Flocculation of mineral suspensions

Abstract

A method of dewatering an aqueous mineral suspension comprising introducing into the suspension a flocculating system comprising, a) a substantially non-ionic polymeric flocculant and b) an anionic polymeric flocculant, characterised in that, the substantially non-ionic polymeric flocculant is added to the suspension before the addition of the anionic polymeric flocculant. The method is useful for flocculating China clay suspensions, suspensions of s welling clays, calcium carbonate suspensions, titanium dioxide suspensions, suspensions of coal tailings, red mud and phosphate slimes etc.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.