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Abstract

A flocculating agent that comprises a complex of a metal salt and multiple strands of a temperature sensitive polymer. A process for separating coal fines from an aqueous liquid using a flocculent having a critical flocculation temperature, said critical flocculation temperature being the temperature below which flocculent is hydrophilic and forms floccules with fines and above which the flocculent is hydrophobic, which comprises adding to the aqueous liquid an effective amount of the flocculent at a temperature below the critical flocculent flocculation temperature of the flocculent to cause generation of floccules, said comprising at least a metal complex including a metal salt and a water soluble polymer, separating (for example filtering) floccules from the aqueous liquid, then heating the floccules to a temperature above the critical flocculation temperature of the flocculent to expel water from the floccules to create a solids and expelled water, and separating the expelled water from the solids.

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First Claim