A method of dewatering sludge is provided herein. In some embodiments, the method includes introducing micronized dry water soluble polymer (DWSP) particles into a sludge, wherein the sludge includes water and solids; separating water of the sludge from solids of the sludge using the micronized DWSP particles; and collecting a wet solid including water and solids of the sludge, wherein a concentration of solids in the wet solid is higher than a concentration of solids in the sludge, wherein the micronized DWSP particles comprise a DWSP wherein the DWSP is selected from the group consisting of a dry anionic water soluble polymer, a dry cationic water soluble polymer, a dry nonionic water soluble polymer, and mixtures thereof, and wherein a mean particle size of the micronized DWSP particles ranges from about 100 to about 300 microns.

Methods are provided for reducing friction during fracturing of a subterranean formation. In some embodiments, a method includes introducing micronized dry water soluble polymer (DWSP) particles into a fracturing liquid to form a mixture; and pumping the mixture into a subterranean formation to fracture the subterranean formation, the micronized DWSP particles include a DWSP, DWSP is selected from the group consisting of dry anionic, dry cationic, dry nonionic water soluble polymer, and mixtures thereof, mean particle size of the micronized DWSP particles ranges from about 115 to about 225 microns.

In the mining process, linear, branched, hyperbranched or dendrimeric polyols or mixtures thereof are employed as process stabilization aids for aqueous solutions and, or suspensions of metal salts. A specific application area of the polyols is the stabilization of bauxite liquor in the Bayer process of producing alumina from bauxite.

Methods for reducing aluminosilicate containing scale in a Bayer process involving treating a Bayer process equipment surface with a scale inhibiting composition having high ionic strength prior to exposure to a Bayer process stream.

A process for purifying red mud including reduction of the red mud to reduced material, and traversing the reduced material with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst suitable for iron oxidation.

The invention provides methods and compositions for inhibiting the accumulation of DSP scale in the liquor circuit of Bayer process equipment. The method includes adding one or more GPS-surfactant based small molecules to the liquor fluid circuit. These scale inhibitors reduce DSP scale formation and thereby increase fluid throughput, increase the amount of time Bayer process equipment can be operational and reduce the need for expensive and dangerous acid washes of Bayer process equipment. As a result, the invention provides a significant reduction in the total cost of operating a Bayer process.

Disclosed are an adsorption type cooling apparatus using nanoporous aluminophosphate as a water vapor adsorbent, and an operation method thereof. Specifically, the adsorption type cooling apparatus uses nanoporous aluminophosphate exhibiting a high dynamic water vapor adsorption capacity as a water vapor adsorbent. The adsorption type cooling apparatus includes at least two adsorption towers containing a water vapor adsorbent, a condenser alternately connected to the adsorption towers, and an evaporator alternately connected to the adsorption towers, wherein the water vapor adsorbent is nanoporous aluminophosphate containing aluminum, phosphorous, and oxygen.

The present disclosure relates to processes for recovering rare earth elements from an aluminum-bearing material. The processes can comprise leaching the aluminum-bearing material with an acid so as to obtain a leachate comprising at least one aluminum ion, at least one iron ion, at least one rare earth element, and a solid, and separating the leachate from the solid. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing at least one of the at least one aluminum ion and the at least one iron ion from the leachate and optionally obtaining a precipitate. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing the at least one rare earth element from the leachate and/or the precipitate.

The invention provides a method of inhibiting the accumulation of DSP scale in the liquor circuit of Bayer process equipment. The method includes adding one or more particular silane based small molecules to the liquor fluid circuit. These scale inhibitors reduce DSP scale formation and thereby increase fluid throughput, increase the amount of time Bayer process equipment can be operational and reduce the need for expensive and dangerous acid washes of Bayer process equipment. As a result, the invention provides a significant reduction in the total cost of operating a Bayer process.

Described herein is a method of adding one or more boronic acid functional compounds to a mineral ore to result in a treated mineral ore. Where the mineral ore is a bauxite ore, and the ore is subsequently processed according to the Bayer process to obtain alumina, adding a boronic acid functional compound to the bauxite ore or a Bayer product followed by processing the treated bauxite ore or treated Bayer product using one or more processes associated with the Bayer process results in an increased yield of alumina product, increased alumina content (purity) in the alumina product obtained, or both when compared to the same bauxite ore or Bayer product subjected to the same process(es) but in the absence of a boronic acid functional compound.