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Bentonite slurryRelated Patent Categories: Paper Making And Fiber Liberation, Processes And Products, Non-fiber AdditiveBentonite slurry description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070131371, Bentonite slurry. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The contents of Provisional Application U.S. Ser. No. 60/749,237 filed Dec. 9, 2005, on which the present application is based and benefit claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e), is herein incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates generally to a phyllosilicate material slurry and to processes for using the slurry. More specifically, the invention relates to a bentonite slurry having increased solids and stability. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] One use of bentonite clay slurries has been in the wet-end of the paper machines as an assisting agent to non-ionic and to cationic flocculants in the enhancement of water removal and retention of fine particles during papermaking. Additionally, mineral fibers have for a long time been added to pulp slurries to improve color, opacity, printability and other properties. One such method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,052,595 wherein a mineral filler, such as kaolinite, titanium dioxide, talc and the like, bentonite, and an acrylamide polymer are added to a pulp slurry to improve filler retention. Another paper making process having improved retention of pulp components in paper is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,305,781 and is especially useful for making unfilled papers such as kraft, linerboard and newsprint. In this process the pulp suspension includes bentonite in an amount generally less than 5% Polyacrylamides are then added to the suspension to provide improvement in dewatering properties and fiber retention. [0006] Usually the blentonite is brought to the paper mill in a dry form that is subject to "dusting" during handling. Expensive and cumbersome equipment must be employed to prepare a bentonite-containing slurry for introduction to the paper machine. It is expensive to automate such equipment, so that additional labor resources must be devoted to preparing the bentonite. A slurry or dispersion made off-site solves some of these problems. However, it is not economical or practical to ship clay suspensions as aqueous slurries because of the large amount of water. Attempts to increase the amount of bentonite in the slurry before shipping have not proven successful as bentonite in slurry form, at solids concentrations above 8% to 10%, is thixotropic, forming a gel-like or very viscous dispersion when prepared at above a few percent solids. [0007] There have been repeated attempts to provide pumpable bentonite slurries but most attempts relate to uses in oilfield applications. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,785 there is disclosed a process for providing a clay slurry containing elevated solids that includes along with the clay a salt of a low molecular weight amine in an amount that is effective to prevent the clay from swelling; thus permitting the slurry to be stored and shipped. The inhibitinig effect of the amine salt is reversible upon subsequent dilution. Howvever, the patent does not address enhanced drainage and retention performance compared to the normal bentonite system starting with dry powder. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,657 is directed to paper making processes including microparticulate process which utilizes bentonite and provides the bentonite in the form of a concentrate at the paper mill. A cellulosic suspension is formed by diluting the bentonite slurry to 15% to 40% dry weight of bentonite in water. To the composition a citrate in a fluid stabilizing and activating amount is added. The resulting suspension has a viscosity below 5000 cps. A polymeric retention aid, such as a cationic starch may be mixed into the cellulosic suspension. While mention is made of the concentrates themselves no mention is made of their enhanced drainage and retention performance compared to the normal bentonite system starting with dry powder. [0009] Despite the efforts of to produce a concentrated slurry, it remains desirable to provide an improved stable bentonite slurry with the handling characteristics of a pumpable viscosity range and an equivalent performance over the corresponding dry bentonite and/or higher solids than a normal bentonite in water slurry. Such slurry might also be designed to provide additional benefits during papermaking in the final application, such as sizing, water removal during pressing, or improved print quality of the finished paper. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] It is an object of the invention to provide an alkaline earth phylosilicate material-containing slurry having increased solids content and remains stable and pumpable over an extended period of time. [0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a bentonite-containing slurry that has increased solids content due to the inclusion of a polyfunctional compound. [0012] A further object of the present invention is the provision of a process for using the slurry of the present invention in papermaking. [0013] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a process for using the slurry of the present invention in sludge dewatering. [0014] The present invention is to an alkaline earth phylosilicate material-containing slurry. It has been found the slurries of the present invention may be made at concentrations of up to 75% solids and remain pumpable. Broadly speaking, the slurry includes an alkaline earth phylosilicate material and a polyfunctional compound and the remainder being water. [0015] The alkaline earth phylosilicate material-containing slurry is preferably a pre-activated bentonite which is essentially semi-swollen upon addition to the slurry, and the polyfunctional compound is preferably an essentially non-monomeric, tall-oil derivative or distillate and the remainder being water. Other polyfunctional compounds include lignin, pitch, and lignosulfonate. The slurry does not require the addition of electrolyte. The properties of the slurry are such that the slurry contains between 5% and 75% total solid material in a pumpable form or in a gel which can be pumped upon breaking of the thixotropy. The slurries are time stable for over a month. [0016] Another aspect of this invention is the provision of a process for making paper using the slurry of this invention. In another aspect of this invention there is provided a process for dewatering sludge using the high solids content slurry of this invention. [0017] Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS(S) [0018] The present inventions now will be described more fully hereafter. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. [0019] One aspect of the present invention is the provision of an alkaline earth phylosilicate material-containing slurry. It has been found the slurries of the present invention may be made at concentrations of up to 75% solids and remains stable and in a pumpable form or in a gel which can be pumped upon breaking the thixotropy. Broadly speaking, the slurry includes an alkaline earth phylosilicate material and a polyfunctional compound, such as an essentially non-monomeric, tall-oil derived blend of surfactants, and the remainder being water. [0020] The preferred phylosilicate material used in the slurry of this invention is bentonite clay and may be one of the common commercially available bentonites (known as montmorillonite clays). Bentonites having the property of swelling in water are preferred. The bentonite clay should be pre-activated, i.e., subject to ion exchange whereby calcium and/or magnesium is replaced with sodium, which is essentially semi-swollen upon addition to the slurry, and further comprising water. The slurry is especially useful in applications where the pH between 3 and 10. Continue reading about Bentonite slurry... Full patent description for Bentonite slurry Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Bentonite slurry patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Bentonite slurry or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Papermaking process Next Patent Application: Phyllosilicate slurry for papermaking Industry Class: Paper making and fiber liberation ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Bentonite slurry patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.9379 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , 174 |
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