Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A process for making substantially stable coal-water slurries comprising: a) Admixing: (i) ultrafine coal particles having a maximum size of 10µm MMD in an amount comprising from 10 to 30% by weight of the slurry, (ii) larger coal particles within the size range of from 20 to 200µm MMD in an amount sufficient to provide a desired total coal concentration in the slurry, (iii) water, and, (iv) a minor amount of dispersant consisting essentially of an alkaline earth metal salt of an organo- sulfonate in which the organic moiety is multi- functional, and b) subjecting the mixture to high shear at a rate of at least 100 sec
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A process for making substantially stable coal-water slurries comprising: a) Admixing: (i) ultrafine coal particles having a maximum size of 10µm MMD in an amount comprising from 10 to 30% by weight of the slurry, (ii) larger coal particles within the size range of from 20 to 200µm MMD in an amount sufficient to provide a desired total coal concentration in the slurry, (iii) water, and, (iv) a minor amount of dispersant consisting essentially of an alkaline earth metal salt of an organo- sulfonate in which the organic moiety is multi- functional, and b) subjecting the mixture to high shear at a rate of at least 100 sec
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 1, in which an inorganic alkali metal buffer salt is added to maintain pH in the range of from 5 to 8.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 2, in which the buffer salt is an alkali metal phosphate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A process according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 in which: a) The ultrafine particles are within the size range of from 2 to 8µm MMD and comprise from 15 to 25% by wt. of the slurry; and b) the larger coal particles are within a size range of from 20 to 150µm MMD.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the dispersant is calcium lignosulfonate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the minimum shear rate is 500 sec
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the ultrafine particles are produced in the presence of water and at least a portion of the dispersant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
A coal-water slurry which comprises: a) ultrafine coal particles having a maximum size of 10µm MMD, in an amount comprising from 10 to 30% by weight of slurry; b) larger coal particles within the size range of from 20 to 200µm MMD in an amount sufficient to provide a desired total coal concentration in the slurry; c) water; and d) a minor amount of a dispersant consisting essentially of an alkaline earth metal organo-sulfonate in which the organic moiety is multi-functional.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
A coal-water slurry which comprises: a) ultrafine coal particles having a maximum size of 10µm MMD, in an amount comprising from 10 to 30% by weight of slurry; b) larger coal particles within the size range of from 20 to 200µm MMD in an amount sufficient to provide a desired total coal concentration in the slurry; c) water; and d) a minor amount of a dispersant consisting essentially of an alkaline earth metal organo-sulfonate in which the organic moiety is multi-functional.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A slurry according to claim 8 in which: a) the ultrafine particles are within a size range of from 1 to 8µm MMD, and, b) the larger particles are within the size range of from 20 to 150µm MMD.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A slurry according to claim 8 or 9 in which the dispersant is calcium lignosulfonate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A slurry according to any one of claims 8 to 10 which is buffered to a pH of from 5 to 8 by means of an inorganic alkali metal buffer salt.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A slurry according to any one of claims 8 to 11 in which the buffer salt is an alkali metal phosphate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A slurry according to any one of claims 1 to 12 in which the slurry is a substantially thixotropic or Bingham fluid.