Patent ID: 9346693
Filing Date: 2016-05-24
CPC Classification: B01D,B03D,C02F

Claim Text:
1. A method for removing waste from a waste stream comprising waste water from a mining operation, the method comprising: combining a mixed aqueous solution of a flocculant composition with a waste stream flowing from a waste source to a thickening tank and comprising particulates to form settling flocculants, wherein the flocculant composition comprises polyethylene oxide polymer having a molecular weight of at least about 1 million g/mol and anionic polyacrylamide having an average molecular weight of at least about 15 million g/mol, wherein the flocculant composition is added to the waste stream at a dosage from about 1 part per million by weight to about 50 parts per million by weight of the waste water and wherein the mixed aqueous solution of the flocculant composition is effective to clarify the waste water to remove at least about 90 percent of solids initially present in the waste stream resulting in a clarified water flow; flowing the waste stream combined with the flocculant composition into the thickening tank; and draining concentrated tailings from the lower 20% of the thickening tank height, wherein the clarified water flow is removed from the top 40% of the thickening tank height.