A method for treating wastewater or sludge includes treating a sludge having a first viscosity of from about 3,000 cP to about 15,000 cP by shearing the sludge to obtain a treated sludge having a second viscosity of less than 3,000 cP, where the second viscosity persists for a period of time. The sludge may be thickened by dewatering. A chemical agent may be added to the thickened sludge during, before, or after shearing. The treated sludge may further be pumped, transported, or otherwise handled.

In general, a method for treating biosolids may include measuring one or more of pH, alkalinity, magnesium concentration, ortho-phosphorus concentration, total phosphorus content, ammonia content, total nitrogen content, total solids content, total volatile solids, polymer consumption, and metal salt consumption associated with a treatment process for wastewater solids. A metal salt dosage for amending the wastewater solids may be determined based upon, at least in part, an initial ortho-phosphorus concentration and a reduction capacity of the metal salt. A magnesium compound dosage may be determined for one or more of increasing, decreasing, and maintaining a pH of the wastewater solids. The magnesium compound dosage may be based upon, at least in part, a calculated anticipated change in pH of the wastewater solids resulting from an addition of the metal salts. The method may also include amending the treatment process with the determined metal salt dosage and the determined magnesium compound dosage.

In general, a method for treating biosolids may include measuring one or more of pH, alkalinity, magnesium concentration, ortho-phosphorus concentration, total phosphorus content, ammonia content, total nitrogen content, total solids content, total volatile solids, polymer consumption, and metal salt consumption associated with a treatment process for wastewater solids. A metal salt dosage for amending the wastewater solids may be determined based upon, at least in part, an initial ortho-phosphorus concentration and a reduction capacity of the metal salt. A magnesium compound dosage may be determined for one or more of increasing, decreasing, and maintaining a pH of the wastewater solids. The magnesium compound dosage may be based upon, at least in part, a calculated anticipated change in pH of the wastewater solids resulting from an addition of the metal salts. The method may also include amending the treatment process with the determined metal salt dosage and the determined magnesium compound dosage.

An object of the invention is to provide a water treatment agent useful for reducing the MLSS and the like in a food factory effluent or the like and for reducing the total nitrogen of a water to be treated including nitrogen-containing compounds, a method for producing the water treatment agent, a method for treating water to be treated using the water treatment agent, and a kit for producing the water treatment agent. The water treatment agent of the invention is a water treatment agent that contains green rust and an enzymatic treatment agent containing a liver extract from a mammal (excluding a human being), a yeast lytic enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase, a glucose dehydrogenase, and water.

A method of extracting water from sludge, wherein the sludge includes a magnetic ballast, wherein the sludge is positioned on an interface. It includes applying a magnetic treatment to the magnetically-ballasted sludge to extract water from the sludge.

A process for the treatment of thick fine tailings that include constituents of concern (CoCs) and suspended solids is provided. The process includes subjecting the thick fine tailings to treatments including chemical immobilization of the CoCs, polymer flocculation of the suspended solids, and dewatering. The chemical immobilization can include the addition of compounds enabling the insolubilization of the CoCs. Subjecting the thick fine tailings to chemical immobilization and polymer flocculation can facilitate production of a reclamation-ready material, which can enable disposing of the material as part of a permanent aquatic storage structure (PASS).

A process for the treatment of thick fine tailings that include constituents of concern (CoCs) and suspended solids is provided. The process includes subjecting the thick fine tailings to treatments including chemical immobilization of the CoCs, polymer flocculation of the suspended solids, and dewatering. The chemical immobilization can include the addition of compounds enabling the insolubilization of the CoCs. Subjecting the thick fine tailings to chemical immobilization and polymer flocculation can facilitate production of a reclamation-ready material, which can enable disposing of the material as part of a permanent aquatic storage structure (PASS).

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.

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.