Blends of hydroxamated polymer emulsions with polyacrylate emulsions

A process for removing suspended solids from a process stream of a Bayer alumina process which comprises:

• a) inverting an inverse emulsion comprising in its dispersed phase a hydroxamated polymer and a second polymer selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal (meth)acrylate homopolymer, an ammonium (meth)acrylate homopolymer, and copolymers of said (meth)acrylates with (alk)acrylamide,
• wherein the molar ratio of hydroxamated polymer to second polymer in the emulsion is within the range of about 99:1 to 15:85 when said second polymer is an alkali metal (meth)acrylate homopolymer or copolymer and is within the range of about 99:1 to 58:42 when said second polymer is an ammonium (meth)acrylate homopolymer or copolymer,
• to form an aqueous solution of a hydroxamated polymer and a polymer selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal (meth)acrylate homopolymer, an ammonium (meth)acrylate homopolymer, and copolymers of said acrylates with (alk)acrylamide;
• and
• b) contacting a Bayer process stream with the solution, wherein the solution contains an amount of said polymers effective to flocculate and settle the suspended solids therein.