A drilling mud treatment unit (100) comprises a primary duct (10) for feeding coagulated drilling mud, an in-line flocculation system (20) for flocculating the coagulated drilling mud flowing in the primary duct (10), and at least one hydrocyclone (30) fed by the primary duct (10) and arranged downstream from the flocculation system (20). The hydrocyclone (30) has an overflow orifice (32) for receiving a liquid product resulting from treatment of the drilling mud and an underflow orifice (34) for receiving a solid product resulting from treatment of the drilling mud. The overflow orifice (32) presents an overflow diameter (Do) and the underflow orifice presents an underflow diameter (Du), and the underflow diameter (Du) is greater than 1.1 times the overflow diameter (Do).

The invention relates to a method and device for clarifying water by means treatment of the colloidal structures contained in a liquid and/or a sludge supplied in a continuous flow at a flow rate of Q.sub.EB=V.sub.EB/hour. The flow is sprayed into a chamber under overpressure conditions in relation to atmospheric pressure, said chamber having a volume v<V.sub.EB/20, and air being injected simultaneously therein at a flow rate d.

The invention relates to a method and device for clarifying water by means treatment of the colloidal structures contained in a liquid and/or a sludge supplied in a continuous flow at a flow rate of Q.sub.EB=V.sub.EB/hour. The flow is sprayed into a chamber under overpressure conditions in relation to atmospheric pressure, said chamber having a volume v<V.sub.EB/20, and air being injected simultaneously therein at a flow rate d.

A sedimentation device for separating a solid-liquid suspension has a settling tank, a feed well, a feed pipe, an overflow collector and a mixing area. A pump is disposed in the overflow collector and overflow from the overflow collector can be fed through the pump to the mixing area. The solid-liquid suspension to be clarified can be diluted without affecting the sedimentation process, the chemicals can be used to the optimum, and the amount of overflow fed to the mixing area can be exactly determined.

A sedimentation device for separating a solid-liquid suspension has a settling tank, a feed well, a feed pipe, an overflow collector and a mixing area. A pump is disposed in the overflow collector and overflow from the overflow collector can be fed through the pump to the mixing area. The solid-liquid suspension to be clarified can be diluted without affecting the sedimentation process, the chemicals can be used to the optimum, and the amount of overflow fed to the mixing area can be exactly determined.

Selective flocculants comprise a polymer comprising recurring units of one or more acrylamide monomers; recurring units of one or more monomers selected from hydroxyalkyl alkylacrylate, allyloxyalkyldiol, allyloxyethanol, trimethylolpropane allyl ether, and 2-hydroxy ethyl acrylate; and optionally, recurring units of one or more acrylic acid monomers. Also disclosed are processes for enriching a desired mineral from an ore comprising the desired mineral and gangue, wherein the process comprises carrying out a selective flocculation process in the presence of one or more of the selective flocculants.

Selective flocculants comprise a polymer comprising recurring units of one or more acrylamide monomers; recurring units of one or more monomers selected from hydroxyalkyl alkylacrylate, allyloxyalkyldiol, allyloxyethanol, trimethylolpropane allyl ether, and 2-hydroxy ethyl acrylate; and optionally, recurring units of one or more acrylic acid monomers. Also disclosed are processes for enriching a desired mineral from an ore comprising the desired mineral and gangue, wherein the process comprises carrying out a selective flocculation process in the presence of one or more of the selective flocculants.

A flocculation system is provided including a vessel having an open top. The flocculation system also includes a sidewall comprised of a water-impermeable material. The flocculation system further includes a first bottom comprising the water-impermeable material. The flocculation system further includes a second bottom having a floc filter that passes flocs and prevents the passage of a cleaning tool. The flocculation system further includes a floc trap below the second bottom. The floc trap includes a space defined by the sidewall, the first bottom, and the floc filter. In some implementations, the flocculation system includes a flocculant disposed on the sidewall, the floc filter, or the first bottom.

A flocculation system is provided including a vessel having an open top. The flocculation system also includes a sidewall comprised of a water-impermeable material. The flocculation system further includes a first bottom comprising the water-impermeable material. The flocculation system further includes a second bottom having a floc filter that passes flocs and prevents the passage of a cleaning tool. The flocculation system further includes a floc trap below the second bottom. The floc trap includes a space defined by the sidewall, the first bottom, and the floc filter. In some implementations, the flocculation system includes a flocculant disposed on the sidewall, the floc filter, or the first bottom.

A method of treating contaminated water effluent from a well drilling operation. The method comprises decomposing organic contaminants in the effluent by bubbling a gas containing ozone through the effluent; adding a coagulant to increase the particle size of solid particles contained in the effluent; adding a flocculant to increase the particle size of solid particles contained in the effluent, thereby forming floes suspended in the effluent; and filtering the floes from the effluent to produce a filtrate and flocculated solids. The method may further comprise adding the coagulant into a stream of effluent flowing within a first conduit under controlled shear conditions, and adding the flocculant into a stream of effluent containing pin floes flowing within a second conduit under controlled shear conditions. The method may further comprise delivering the effluent containing the suspended floes into a filter through a conduit floating in the effluent contained in the filter.