Systems and methods for dewatering slurries having relatively high solids content such as earthen slurries are disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more transducer devices configured for acoustic spectroscopy and/or electroacoustic spectroscopy are used to determine a parameter related to the particle size distribution (e.g., specific surfaced area) and/or zeta potential of the slurry.

A method for operating a wastewater treatment plant for treating effluent, in particular for recovering phosphorus from the effluent to be treated and for respecting a phosphorus discharge limit in the effluent. The method includes the steps of carrying out an enhanced biological phosphorus removal process on at least a part of the effluent to be treated in a water line of the plant, deriving a sludge from the effluent that is being treated in the water line of the plant, subjecting the derived sludge to a step of acidification giving an acidified sludge, and carrying out a step of a first recovery of a phosphorus product in a liquid phase of the acidified sludge or directly in the acidified sludge giving a re-usable product and a phosphorus depleted acidified sludge.

A method for operating a wastewater treatment plant for treating effluent, in particular for recovering phosphorus from the effluent to be treated and for respecting a phosphorus discharge limit in the effluent. The method includes the steps of carrying out an enhanced biological phosphorus removal process on at least a part of the effluent to be treated in a water line of the plant, deriving a sludge from the effluent that is being treated in the water line of the plant, subjecting the derived sludge to a step of acidification giving an acidified sludge, and carrying out a step of a first recovery of a phosphorus product in a liquid phase of the acidified sludge or directly in the acidified sludge giving a re-usable product and a phosphorus depleted acidified sludge.

Methods are provided for treating intimately dispersed mixtures of water, bitumen, and fine clay particles, such as oil sands mature fine tailings (MFT). Select methods use dissolved silicate ions and a base (alkali), optionally in combination with a biopolymer, to flocculate a slurry. A mixing regime is disclosed involving the addition to MFT of silicate ions in solution and alkali, to initiate aggregation/destabilization of clay particles. Methods are exemplified that provide distinct sediment layers in conjunction with the release of residual bitumen (for example 40-50% of the initial bitumen content). In these exemplified embodiments, a densely packed bottom layer containing ˜75 wt. % solids showed high yield stress values (3.5-5.5 kPa) and entrapped little residual bitumen (0.2-0.3 wt. %). The methods accordingly segregate a material suitable for reclamation.

Methods are provided for treating intimately dispersed mixtures of water, bitumen, and fine clay particles, such as oil sands mature fine tailings (MFT). Select methods use dissolved silicate ions and a base (alkali), optionally in combination with a biopolymer, to flocculate a slurry. A mixing regime is disclosed involving the addition to MFT of silicate ions in solution and alkali, to initiate aggregation/destabilization of clay particles. Methods are exemplified that provide distinct sediment layers in conjunction with the release of residual bitumen (for example 40-50% of the initial bitumen content). In these exemplified embodiments, a densely packed bottom layer containing ˜75 wt. % solids showed high yield stress values (3.5-5.5 kPa) and entrapped little residual bitumen (0.2-0.3 wt. %). The methods accordingly segregate a material suitable for reclamation.

The present invention discloses a method for preparing Erdite rod-shaped particles for water treatment by utilizing iron-containing waste mud in an underground water plant. In the method, aqueous iron mud is subjected to mechanical dehydration to obtain a first aqueous iron mud; sodium sulfide is added to the first aqueous iron mud to obtain a first mixture, wherein the ratio of the weight of the first aqueous iron mud to the volume of sodium sulfide is between 3% and 15%; water of an equal volume is added to the first mixture, and the obtained solution is heated in an airtight manner to 140° C.-270° C.; centrifugal treatment is performed to obtain a supernatant and a solid, and the solid is subjected to vacuum drying at 40° C.-60° C. for 24 h to obtain Erdite rod-shaped particles. In the method, aqueous iron mud formed after precipitation of backwash wastewater is directly used, no drying treatment is needed, and silicon and aluminum and other impurities do not need to be removed, thereby saving costs; Na.sub.2S is directly added to iron mud which is subjected to mechanical dehydration, and adjustment of pH value is not needed, therefore, the preparation method is convenient; and a supernatant can be recycled, thereby lowering preparation cost, and expanding an application range of the method.

The present invention discloses a method for preparing Erdite rod-shaped particles for water treatment by utilizing iron-containing waste mud in an underground water plant. In the method, aqueous iron mud is subjected to mechanical dehydration to obtain a first aqueous iron mud; sodium sulfide is added to the first aqueous iron mud to obtain a first mixture, wherein the ratio of the weight of the first aqueous iron mud to the volume of sodium sulfide is between 3% and 15%; water of an equal volume is added to the first mixture, and the obtained solution is heated in an airtight manner to 140° C.-270° C.; centrifugal treatment is performed to obtain a supernatant and a solid, and the solid is subjected to vacuum drying at 40° C.-60° C. for 24 h to obtain Erdite rod-shaped particles. In the method, aqueous iron mud formed after precipitation of backwash wastewater is directly used, no drying treatment is needed, and silicon and aluminum and other impurities do not need to be removed, thereby saving costs; Na.sub.2S is directly added to iron mud which is subjected to mechanical dehydration, and adjustment of pH value is not needed, therefore, the preparation method is convenient; and a supernatant can be recycled, thereby lowering preparation cost, and expanding an application range of the method.

A cement composition based on a sulfoaluminate clinker is described, together with its use for agglomerating and inerting sediment/dredging sludge, and the relative inerting method and apparatus.

The present invention relates generally to the field of emission control equipment for boilers, heaters, kilns, or other flue gas-, or combustion gas-, generating devices (e.g., those located at power plants, processing plants, etc.) and, in particular to a new and useful method and apparatus for reducing and/or eliminating various liquid discharges from one or more emission control equipment devices (e.g., one or more wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) units). In another embodiment, the method and apparatus of the present invention is designed to reduce and/or eliminate the amount of liquid waste that is discharged from a WFGD unit by subjecting the WFGD liquid waste to one or more drying processes, one or more spray dryer (or spray dry) absorber processes, and/or one or more spray dryer (or spray dry) evaporation processes.

A filter assembly separating organic waste from water includes a first annular filter element defining an axis. The first annular filter element is defined by a first annular coil of flat wire and an optional second filter element is defined by a second annular coil of flat wire, being generally helical in the axial direction. A cylindrically or frustoconical filter membrane is concentrically disposed between the first and second annular filter element. The filter membrane is porous having aperture size of less than a nano-particulate size of the organic waste, but greater than a nano-particulate size of the water molecule. The second annular filter includes adjustable porosity for selectively preventing particles from reaching the filter membrane and selectively cleaning the membrane by reversed flow of water through the membrane. The assembly generates radial and distal flows and differential pressure forces, for use in high throughput industrial, agricultural and municipal facilities.