A separator device (100) includes a separation chamber (107) defined at its lower end by a fluidization fluid panel (111). The separation chamber (107) receives incoming slurry (113) via a slurry inlet (102). The separator device may be characterized in that means (122) for supplying pre-sheared aerated fluidization fluid is provided above the fluidization fluid panel (111). The means (122) for supplying pre-sheared aerated fluidization fluid includes a novel sparger (119) comprising a flexible perforated membrane which is configured to supplementally shear the pre-sheared aerated fluidization fluid and uniformly distribute microbubbles (129) throughout the separation chamber (107).

A system for separating competing anions from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a flow of water contaminated with PFAS and elevated levels of competing anions that includes a separation subsystem which receives the flow of water contaminated with PFAS and elevated levels of competing anions and separates competing anions from the PFAS and concentrates the PFAS to produce a treated flow of water having separated competing anions therein and a flow of water having a majority of PFAS therein. At least one anion exchange vessel having an anion exchange resin therein receives the flow of water having a majority of PFAS therein and removes PFAS from the water to produce a flow of treated water having a majority of the PFAS removed. The separation of competing anions by the separation subsystem increases the treatment capacity of the anion exchange resin to remove PFAS from the contaminated water.

The present invention provides new techniques related to magnetically controllable and/or steerable froth for use in separation processes of mineral-bearing ore and bitumen. Apparatus is provided featuring a processor configured to contain a fluidic medium having a material-of-interest and also having a surfactant with magnetic properties so as to cause the formation of a froth layer that contains at least some of the material-of-interest and is magnetically responsive; and a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field and provide non-mechanical mixing and steering/driving of the froth layer in the processor. The material-of-interest may be mineral-bearing ore particles or bitumen. The processor includes a flotation tank, a primary separation vessel (PSV), or a pipe, including a tailings pipeline. The pipe has a non-magnetic pipe section, and the magnetic field generator includes a magnetic coil arranged in relation to non-magnetic pipe section to generate the magnetic field and provide the non-mechanical mixing and steering/driving of the froth layer in the pipe.

A flotation separation apparatus for separating particles in suspensions, feeds slurry containing the particles through an inlet into a contactor where gas is fed through an inlet to mix with the slurry, for example in a downwardly plunging jet, to form a gas-liquid bubbly two-phase mixture under pressure from an outlet restriction in a throttling duct. The mixture is passed through a flow manipulator configured to induce a high energy dissipation rate, for example by way of a Shockwave formed in a diverging section of the throttling duct reducing the size of the bubbles and brining those bubbles into intimate contact with particles in the mixture which is released into a separation cell where a flow manipulating draft tube is provided to reduce turbulence in the mixture. Alternative apparatus and methods for inducing the high energy dissipation rate and for reducing turbulence in the mixture are also described and claimed.

A slurry feeding arrangement, flotation cell, line, and a method for treating particles suspended in slurry. The slurry feeding arrangement comprises one or more slurry feed means configured to feed slurry to a froth layer; a feed chamber configured to receive the fed slurry from the one or more slurry feed means; an overflow ramp between the feed chamber and the froth layer configured to lead the slurry from the feed chamber to the froth layer.

A guiding arrangement configured to guide a slurry feed in a flotation tank of a flotation cell, a flotation cell and a flotation method. The guiding arrangement comprises at least one guiding plate arranged at the flotation cell. The at least one guiding plate is arranged obliquely in relation to the horizontal.

A flotation separation apparatus for separating particles in suspensions, feeds slurry containing the particles through an inlet into a contactor where gas is fed through an inlet to mix with the slurry, for example in a downwardly plunging jet, to form a gas-liquid bubbly two-phase mixture under pressure from an outlet restriction in a throttling duct. The mixture is passed through a flow manipulator configured to induce a high energy dissipation rate, for example by way of a Shockwave formed in a diverging section of the throttling duct reducing the size of the bubbles and brining those bubbles into intimate contact with particles in the mixture which is released into a separation cell where a flow manipulating draft tube is provided to reduce turbulence in the mixture. Alternative apparatus and methods for inducing the high energy dissipation rate and for reducing turbulence in the mixture are also described and claimed.

There is provided a filtration system comprising a reaction and separation apparatus (2) for processing a solid-liquid mixture (4) to separate solids from liquid, the reaction and separation apparatus (2) comprising: a tank (6) comprising an inlet (8) and an outlet (10), the inlet (8) configured for receiving the solid-liquid mixture (4) into the tank (6), the outlet (10) configured for permitting liquid to exit the tank (6); and a sedimentation device (16) including a liquid conduit (18), the liquid conduit (18) having a first end (20) and a second end (22), the first end (20) configured to be in liquid communication with the outlet (10), the second end (22) configured for dispensing liquid from the liquid conduit (18), wherein the second end (22) is positioned higher than the first end (20) so that the liquid conduit (18) extends from the first end (20) to the second end (22) along a vertical axis or along an inclined axis relative to the horizontal, wherein the filtration system further comprises a preparatory filter (642) configured to, in use, receive an inflow liquid (644) from an external source and separate the inflow liquid (644) into the solid-liquid mixture (4) and a filtered liquid (646), wherein the preparatory filter (642) is configured to dispense the solid-liquid mixture (4) into the tank (6) via the inlet (8).

Coal fines are processed by flotation separation to separate coal particles from ash-forming mineral content particles. Coal fines are mixed water under high shear mixing conditions to form an aqueous slurry of coal fines containing between 15 wt. % and 55 wt. % coal fines. The aqueous slurry is introduced into a coal flotation cell to separate coal particles from ash-forming mineral content particles by flotation separation, wherein the coal fines have a particle size less than 100 m, and more preferably less than 50 m. Bubbles are generated in the coal flotation cell having a bubble size and bubble quantity selected to float the coal particles and to form a coal-froth containing at least 15 wt. % solid particles. The solid particles include coal particles and ash-forming mineral content particles. The coal-froth is collected for further processing.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for minimizing froth drop back in a flotation cell undergoing froth flotation. The flotation cell has a slurry phase, a froth phase and a froth/slurry interface. Water is injected into the flotation cell at a position beneath the froth/slurry interface.