Patent ID: 8206572

Claim:
A method comprising: (a) feeding a particulate fines feed stream to a tank; wherein the particulate fines feed stream comprises particulate fines (PF); wherein the particulate fines comprise inlet carbon fines (CF I ) and inlet recyclable fines (RF I ); wherein the inlet recyclable fines (RF I ) comprise alumina fines (AF); (b) mixing the particulate fines (PF) with liquid; wherein the liquid comprises a first liquid and a second liquid; and (c) separating at least some of the first liquid from at least some of the second liquid; wherein the first liquid comprises a recovered recyclable fines portion (RF 1 ); wherein the second liquid comprises a waste carbon fines portion (CF 1 ); wherein the mass ratio of the recovered recyclable fines portion (RF 1 ) to the inlet recyclable fines (RF I ) is at least about 0.5; and wherein the mass ratio of the waste carbon fines portion (CF 1 ) to the inlet carbon fines (CF I ) is at least about 0.1.