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.

An above-ground low-energy method of dewatering highly contaminated waste e.g. leachate contaminated with at least a first group of contaminants and PFAS is described. The method comprises the step of removing the PFAS before removing the first group of contaminants. The removal of PFAS is undertaken by actively aerating the contaminated waste comprising PFAS to produce a waste stream comprising a concentration of PFAS and a liquid stream having at least some of the first group of contaminants. The one or more liquid streams are separated from the waste streams so as to dewater the contaminated waste. Optionally, the liquid streams are treated to remove the first group of contaminants.

A method for processing bitumen froth comprised of bitumen, water containing chlorides and solids is provided for producing a final diluted bitumen product having reduced chlorides. In particular, fine water droplets containing chlorides that are present in raw diluted bitumen are captured by washing the raw diluted bitumen with low salinity water to produce the final diluted bitumen product having reduced chlorides.

A flotation separation system for partitioning a slurry comprises a flotation separation cell that comprises a sparger unit and a separation tank. The sparger unit comprises a slurry inlet for receiving a slurry and a gas inlet for introducing a gas into the slurry. The sparging mechanism disperses the gas bubbles within the slurry. A high shear element comprising a rotating shaft and a rotating high shear element mounted to it located within the sparging mechanism shears the gas into a bubble dispersion within the slurry. A slurry outlet discharges the slurry containing the bubble dispersion into the separation tank. An adjustable distributor plate at the slurry outlet restricts the flow of slurry through the slurry outlet. The distributor plate is mounted to the rotating shaft and rotates with the high shear element.

A flotation machine includes a wash water system that is connectable adjacent a tank to direct sprays of water into froth within a froth zone. Wash water panel assemblies of the system can be positioned adjacent the tank so that each of the wash water panel assemblies are moveable between an open position and a closed position. Each wash water panel assembly can include an outer panel body that at least partially defines a reservoir in which wash water is passable and a spray membrane positionable adjacent the outer panel body. The spray membrane can have a plurality of spray holes in fluid communication with the reservoir such that water is passable from the reservoir and through the spray membrane via the spray holes for spraying water into the froth in the froth zone.

A froth flotation cell for treating mineral ore particles suspended in slurry includes a tank, a gas supply, a first froth collection channel, a second froth collection channel arranged between the centre of the tank and the first froth collection channel, and a radial froth collection launder including a radial froth overflow lip, and extending from the first froth collection channel towards the second froth collection channel. The froth flotation cell further includes a radial froth crowder including a crowding sidewall, and extending from the second froth collection channel to the first froth collection channel. Further, a froth flotation line, its use and a froth flotation method are presented.

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.

A froth collection launder for a collection of froth from a mineral flotation includes a first and a second sidewall which are joined to form a bottom including a tip extending along the bottom, the first sidewall including a first end and the second sidewall including a second end at their open ends, at least one of the first and the second ends includes a froth overflow lip, and when the froth collection launder is positioned at its operation position a centre line is located in the middle of the first and the second end in the cross direction (x) of the froth collection launder. The tip is located between the centre line and one of the first and the second end in the cross direction (x) of the froth collection launder and the tip forms the lowest point of the froth collection launder.

A method for the decontamination of water containing one or more PFAS contaminants includes injecting a gas through a diffuser and into the water so as to form a plurality of bubbles in the water, the one or more PFAS contaminants accumulating on the plurality of bubbles. The plurality of bubbles is allowed to rise, forming a foam at the surface of the water. The resulting foam is then collected and transported away from the surface of the water, where it condenses into a liquid and can be treated and/or disposed of.

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.