TREATMENT OF AQUEOUS MINERAL SUSPENSIONS WITH A POLYMERIC FLOCCULANTS

摘要

The present invention relates to a method of dewatering an aqueous mineral suspension comprising introducing into the suspension a flocculating system comprising a poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer, in particular a copolymer of ethylene oxide and one or more epoxy or glycidyl ether functionalized hydrophobic monomer. Said poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers are useful for the treatment of suspensions of particulate material, especially waste mineral slurries. The invention is particularly suitable for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, the processing of oil sands tailings.