Compositions for treating bodies of water are disclosed herein. The water treatment composition can include sodium percarbonate, a binder, a fibrous material, and inert materials combined to form an integral product. The integral product can be in the form of a tablet. The binder can be vinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymer, the fibrous material can be organic fibers, for example cotton fibers, and the inert material can be polyethylene glycol. The integral product can be between approximately 70 to 95 weight percent sodium percarbonate, between approximately 0.5 to 10.0 weight percent binder, between approximately 0.05 to 10.0 weight percent fibrous material, and between approximately 1.0 to 10.0 weight percent inert material. More specifically, the integral product can be approximately 91 weight percent sodium percarbonate, approximately 4.5 weight percent binder, approximately 1.0 weight percent fibrous material, and approximately 3.5 weight percent inert material. The integral product can be moisture free and water soluble.

Systems and methods for intensive recirculating aquaculture are provided herein. An example system includes water sourced from a first segment of a saline aquifer, a recirculating aquaculture system receiving the sourced water and producing discharge water, and a water discharge point located within second segment of the saline aquifer disposed below the first segment of the saline aquifer.

A method of separating sludges 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 can be adding into the industrial sludge or formed in situ therein by components into the industrial sludge that react together therein to form the insoluble mineral colloidal suspension.

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.

It is disclosed a method of treating municipal and/or industrial sludge, comprising the steps of: a) providing the sludge, which has a pH of at least 6; b) adding a catalyst to the sludge; c) adding a radical initiator, selected from hydrogen peroxide and percompounds to the sludge; d) adding a polymer to the sludge to provide a chemically treated sludge; e) dewatering the chemically treated sludge in at least one stage to provide a dewatered sludge cake, wherein step b) and c) may be performed in any order.

It is disclosed a method of treating municipal and/or industrial sludge, comprising the steps of: a) providing the sludge, which has a pH of at least 6; b) adding a catalyst to the sludge; c) adding a radical initiator, selected from hydrogen peroxide and percompounds to the sludge; d) adding a polymer to the sludge to provide a chemically treated sludge; e) dewatering the chemically treated sludge in at least one stage to provide a dewatered sludge cake, wherein step b) and c) may be performed in any order.

Methods and systems for treating tailings at an elevated pH using lime are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method comprises (i) providing a tailings stream comprising bicarbonates and a pH less than 9.0, (ii) adding a coagulant comprising calcium hydroxide to the tailings stream to form a mixture having a pH of at least 11.5 and a soluble calcium level no more than 800 mg/L, and (iii) dewatering the mixture to produce a product having a solids content of at least 40% by weight. In some embodiments, the pH and soluble calcium level of the mixture cause chemical modification of clay materials of the mixture via pozzolanic reactions. In some embodiments, the undrained shear strength of the product increases over a period of time of at least two days.

Methods and systems for treating tailings at an elevated pH using lime are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method comprises (i) providing a tailings stream comprising bicarbonates and a pH less than 9.0, (ii) adding a coagulant comprising calcium hydroxide to the tailings stream to form a mixture having a pH of at least 11.5 and a soluble calcium level no more than 800 mg/L, and (iii) dewatering the mixture to produce a product having a solids content of at least 40% by weight. In some embodiments, the pH and soluble calcium level of the mixture cause chemical modification of clay materials of the mixture via pozzolanic reactions. In some embodiments, the undrained shear strength of the product increases over a period of time of at least two days.

A method of removing fines and coarse particles from tailings comprises forming a slurry comprising water and oil sands and separating bitumen from tailings comprising fines and coarse particles. Functionalized nanoparticles each comprising a core of carbon nitride and functionalized with one or more exposed cationic groups are mixed with the tailings. The functionalized nanoparticles and the fines interact to form agglomerates comprising the functionalized nanoparticles and the fines attached to the one or more exposed cationic groups. The agglomerates are removed from the tailings to form an aqueous solution having suspended therein fewer fines and coarse particles than are suspended within the tailings.

The present application provides a method of detecting an amount of a treatment agent, such as a flocculating agent, in a process stream comprising the step of measuring at least one absorption property of a sample obtained from the process stream at a wavelength of less than about 250 nm. Processes and systems for monitoring and regulating addition of treatment agents to process streams are also provided.