EP1160294A2
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EP
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Method for improving the high and low shear rheology of mineral slurries and the products derived therefrom
Assignee: Imerys Kaolin Inc
•
Filing: 2001-05-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2021-05-30
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides several methods for improving the high and low shear rheology of a substantially grit-free and substantially dispersed particulate slurry using a rotor-stator type mill. The methods are applicable to slurries including a natural mineral, suspensions including a natural mineral, and suspensions including synthetic minerals. The methods of the present invention selectively include performance of one or more of the processes of beneficiation, re-milling, dewatering and re-dispersion, and drying, performed in any one of several sequences as disclosed or suggested herein. The present invention further provides a number slurry products having an improved high and/or low shear rheology that are produced by the performance of different combinations of these methods.
Inventors
- 👤 Bomi M. Bilimoria
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 08:53
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09C; C09C1/00; C09C1/40; C09C1/42; B; B01; B01F; B01F27/00; B01F27/27; B01F2101/00; B01F2101/30; B01F23/00; B01F23/50; C01; C01P; C01P2004/00; C01P2004/60; C01P2004/61; C01P2006/00; C01P2006/22; C01P2006/60; C01P2006/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
36 words
A method for improving the high and low shear rheology of a
substantially grit-free and substantially fluid particulate suspension, the
method comprising the step of processing the suspension using a
rotor-stator mill to produce a product.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of Claim 1 wherein the fluid particulate suspension is a
substantially dispersed particulate slurry.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
32 words
The method of Claims 1 or 2 wherein the slurry or suspension is
substantially dispersed in a dispersant and water at an alkaline pH
before it is milled in the rotor-stator mill.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of Claim 3 wherein the dispersant is selected from the
group consisting of phosphates, polyacrylates, silicates, sulfonates and
ligno-sulfates.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of Claim 3 wherein the alkaline substance is selected from
the group consisting at least of soda ash, sodium hydroxide and
ammonium hydroxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of Claim 3 wherein the suspension or slurry is substantially
dispersed in sodium polyacrylate, soda ash and water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of Claim 3 wherein the suspension or slurry is substantially
dispersed at a pH of greater than 6.0, as measured by a in-process pH
method.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of Claim 3 wherein the suspension or slurry is substantially
dispersed at about 10-75% solids.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of Claim 3 wherein the suspension or slurry is substantially
dispersed at about 55-70% solids.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
21 words
The method of Claims 1 or 2 wherein the suspension or slurry has a
maximum particle size of about 325 mesh.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
20 words
The method of Claims 1 or 2 wherein the mill for processing the
suspension or slurry is a Kady-type mill.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
27 words
The method of Claims 1 or 2 wherein the mill for processing the
suspension or slurry includes a conically shaped stator and a
corresponding conically shaped rotor.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
45 words
The method of Claims 1 or 2 wherein the mill for processing the
suspension or slurry includes a stator and correspondingly shaped
rotor which define a gap that is adjustable to provide optimum
efficiency as the suspension or slurry is processed to produce the
product.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
18 words
The method of Claims 1 or 2 further comprising the step of
beneficiating the suspension or slurry product.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of Claim 14 further comprising the step of re-milling the
beneficiated suspension or slurry product.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
32 words
The method of Claims 1 or 2 further comprising the step of at least
partially beneficiating the suspension or slurry prior to and/or following
the step of milling the suspension or slurry.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
30 words
The method of Claims 1 or 2 further comprising the step of at least
partially dewatering the suspension or slurry prior to the step of milling
the suspension or slurry.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of Claim 17 further comprising the step of beneficiating the
suspension or slurry prior to the step of dewatering the suspension or
slurry.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
39 words
The method of Claims 14, 16 or 18 wherein the step of beneficiating
the suspension or slurry product comprises performing at least one
process selected from the group consisting of fractionation, flotation,
selective flocculation, magnetic separation, grinding and leaching.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
38 words
The method of Claims 14, 16 or 18 further comprising the steps of at
least partially dewatering the suspension or slurry product to produce a
filter cake and redispersing the filter cake to form a suspension or
slurry.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of Claim 20 further comprising the step of re-milling the
redispersed filter cake.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of Claim 20 further comprising the step of removing
additional water from the redispersed filter cake by a process selected
from the group consisting at least of evaporation and drying.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of Claim 20 wherein the step of at least partially
dewatering the suspension or slurry yields a dewatered product having
up to about 75% solids.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of Claim 22 wherein the additional water is removed from
the suspension or slurry by the process of evaporation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of Claim 24 further comprising the step of re-milling the
evaporated suspension or slurry product.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of Claim 24 wherein evaporation yields a suspension or
slurry product having at least about 30% solids.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of Claim 24 wherein evaporation yields a suspension or
slurry product having at least about 60% solids.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of Claim 22 wherein the additional water is removed from
the suspension or slurry by the process of drying.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of Claim 28 wherein drying yields a suspension or slurry
product having about 85-100% solids.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of Claim 22 wherein the additional water is removed from
the suspension or slurry by the process of spray drying.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of Claim 30 wherein spray drying yields a product having
about 94-100% solids.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
16 words
The method of Claims 14, 16, or 18 wherein the particulate comprises
a substantially white pigment.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
15 words
The method of Claims 14, 16 or 18 wherein the particulate comprises a
kaolin clay.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
14 words
The method of Claims 14, 16 or 18 wherein the particulate comprises
calcium carbonate.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
15 words
The method of Claims 14, 16 or 18 wherein the particulate comprises
precipitated calcium carbonate.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
15 words
The method of Claims 14, 16 or 18 wherein the particulate comprises a
synthetic silica.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
15 words
The method of Claims 14, 16 or 18 wherein the particulate comprises a
synthetic silicate.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
14 words
The method of Claims 14, 16 or 18 wherein the particulate comprises
an alumino-silicate.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of Claim 2 wherein the substantially grit-free and
substantially dispersed particulate slurry is formed by a direct
precipitation process.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of Claim 14 wherein the suspension or slurry is dewatered
and redispersed.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of Claim 3 wherein the suspension is substantially
dispersed at about 30-75% solids.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
12 words
A product made by the method of any of the preceding claims.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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