Systems and methods for removing finely dispersed particulate matter from a fluid stream
Disclosed herein are systems for removing particulate matter from a fluid, comprising a particle functionalized by attachment of at least one activating group or amine functional group, wherein the modified particle complexes with the particulate matter within the fluid to form a removable complex therein. The particulate matter has preferably been contacted, complexed or reacted with a tethering agent. The system is particularly advantageous to removing particulate matter from a tailing solution.
1. A method of removing particulate matter from a fluid, comprising:
affixing an activating material to the particulate matter in the fluid to form an activated particle, wherein the activating material is an anionic partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide;
attaching a tethering material to an anchor particle to form a tether-bearing anchor particle, wherein the tethering material is a cationic polymer,
adding the tether-bearing anchor particle to the fluid comprising the activated particle, wherein the tethering material attaches to the activating material forming a removable complex in the fluid, wherein the removable complex comprises the particulate matter and the anchor particle; and
removing the removable complex from the fluid thereby removing the particulate matter from the fluid.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removable complex is removed by filtration.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removable complex is removed by centrifugation.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removable complex is removed by gravitational settling.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anchor particle comprises sand.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tethering material is selected from the group consisting of chitosan, lupamin, BPEI, and PDAC.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particulate matter comprises quartz and/or clay fines.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is a tailing solution.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the particulate matter comprises quartz and/or clay fines.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tethering material is selected from the group consisting of linear or branched polyethyleneimine and polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the tethering material is polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anchor particle is indigenous to the geographical region where the method is performed.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anchor particle has a larger diameter than that of the particulate matter.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the anchor particle has a mass mean diameter of greater than 70 microns.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anchor particle is made from recycled materials or waste.