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The present invention relates to methods for the separation of materials from heterogeneous fluids and provides a means of effecting stimulant-sensitive flocculation and consolidation of solid suspensions within a liquid medium. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of controlling th

The present invention relates to methods for the separation of materials from heterogeneous fluids and provides a means of effecting stimulant-sensitive flocculation and consolidation of solid suspensions within a liquid medium. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of controlling the state of a suspension of solid particles in a liquid, including applying to the suspension a stimulus adapted to control inter-particle forces between the solid particles. The stimulus is reversibly operable to control attraction and/or repulsion. Means of consolidating a sediment bed and of separating the resultant liquids-rich and solids-rich phases are also within the ambit of the invention.

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1. A method of separating solid particles from a suspension comprising a liquid, comprising: applying one or more stimuli to said suspension, said one or more stimuli adapted to control inter-particle forces between said solid particles to form a conditioned state comprising a solids-rich phase and

1. A method of separating solid particles from a suspension comprising a liquid, comprising: applying one or more stimuli to said suspension, said one or more stimuli adapted to control inter-particle forces between said solid particles to form a conditioned state comprising a solids-rich phase and a liquids rich phase, wherein each stimulus is selectively operable to effect reversibly operable conditioning between an initial state prevailing prior to said applying one or more stimuli and said conditioned state resultant from said applying one or more stimuli, thereby to control interaction between said solid particles, wherein said one or more stimuli comprise a chemical additive, wherein said chemical additive is a photosensitive molecule, incorporated within one or more polymers, at least one which is a water-soluble polymer, said photosensitive molecule being associated with a predetermined change in light wavelength; consolidating said solids-rich phase by facilitating said reversibly operable conditioning to liberate at least some liquid otherwise trapped among said solid particles, wherein said reversibly operable conditioning is effected by applying light to the chemical additive; and separating said solids-rich phase from said liquids-rich phase. 2. A method of controlling consolidation of a bed of solid particles within a liquid including applying one or more stimuli to said bed, said one or more stimuli adapted to control inter-particle forces between said solid particles to form a conditioned state comprising a solids-rich phase and a liquids-rich phase, wherein each stimulus is selectively operable to effect reversibly operable conditioning between an initial state prevailing prior to said applying one or more stimuli and said conditioned state resultant from said applying one or more stimuli, thereby to control interaction between said solid particles, said stimulus being applied for a predetermined time thereby to liberate at least some liquid otherwise trapped within said bed, wherein said one or more stimuli comprise a chemical additive, wherein said chemical additive is a photosensitive molecule, incorporated within one or more polymers, at least one which is a water-soluble polymer, said photosensitive molecule being associated with a predetermined change in light wavelength, wherein said reversibly operable conditioning is effected by applying light to the chemical additive; and separating said solids-rich phase from said liquids-rich phase. 3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said reversibly operable conditioning is facilitated by removal of said one or more stimuli, and/or by addition of another of said one or more stimuli. 4. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said reversibly operable conditioning is facilitated substantially by way of flocculation and/or coagulation. 5. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said inter-particle forces are attractive or repulsive between said solid particles within said liquid. 6. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each of said one or more stimuli is applied for a predetermined time, thereby to induce the desired attraction or repulsion and subsequently removed or altered, thereby to effect said reversibly operable conditioning. 7. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said polymers suitable for the inclusion of photosensitive units include polypeptides comprising lysine and glutamic acid. 8. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamides, polysaccharides, and polyelectrolytes. 9. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said photosensitive molecules are spyropyrans, spyrooxazines, azo benzenes, or triphenyl methane derivatives. 10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said spyropyrans and/or spyrooxazines are selected from the group consisting of benzoindolino pyranospiran (BIPS), benzoindolino spyrooxazine (BISO), naphthalenoindolino spyrooxazine (NISO) and quinolinylindolino spyrooxazine (QISO). 11. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said polymers responsive to said change in wavelength are selected from the group consisting of poly dimethylacrylamide/N-4-phenylazophenylacrylamide (DMAAm) and poly dimethylacrylamide/4-phenylazophenylacryate (DMAA).