Patent ID: 7235175

Claim:
A device for continuous treatment of a hydrophilic sludge or slime product containing at least 70% water and a solid fraction comprising colloidal material, said device comprising: a caisson having an elongated shape with longitudinal axis, through which the product flows along the longitudinal axis between at least one inlet and an outlet at opposite ends of the caisson, at least one orifice for introducing pressurized air into the caisson, at least one orifice for introducing chemical additive into the caisson, at least one wall within the caisson perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the caisson, separating the caisson into at least two hollow compartments, and at least one elastic means device secured to said wall, wherein said wall permits transfer of product from one compartment to an adjacent compartment, and said elastic means device is constructed and arranged to cause counter-currents inducing mechanical shocks and hydraulic turbulence in the product in at least one of said compartments, thereby breaking the colloidal material and performing auto-filtration of the product.