Methods for removing finely dispersed particulate matter from a fluid stream

A method of removing particulate matter from a fluid stream, comprising:

• providing an activator polymer capable of complexing with the particulate matter;
• treating the fluid stream with the activator polymer to form a treated fluid stream comprising activator polymer complexed with the particulate matter;
• providing anchor particles coated with a tether polymer that is capable of interacting with the activator polymer;
• adding the coated anchor particles to the treated fluid stream, thereby forming removable complexes therein comprising the particulate matter and the anchor particles bound together by the interaction of the activator polymer and the tether polymer;
• and
• removing the removable complexes from the fluid stream;
• wherein the activator polymer is an anionic or cationic polymer and wherein when the activator polymer is an anionic polymer, the tether polymer is a cationic polymer and when the activating polymer is a cationic polymer, the tether polymer is an anionic polymer.

A method for removing fine particulate matter from a fluid, comprising:

• separating an inflow fluid stream comprising fine particulate matter and coarse particulate matter suspended therein into an overflow path comprising the suspended fine particulate matter and an underflow path comprising the suspended coarse particulate matter;
• introducing into the overflow path an activating material capable of being affixed to the fine particulate matter to form activated particles, said activated particles being suspended in a first treated fluid stream;
• introducing into the underflow path a tethering material capable of being affixed to the coarse particulate matter to form anchor particles, said anchor particles being suspended in a second treated fluid stream;
• wherein said activated particles and said anchor particles are capable of interaction to form removable complexes;
• combining the first treated fluid stream and the second treated fluid stream to form a conjoined treated fluid stream wherein activated particles complex with anchor particles to form removable complexes;
• and
• separating the removable complexes from the conjoined treated fluid stream,
• thereby removing fine particulate matter from the fluid;
• wherein the activating polymer is an anionic or cationic polymer and wherein when the activating polymer is an anionic polymer, the tethering mateial is a cationic polymer and when the activating polymer is a cationic polymer, the tethering mateial is an anionic polymer.