Patent ID: 6039881
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: B01D,C02F,C08J,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of treating suspended solids, comprising (a) intermixing substantially water-soluble or water-swellable polymer agglomerates with water to form an aqueous admixture, (b) intermixing said aqueous admixture with suspended solids, and (c) separating resultant concentrated solids from resultant aqueous liquid, wherein said agglomerates are comprised of polymer particles comprised of a spray-dried polymer having pendant groups selected from the group consisting of amide, tertiary aminomethyl, quaternized tertiary aminomethyl, hydroxyl, glyoxal, sulfonate, sulfonate salt, carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid salt, hydroxamic acid, hydroxamic acid salt, or a polymer having recurring units selected from the group consisting of dialkylaminoalkyl(alk)acrylate, dialkylaminoalkyl(alk)acrylate salts, and quaternized dialkylaminoalkyl(alk)acrylate, wherein about 90% of said agglomerates have an agglomerate size of about 160 microns or greater and wherein about 90% of said agglomerates have an agglomerate size of about 1500 microns or less.