Method for dewatering coal tailings using DADMAC/vinyl trialkoxysilane copolymers as a coagulant

Abstract

A method for concentrating coal tailings and for dewatering coal products employing a copolymer of diallyldimethlylammonium halide and a vinyl alkoxysilane, preferably a copolymer of diallyldimethylammonium chloride and vinyltrimethoxysilane as a coagulant. The method for concentrating coal tailings comprises steps of: feeding the coal tailings to a thickener; treating the coal tailings with the coagulant, discharging substantially concentrated tailing; and withdrawing substantially clarified liquid from the thickener. A method for dewatering coal products containing water comprising the steps of: feeding the clean coal containing water to a twin belt filter press; treating said coal with an effective amount of a copolymer coagulant of diallyldimethylammonium halide and vinyl alkoxysilane, preferably diallyldimethylammonium chloride and vinyl trimethoxysilane is also disclosed. The method encompasses removing water from the coal product through the addition of the subject polymer coagulant; removing the dewatered clean coal product from the filter; and withdrawing the recycled water through the filter.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.