摘要 |
A process of concentrating an aqueous suspension of solid particles, comprising the steps of introducing the aqueous suspension of solid particles into a vessel, addition of at least one organic polymeric flocculant to the aqueous suspension of solid particles thereby forming flocculated solids, allowing the flocculated solids to settle to form a compression zone, comprising a bed of sedimented solids in suspension at the lower end of the vessel, flowing the sedimented solids from the vessel as an underflow stream, in which an effective amount of ultrasonic energy is applied to: a) the bed of solids at the compression zone; b) the sedimented solids in the underflow stream; or c) a recycle stream containing sedimented solids taken from either the underflow stream or the compression zone which are then recycled back to the vessel. |