Removing finely dispersed particulate matter from a fluid stream
US10399873B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 18, 2014 |
| Grant date | Sep 3, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 23, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC02F2301/026
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
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. The systems and methods are particularly advantageous for removing particulate matter from a fluid waste stream following mining or ore processing operations, such as oil sands mining or processing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.