The invention concerns the treatment of mine tailings in the form of aqueous effluents comprising solid particles. With the method of the invention it is possible to separate all or part of the water from an aqueous effluent comprising solid particles. This method comprises (a) adding at least one sulfonated dispersing agent to the effluent, then (b) adding at least one agent to flocculate the solid particles.
The invention also relates to a composition comprising an aqueous effluent comprising dispersed, flocculated solid particles. Preferably it relates to a composition comprising an aqueous effluent comprising solid particles, at least one sulfonated dispersing agent and at least one agent to flocculate solid particles.