Method for separating a precipitate from a liquid, including:inducing transport of at least part of the precipitate to an upper surface of the liquid; andremoving precipitate from the upper surface of the liquid. The invention further provides a system for separating a precipitate from a liquid, wherein the system includes:a container (1) for receiving a liquid wherein precipitate is and/or has been formed;a precipitate transport inducing means (3) for inducing precipitate transport towards an upper surface of liquid, held in the container (1) during operation; anda precipitate removing means (5) for removing precipitate from a precipitate removal level within the container (1), the precipitate removal level being associated with an upper surface of liquid, held in the container (1) during operation. The invention also provides a process for the recovery of water soluble biopolymers from an aqueous solution.

Method for separating a precipitate from a liquid, including:inducing transport of at least part of the precipitate to an upper surface of the liquid; andremoving precipitate from the upper surface of the liquid. The invention further provides a system for separating a precipitate from a liquid, wherein the system includes:a container (1) for receiving a liquid wherein precipitate is and/or has been formed;a precipitate transport inducing means (3) for inducing precipitate transport towards an upper surface of liquid, held in the container (1) during operation; anda precipitate removing means (5) for removing precipitate from a precipitate removal level within the container (1), the precipitate removal level being associated with an upper surface of liquid, held in the container (1) during operation. The invention also provides a process for the recovery of water soluble biopolymers from an aqueous solution.

THIS invention relates to an integrated process for recovering the valuable iron fraction from low grade iron ore, including the steps of: comminution 14 and classification 36/39 to obtain a classified fraction suitable for coarse flotation and classified fraction suitable for fine beneficiation; subjecting the fraction suitable for coarse flotation to coarse flotation 40 to obtain an intermediate iron concentrate 42 and a coarse sand residue 44; grinding the intermediate concentrate to a size suitable for fine beneficiation; and subjecting the fractions suitable for fine beneficiation to fine beneficiation 46 and obtaining a final iron concentrate 48 and a fine tailings 50.

THIS invention relates to an integrated process for recovering the valuable iron fraction from low grade iron ore, including the steps of: comminution 14 and classification 36/39 to obtain a classified fraction suitable for coarse flotation and classified fraction suitable for fine beneficiation; subjecting the fraction suitable for coarse flotation to coarse flotation 40 to obtain an intermediate iron concentrate 42 and a coarse sand residue 44; grinding the intermediate concentrate to a size suitable for fine beneficiation; and subjecting the fractions suitable for fine beneficiation to fine beneficiation 46 and obtaining a final iron concentrate 48 and a fine tailings 50.

THIS invention relates to a process for recovering value metals from ore (50) configured such as to substantively reduce or eliminate the need for a tailings storage facility. This object is achieved through an integrated processing system designed to enhance the ratio of sand residue from coarse flotation (62) to the amount of tailings arising from fine flotation (72), and then blending a proportion of coarse and fine flotation gangue materials into a free draining stack (82).

THIS invention relates to a process for recovering value metals from ore (50) configured such as to substantively reduce or eliminate the need for a tailings storage facility. This object is achieved through an integrated processing system designed to enhance the ratio of sand residue from coarse flotation (62) to the amount of tailings arising from fine flotation (72), and then blending a proportion of coarse and fine flotation gangue materials into a free draining stack (82).

A water-based extraction process for extracting bitumen from mined oil is provided comprising providing a water-based mixture containing bitumen; and introducing nanobubbles to the mixture to attach to bitumen and, thereby, extract the bitumen from the water-based mixture, wherein a nanobubble has a diameter of less than 5,000 nm.

A water-based extraction process for extracting bitumen from mined oil is provided comprising providing a water-based mixture containing bitumen; and introducing nanobubbles to the mixture to attach to bitumen and, thereby, extract the bitumen from the water-based mixture, wherein a nanobubble has a diameter of less than 5,000 nm.

A process for treating and dewatering tailings comprising fine clay minerals, fine rock-forming minerals and water is provided, comprising treating the tailings with a sufficient amount of a collector to modify the surface properties of both the fine clays and rock-forming minerals; subjecting the treated tailings to froth flotation to form a fine clays and rock-forming minerals froth layer; and recovering the froth layer and subjecting it to dewatering.

A process for treating and dewatering tailings comprising fine clay minerals, fine rock-forming minerals and water is provided, comprising treating the tailings with a sufficient amount of a collector to modify the surface properties of both the fine clays and rock-forming minerals; subjecting the treated tailings to froth flotation to form a fine clays and rock-forming minerals froth layer; and recovering the froth layer and subjecting it to dewatering.