Continuous electrokinetic dewatering of phosphatic clay suspensions

A system for continuous electrokinetic dewatering, comprising:

• a cake formation zone including a first anode and a first cathode each extending horizontally across a first portion of a separation chamber, the first anode and the first cathode energized to establish a first electric field between the first anode and the first cathode;
• a cake dewatering zone including a second anode and a second cathode each extending at an upward angle across a second portion of the separation chamber, the second anode and the second cathode energized to establish a second electric field between the second anode and the second cathode;
• an inlet configured to supply a dilute feed suspension comprising solids suspended in water to the cake formation zone;
• and
• a conveying belt extending horizontally between the first anode and the first cathode and extending at the upward angle between the second anode and the second cathode, where the first electric field forms a cake on the conveying belt by consolidating the solids away from the first cathode, and the second electric field dewaters the cake on the conveying belt.