Apparatuses and methods for cleaning accumulated sediment from storm drain conduits and other large-diameter conduits are disclosed. A nozzle assembly is arranged to deliver a high-volume flow of water at a pressure high enough to loosen sediment from the interior of a conduit and to propel the nozzle assembly and an associated nozzle feed hose upstream within a conduit being cleaned. Water from the nozzle assembly flushes the sediment downstream and is then collected, partially cleaned, and reused in the nozzle assembly. Mud and clay may be left in the water to increase its specific gravity and viscosity. A self-contained portable and mobile system includes a tank and apparatus for removal of high concentrations of entrained or suspended solids, and a pump and conduits for delivering a high-volume flow of water, containing quantities of suspended solids, to the nozzle assembly.

The present invention relates to a method of dewatering an aqueous mineral suspension comprising introducing into the suspension a flocculating system comprising a poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer, in particular a copolymer of ethylene oxide and one or more epoxy or glycidyl ether functionalized hydrophobic monomer. Said poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers are useful for the treatment of suspensions of particulate material, especially waste mineral slurries. The invention is particularly suitable for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, the processing of oil sands tailings.

A recovery device is configured to recover specific material as a dewatering aid from sludge generated in a sewage treatment process. The recovery device includes: a grinder configured to fragment a solid in the sludge to obtain prepared sludge; a separator configured to separate hardly decomposable organic matter and easily decomposable organic matter from the prepared sludge; and an extractor configured to continuously extract hardly decomposable organic matter having specific properties as the dewatering aid from the hardly decomposable organic matter separated by the separator.

The present invention relates to a fracturation fluid comprising at least one propping agent and at least one water-soluble (co)polymer prepared from the hydrated crystalline form of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid and/or at least one of its salts. The invention relates to a process to prepare said fluid, and to a hydraulic fracturation process using said fluid.

The present invention relates to a fracturation fluid comprising at least one propping agent and at least one water-soluble (co)polymer prepared from the hydrated crystalline form of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid and/or at least one of its salts. The invention relates to a process to prepare said fluid, and to a hydraulic fracturation process using said fluid.

The present invention relates to a method of dewatering an aqueous mineral suspension comprising introducing into the suspension a flocculating system comprising a mixture of polyethylene oxide polymers, in particular a mixture of one or more high molecular weight polyethylene oxide polymer and one or more ultra high molecular weight polyethylene oxide polymer. Said mixture of polyethylene oxide polymers is useful for the treatment of suspensions of particulate material, especially waste mineral slurries. The invention is particularly suitable for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, the processing of oil sands tailings.

The present invention relates to a method of dewatering an aqueous mineral suspension comprising introducing into the suspension a flocculating system comprising a mixture of polyethylene oxide polymers, in particular a mixture of one or more high molecular weight polyethylene oxide polymer and one or more ultra high molecular weight polyethylene oxide polymer. Said mixture of polyethylene oxide polymers is useful for the treatment of suspensions of particulate material, especially waste mineral slurries. The invention is particularly suitable for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, the processing of oil sands tailings.

A method and a composition for treating tailings from a separation process are disclosed, where bitumen is separated from mineral solids. Tailings include an aqueous phase with suspended solid particulate material and residual bitumen and have a dry solids content <25 weight-%. The method includes addition of a flocculating agent including polyacrylamide to the tailings, as well as addition of an auxiliary agent including ionic liquid to tailings in conjunction with the flocculating agent. Flocs, which include solid particulate material, are formed and the formed flocs are separated from the aqueous phase. The composition in a copolymer of (meth)acrylamide and an auxiliary agent comprising ionic liquid.

The present embodiments generally relate to the use of one or more polymers, e.g., one or more dry acid polymers and/or one or more dry acid polymers with salt, as flocculants, generally for treating tailings, e.g., oil sands tailings, in need of solid-liquid separation, e.g., in order to efficiently recycle water and/or to reduce the volume of tailings which may be transferred to a tailings pond and/or a dedicated disposal area.

Treating and conditioning liquid sludge and a solidified sludge cake obtained thereby are disclosed. A first emulsion of sludge is formed in an in-line container fed at a first flow rate Q owing to the impact of the sludge with air injected into the container at a rate Q, where Q>5Q, in a first region which has a small volume of less than 0.05 m3. The first emulsion is then transferred into a second region of the container extending over a first length, and is then discharged via a component which generates a head loss in a chamber extending over a second length. A flocculant is injected in order to obtain a second coagulated emulsion, which is at least partially degasified. The matter in suspension in the second emulsion obtained in this way is then filtered or decanted.