Embodiments relate to a continuous process for treating tailings that includes providing tailings for treatment having at least 10 wt % solids, providing a mixing apparatus having a first inlet for feeding the tailings, a second inlet for feeding a non-dispersion liquid flocculant that includes a polyethylene glycol having a weight average molecular weight from 100 g/mol to 2,000 g/mol, and an outlet for a mixture of the tailings and the non-dispersion liquid flocculant, continuously introducing into the mixing apparatus the tailings through the first inlet and the non-dispersion liquid flocculant through the second inlet, and allowing the tailings and the non-dispersion liquid flocculant to mix to from the mixture of the tailings and the non-dispersion liquid flocculant.

Embodiments relate to a continuous process for treating tailings that includes providing tailings for treatment having at least 10 wt % solids, providing a mixing apparatus having a first inlet for feeding the tailings, a second inlet for feeding a non-dispersion liquid flocculant that includes a polyethylene glycol having a weight average molecular weight from 100 g/mol to 2,000 g/mol, and an outlet for a mixture of the tailings and the non-dispersion liquid flocculant, continuously introducing into the mixing apparatus the tailings through the first inlet and the non-dispersion liquid flocculant through the second inlet, and allowing the tailings and the non-dispersion liquid flocculant to mix to from the mixture of the tailings and the non-dispersion liquid flocculant.

A method of separating sludge which involves adding an insoluble mineral colloidal suspension into an industrial sludge to destabilize the industrial sludge and separating destabilized components of the industrial sludge. The insoluble mineral colloidal suspension includes magnesium hydroxide. In an alternative embodiment dry finely divided magnesium hydroxide can be added and then dispersed into an industrial sludge. Conventional flocculants and/or coagulants can also be added. Conventional physical separation processes can be used to separate the destabilized industrial sludge.

A water treatment system includes a coagulating and flocculating system, an ultrafiltration membrane, and a fluid driver. The coagulating and flocculating system includes a first inlet for receiving water and a second inlet configured to receive a coagulating and flocculating agent. The coagulating and flocculating system is configured to precipitate dissolved phosphorous from the water, and to provide a flocculated effluent at an outlet of the coagulating and flocculating system. The ultrafiltration membrane includes an inlet that is fluidly coupled to an outlet of the coagulating and flocculating system. The ultrafiltration membrane is configured to separate the precipitated phosphorus from the flocculated effluent. The fluid driver is adapted to transfer the flocculated effluent from the outlet of the coagulating and flocculating system to the inlet of the ultrafiltration membrane at sustained flux rates of at least 150 LMH.

A coagulant-flocculant mixture, a method of making such a coagulant-flocculant mixture, and a method of using such a coagulant-flocculant mixture for treating effluent containing particles within an aqueous medium to facilitate separating the particles and the aqueous medium, whereby the coagulant-flocculant mixture includes an amount of coagulant combined with an amount of flocculant.

A coagulant-flocculant mixture, a method of making such a coagulant-flocculant mixture, and a method of using such a coagulant-flocculant mixture for treating effluent containing particles within an aqueous medium to facilitate separating the particles and the aqueous medium, whereby the coagulant-flocculant mixture includes an amount of coagulant combined with an amount of flocculant.

A frac sand separator system includes a sand separator having an inlet fluidly connected to a well for receiving a fracking return mixture from the well. The sand separator is configured to separate water of the fracking return mixture from particulate matter of the fracking return mixture. The sand separator includes an outlet. The frac sand separator system includes a collection container fluidly connected to the outlet of the sand separator for receiving the particulate matter from the sand separator. At least one outlet valve is fluidly connected between the outlet of the sand separator and the collection container. The frac sand separator system includes a computing device operatively connected to the at least one outlet valve. The computing device includes a processor configured to automatically open the at least one outlet valve such that the particulate matter is released from the sand separator into the collection container.

A method and plant for recovering phosphate from a biomass material, the biomass material suitably being a waste activated sludge from an upstream wastewater treatment process including a biological P removal process. The method includes an anaerobic digestion stage and steps for recovering independent streams rich in PO.sub.4 and Mg, or rich in PO.sub.4 and NH.sub.4, thereby increasing the amount of P recovered and avoiding struvite formation in the anaerobic digester and accessory equipment thereof, such as pipes.

Organic waste is polished to remove floatable contaminants prior to being biologically treated. In one application, pressed organic waste is polished before being sent to a wet anaerobic digester, optionally to be co-digested with wastewater treatment plant sludge. The organic waste is polished by flinging globs of the organic waste against a screen while flowing air across the flinging globs. The polishing can be performed in a device having a rotor with discrete paddles inside of a cylindrical screen.

Organic waste is polished to remove floatable contaminants prior to being biologically treated. In one application, pressed organic waste is polished before being sent to a wet anaerobic digester, optionally to be co-digested with wastewater treatment plant sludge. The organic waste is polished by flinging globs of the organic waste against a screen while flowing air across the flinging globs. The polishing can be performed in a device having a rotor with discrete paddles inside of a cylindrical screen.