushing the microfiltration membranes and draining the filtration vessel within which the membranes are located. The dislodged solid material within the filtration vessel is flushed into a holding tank for further processing of the solids.

Abstract: A process and system for removing heavy metals, fluoride, silica and other contaminants from large volumes of wastewater is disclosed. In the process, a wastewater stream containing the contaminant is treated with a chemical coagulant to create a particle having a diameter greater than 5 microns. Treated wastewater is passed through a microfiltration membrane which physically separates the metal contaminant particle from the wastewater. Commercially available microfiltration membranes having a pore size from 0.5 micron to 5 microns may be used. The treated wastewater flow rate through the microfiltration membranes can range from 700 gallons per square foot of membrane per day ("GFD") to 1500 GFD. Solids are removed from the membrane surface by periodically backflushing the microfiltration membranes and draining the filtration vessel within which the membranes are located. The dislodged solid material within the filtration vessel is flushed into a holding tank for further processing of the solids.

Abstract: A process for treating animal waste consisting of diluting the waste with water, irradiating the waste with UV radiation to break DNA coding in microorganisms present within the waste and to form ozone which oxidizes the waste, polymerizing the solids in the waste, and separating the polymerized solids from the remaining liquid portion of the waste.

Abstract: Multimodal emulsions comprising a blend of at least one polymeric microemulsion provide for high solids and low bulk viscosity. Convenient and versitale processes for preparing multimodal emulsions are also provided. Mannich (alk)acrylamide polymeric microemulsions are among the numerous different polymeric microemulsions which may be used to prepare the multimodal emulsions.

Abstract: Water-soluble, branched, high molecular weight, cationic and non-ionic polymeric flocculants capable of manifesting their full performance potential without shearing are produced by polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated cationic and non-ionic monomers and a branching agent in the presence of a chain-transfer agent. They are useful as flocculating agents for releasing water from dispersions of suspended solids.

Abstract: Water-soluble, branched, high molecular weight, cationic polymer flocculants are disclosed, as well as methods of making the same and methods of dewatering suspended solids using the same.

Abstract: A process and system for removing heavy metals, fluoride, silica and other contaminants from large volumes of wastewater is disclosed. In the process, a wastewater stream containing the contaminant is treated with a chemical coagulant to create a particle having a diameter greater than 5 microns. Treated wastewater is passed through a microfiltration membrane which physically separates the metal contaminant particle from the wastewater. Commercially available microfiltration membranes having a pore size from 0.5 micron to 5 microns may be used. The treated wastewater flow rate through the microfiltration membranes can range from 700 gallons per square foot of membrane per day ("GFD") to 1500 GFD. Solids are removed from the membrane surface by periodically backflushing the microfiltration membranes and draining the filtration vessel within which the membranes are located. The dislodged solid material within the filtration vessel is flushed into a holding tank for further processing of the solids.

Abstract: Quaternized tertiary aminomethyl acrylamide polymer emulsions are treated by 1) adjusting the pH to about 3.6 to about 4.8, 2) adding a formaldehyde scavenger, 3) adjusting the water content of the aqueous phase to result in about 10-45 weight percent of quaternized aminomethylated acrylamide polymer and 4) heating the resultant emulsion at from about 40.degree. C. to about 80.degree. C. for about 3 to about 20 hours so as to render them more stable, capable of inversion in water independent of water temperature or pH of the medium flocculent and superior dewatering ability.

Abstract: The method of the invention is characterized by adding comprises adding an inorganic flocculant to waste water treated with activated sludge process, adjusting the waste water between pH 4.0 and 5.0, waste water in this state for at least 1 minute, adjusting the waste water between pH 5.5 and 9.0 and adding an anionic polymer flocculant to generate flocs and separating the flocs to obtain supernatant. According to the invention, flocs become large, especially since flocs grow by adsorbing fine particles during maturation. The clarity of the treated water is sharply improved, and the qualities of the treated water, such as COD and chromaticity are also improved. Moreover, the scale of sedimentation tank can be made compact due to the improvement in precipitatability of flocs by growing into large size.

Abstract: Processes for improving solids/liquids separation efficiency in the Bayer process are disclosed, wherein Bayer process streams are treated with calcium or magnesium salts, flocculated with carboxylic acid or salt group-containing polymers, and centrifuged.

Abstract: A suspension is dosed with a coagulant and then with a flocculant and is dewatered to form a thickened sludge or cake and separated liquor, and control of the dewatering performance is improved by adding the flocculant at a predetermined dosage, monitoring the charge in the separated liquor (or monitoring other dewatering parameter of the separated liquor or suspension) and adding coagulant at a dosage selected in response to the monitored charge or other parameter value in order to maintain the value substantially at a preselected optimum value.

Abstract: Aqueous dispersions of cationic water-soluble polymers are provided, as well as processes for making and methods of using the same.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for separating coarse and ultrafine solids from a liquid stream to produce a substantially dry solids discharge and a clarified liquid. Apparatus is provided comprising a combination of a settling tank, a plurality of filter screens spaced along an endless link-chain conveyor, a screen vibrator and directed air streams. In operation, coarse solids settle preferentially to the tank bottom. Ultrafines solids remain in suspension. Relatively coarse filter screens are conveyed from a point outside the tank to traverse a prolonged path through the liquid. Ultrafine solids are captured on the screens, by filtering the liquid through an ever finer build-up of filter cake. The relatively large number of passes of the screens through the liquid provides effective filtering of suspended solids. Further, the screens dredge settled solids from the tank bottom.

Abstract: Water-soluble, branched, high molecular weight, cationic polymer flocculants are disclosed, as well as methods of making the same and methods of dewatering suspended solids using the same.

Abstract: A method for dewatering deinking sludge utilizing a water soluble block copolymer having the structure: ##STR1## wherein E is a polymeric segment obtained from the polymerization of hydrophobic monomers, x when present is a nonionic monomer, y is a cationic monomer, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are H or a lower alkyl group from C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 and F is a salt of an ammonium cation. Preferably, the polymer contains from about 20 mole % to 35 mole % cationicity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for removing secondary fiber contaminants from paper mill process waters comprising adding a polyvinyl chloride, a cationic polymeric coagulant and a polymeric flocculant to paper mill process waters containing secondary fiber contaminants in an amount sufficient to agglomerate the secondary fiber contaminants to larger particles sizes, and removing the secondary fiber contaminants from the process water by a dissolved air flotation clarification technique. The addition of particulate polyvinyl chloride in combination with a polymeric coagulant and flocculant prior to the DAF clarification process causes the contaminants to become preferentially coated with the polyvinyl chloride particles. This coating is what causes the subsequent removal of the secondary fiber contaminants in the DAF clarification process to be more effective.

Abstract: Mannich (alk)acrylamide microparticles are produced at high solids contents without a significant increase in bulk viscosity by inverse microemulsion polymerization and provide superior dewatering characteristics.