A granular litter cleaning apparatus comprises a separation system having a separation tank adapted to receive a mixture of granules and plastic litter, and water therein, the separation tank having a top opening, and a closeable bottom outlet, and at least one water inlet for feeding water to the separation tank. A collect subsystem is for conveying a mixture of granules and plastic litter to the separation tank. A pump system is in fluid communication with the water inlet. The pump system is operated to raise a level of water in the separation tank to skim water with plastic litter out through the top opening of the separation tank. The closeable bottom outlet is openable to empty the separation tank from granules decanted in a bottom of the separation tank. A process for separating plastic litter from granules is also provided.

A reactor system includes a reactor vessel configured to contain a process fluid, and a sparger assembly that operably coupled to the reactor vessel and configured to supply a mixture of a gas and a recirculated process fluid to the reactor vessel. The sparger assembly includes a plurality of sparger chambers. Each sparger chamber includes a process fluid conduit fluidly coupled to a process fluid return of the reactor vessel via a process fluid inlet, wherein the process fluid inlet has a first block and bleed valve assembly. Each sparger chamber includes a sparger conduit fluidly coupled to the process fluid conduit and a sparger disposed within the sparger conduit and fluidly coupled to a gas source via a gas inlet. Each sparger chamber also includes a process fluid-gas mixture outlet that fluidly couples the sparger conduit to a sparger outlet of the reactor vessel.

A spout nozzle for a scum removal device provided in water where scum floats: a tip-end-side nozzle part of a nozzle body is formed in a flat cylindrical shape; a valve body closing a discharging opening by its own weight when pressure water is not supplied is provided in the tip-end-side nozzle part; a closing part closing an opening above the discharging opening when the discharging opening is closed is provided on the valve body; therefore, resistance is small even if it is arranged in water and moreover an interior is hardly stained by scum and the like contained in water.

Apparatus uses engineered collection media to recover mineral particles in a mineral extraction process, e.g., for processing a tailings stream at the end of a flotation separation process. The engineered collection media are added to slurry/tailings containing the mineral particles. The engineered collection media have collection surfaces coated with a chemical selected for attracting the mineral particles to the collection surfaces so the engineered collection media becomes mineral laden media in the slurry/tailings in a loading stage. The apparatus include three stages: removing unwanted material from mineral laden media; using a stripping agent to strip the mineral particles from the mineral laden media; and separating the engineered collection media from the mineral particles and the stripping agent. The stripping agent is reused for stripping, and the engineered collection media are returned to the loading stage. The engineered collection media can have a smooth or foam-like surface.

Apparatus uses engineered collection media to recover mineral particles in a mineral extraction process, e.g., for processing a tailings stream at the end of a flotation separation process. The engineered collection media are added to slurry/tailings containing the mineral particles. The engineered collection media have collection surfaces coated with a chemical selected for attracting the mineral particles to the collection surfaces so the engineered collection media becomes mineral laden media in the slurry/tailings in a loading stage. The apparatus include three stages: removing unwanted material from mineral laden media; using a stripping agent to strip the mineral particles from the mineral laden media; and separating the engineered collection media from the mineral particles and the stripping agent. The stripping agent is reused for stripping, and the engineered collection media are returned to the loading stage. The engineered collection media can have a smooth or foam-like surface.

A method for treating process water of a flotation arrangement, the flotation arrangement including a flotation arrangement including a mineral flotation line and a process water treatment arrangement for treating underflow of the of the mineral flotation line. The method includes the steps of a) dewatering underflow from the flotation in a gravitational solid-liquid separator; b) subjecting supernatant from step a) to cleaning flotation for collecting at least fine particles and residual flotation chemicals, for separating at least fine particles and residual flotation chemicals from the supernatant into cleaning flotation overflow, and for forming purified process water as cleaning flotation underflow; c) removing cleaning flotation overflow as tailings, and d) recirculating purified process water into the mineral flotation line.

A fluidized bed separator (1) includes a feed section (4) between an upper separation chamber (19) and a main separation chamber (6). The feed section (4) has one or more feed pipes (11) extending horizontally and transversely with respect to a body wall (10) of the fluidized bed separator (1). The one or more feed pipes (11) are positioned completely and entirely underneath the inclined plates (17). An external oversize protection apparatus (3) which is separate from and external to the body wall (10) may be operatively coupled to the one or more feed pipes (11). One or more lamella cartridges (49) may be provided within channels (18) of the upper separation chamber (19), and one or more breakaway plates (54, 55) may be inserted within channels (18) to prevent sanding and facilitate insertion and extraction of the lamella cartridges (49).

There is disclosed processes and systems for improving the efficiency of the separation of insoluble contaminants from a fluid in a floatation unit.

A separation unit for separating contaminants, such as oil, from water comprises at least one inlet section and a separation tank having an outlet for effluent, an outlet for liquid reject, and an outlet for gas. The inlet section comprises an inlet for influent, a gas injector for injecting gas into the influent, a turbulent mixing assembly for mixing the influent and the gas, and a diffuser for reducing a flow velocity of the mixed influent and gas. The separation unit is adapted to control a level of a gas-liquid interface in the tank by regulating leakage of gas using a liquid reject valve in the outlet for liquid reject and/or a gas reject valve in the outlet for gas. The separation unit maintains the level of the liquid interface below an entrance of the outlet for liquid reject during a normal mode of operation, and, during a fluid reject mode of operation, opens the liquid reject valve and raises the level of the liquid interface to be equal to or above the entrance of the outlet for liquid reject.

A separation unit for separating contaminants, such as oil, from water comprises at least one inlet section and a separation tank having an outlet for effluent, an outlet for liquid reject, and an outlet for gas. The inlet section comprises an inlet for influent, a gas injector for injecting gas into the influent, a turbulent mixing assembly for mixing the influent and the gas, and a diffuser for reducing a flow velocity of the mixed influent and gas. The separation unit is adapted to control a level of a gas-liquid interface in the tank by regulating leakage of gas using a liquid reject valve in the outlet for liquid reject and/or a gas reject valve in the outlet for gas. The separation unit maintains the level of the liquid interface below an entrance of the outlet for liquid reject during a normal mode of operation, and, during a fluid reject mode of operation, opens the liquid reject valve and raises the level of the liquid interface to be equal to or above the entrance of the outlet for liquid reject.