The invention is an apparatus and method for separating solid particles from a liquid, including both light particles which tend to flow on or close to the surface of the liquid and heavy particles which tend to sink to the bottom of the liquid. The apparatus includes: a separation tank, an inlet means, a weir, a heavy particle outlet means, and a substantially clear liquid outlet means. The method includes: flowing the liquid containing suspended solid particles into the separation tank; adjusting the flow rate to said tank to allow a residence time for the liquid in the separation tank sufficient for the light particles to float toward the surface of the liquid and for the heavy particles to sink toward the bottom of the liquid in the separation tank; passing the light particles at or near the surface of the liquid across the weir; allowing the heavy particles in the liquid to settle to the bottom, removing heavy particles from the bottom of the separation tank; and removing substantially clear liquid from an intermediate elevation of the liquid in the separator tank. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is used in conjunction with the operation of a coke oven battery to recover fine coal particles and agglomerates in a flushing liquor leaving a charging main so that such recovered fine coal particles and agglomerates may be recycled through a coke oven for conversion into coke; and to recover substantially clear flushing liquor for reuse.