EP0335653A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method for the preparation of gels capable of taking up and releasing water in a reversible manner from clay minerals and polymers
Assignee: Altalanos Iparfejlesztesi Rt Te Boedapest Hongar
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Filing: 1989-03-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A method of making a gel capable of reversibly absorbing and releasing water is described in which a clay mineral (a smectite or a swellable silicate), that has optionally been activated by no more than 1% of an activator (an alkali metal or ammonium salt having an anion that forms an insoluble precipitate with alkaline earth metal ions), is mixed with a water soluble polymer capable of reacting with the clay (e.g. polymers containing -COOH, -COO⁻ M⁺ (where M⁺ is a monovalent cation), -CONH₂, -OH and/or -C-O-C- groups). This mixture can then be mixed with an activator (as described above) and optionally some water to form the gel. The final addition of activator can be performed on site so that the whole gel need not be transported to the site.
Inventors
- 👤 Oszkár Libor
- 👤 Gábor Nagy
- 👤 Tamás Székely
- 👤 Katalin Barkács
- 👤 Gyula Fodor
- 👤 Arpád Gál
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:11
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K17/00; C09K17/40; C01; C01B; C01B33/00; C01B33/20; C01B33/36; C01B33/38; C01B33/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
408 words
A method for the preparation of gels capable of taking up and releasing water in a reversible manner from clay minerals and polymers, characterised in that a clay mineral in non-activated state or optionally pre-treated with up to 1.0 % by weight of an activating agent, calculated for the weight of the clay mineral, a) is treated in a suspension containing at least 8 % by weight, preferably 10-50 % by weight, of dry substance with at least 0.6 % by weight, preferably, 1.5-15 % by weight, of a water soluble polymer capable of reacting with the clay mineral, calculated for the dry substance content of the suspension, and the resuling suspension of a clay mineral/polymer complex is admixed, preferably directly before use, with at least 0.5 % by weight, preferably 1.0-5.0 % by weight, of an activating agent, calculated for the clay mineral content; or b) is treated as a mass with a dry substance content of at least 15 % by weight, preferably 60-70 % by weight, with at least 0.6 % by weight, preferably 1.5-15 % by weight, of a water soluble polymer capable of reacting with the clay mineral, calculated for the dry substance content, then, if necessary, the water content is lowered to or below 40 % by weight, the resulting mass is optionally granulated, and the resulting clay mineral/polymer complex is admixed, preferably directly before use, with at least 0.5 % by weight, preferably 1.0-5.0 % by weight, of an activating agent, calculated for the weight of the clay mineral; or c) is treated as a mass with a dry substance content of at least 8.0 % by weight, preferably 10-70 % by weight, with at least 0.6 % by weight, preferably 1.5-15 % by weight, of a water soluble polymer capable of reacting with the clay mineral, calculated for the dry substance content, the resulting clay mineral/polymer complex is dried to a water content of not more than 20 % by weight taking care that in the drying operation the surface of the dry substance should not warm to a temperature exceeding 150°C fpr a prolonged period of time, if desired, the resulting clay mineral/polymer complex is powdered or granulated, and the resulting clay mineral/polymer complex is admixed, preferably directly before use, with at least 0.5 % by weight, preferably 1.0-5.0 % by weight, of an activating agent, calculated for the weight of the clay mineral, in the presence of water.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
408 words
A method for the preparation of gels capable of taking up and releasing water in a reversible manner from clay minerals and polymers, characterised in that a clay mineral in non-activated state or optionally pre-treated with up to 1.0 % by weight of an activating agent, calculated for the weight of the clay mineral, a) is treated in a suspension containing at least 8 % by weight, preferably 10-50 % by weight, of dry substance with at least 0.6 % by weight, preferably, 1.5-15 % by weight, of a water soluble polymer capable of reacting with the clay mineral, calculated for the dry substance content of the suspension, and the resuling suspension of a clay mineral/polymer complex is admixed, preferably directly before use, with at least 0.5 % by weight, preferably 1.0-5.0 % by weight, of an activating agent, calculated for the clay mineral content; or b) is treated as a mass with a dry substance content of at least 15 % by weight, preferably 60-70 % by weight, with at least 0.6 % by weight, preferably 1.5-15 % by weight, of a water soluble polymer capable of reacting with the clay mineral, calculated for the dry substance content, then, if necessary, the water content is lowered to or below 40 % by weight, the resulting mass is optionally granulated, and the resulting clay mineral/polymer complex is admixed, preferably directly before use, with at least 0.5 % by weight, preferably 1.0-5.0 % by weight, of an activating agent, calculated for the weight of the clay mineral; or c) is treated as a mass with a dry substance content of at least 8.0 % by weight, preferably 10-70 % by weight, with at least 0.6 % by weight, preferably 1.5-15 % by weight, of a water soluble polymer capable of reacting with the clay mineral, calculated for the dry substance content, the resulting clay mineral/polymer complex is dried to a water content of not more than 20 % by weight taking care that in the drying operation the surface of the dry substance should not warm to a temperature exceeding 150°C fpr a prolonged period of time, if desired, the resulting clay mineral/polymer complex is powdered or granulated, and the resulting clay mineral/polymer complex is admixed, preferably directly before use, with at least 0.5 % by weight, preferably 1.0-5.0 % by weight, of an activating agent, calculated for the weight of the clay mineral, in the presence of water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that sodium carbonate, mono-, di- and trisodium phosphate, tripolyphosphate, lithium carbonate, a lithium phosphate, sodium sulphate, ammonium carbonate, an ammonium phosphate and/or an overactivated smectite is applied as activating agent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the clay mineral/polymer complex is treated with the activating agent as a suspension containing at least 6 % by weight of dry substance.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the clay mineral/polymer complex is suspended in water, and the activating agent is added to the suspension.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the clay mineral/polymer complex is added to an aqueous solution or suspension of the activating agent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
A mixture comprising (i) a clay material that has been optionally partly activated by up to 1% by weight of an activating agent (calculated on the weight of the clay mineral) and (ii) at least 0.6% by weight, and preferably 1.5 to 15% by weight, (calculated on the weight of the clay mineral) of a water-soluble polymer capable of reacting with the clay mineral, which mixture is capable of forming a gel that can absorb and release water upon addition of 1 to 5% by weight (based on the weight of the clay mineral) of an activating agent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
A mixture comprising (i) a clay material that has been optionally partly activated by up to 1% by weight of an activating agent (calculated on the weight of the clay mineral) and (ii) at least 0.6% by weight, and preferably 1.5 to 15% by weight, (calculated on the weight of the clay mineral) of a water-soluble polymer capable of reacting with the clay mineral, which mixture is capable of forming a gel that can absorb and release water upon addition of 1 to 5% by weight (based on the weight of the clay mineral) of an activating agent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A mixture as claimed in claim 6, having a water content of less than 40% by weight and preferably less than 20% by weight.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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