Effects of Mineral Surface Silanization and Bitumen Coating on its Filtration from an Aqueous Slurry

•Silanization of quartz increased its surface hydrophobicity and filtration rate.•Bitumen coating significantly increased the contact angle (hydrophobicity) of minerals.•Filtration rates of bitumen-coating treated minerals depended on bitumen concentration.•A thin bitumen coating on mineral surfaces helped filtration.•A thick bitumen coating on mineral surfaces impeded filtration.