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US4422855A
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Method of thickening solutions using normally nongelling clays
Assignee: BASF Catalysts LLC
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Filing: 1981-05-15
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Granted: 1983-12-27
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Expires: 2001-05-15
Abstract
Abstract Normally nongelling montmorillonite clay is treated to have gelling characteristics by drying the clay to 10 to 15 percent free moisture and grinding the clay to at least 100 percent finer than 45 microns. To thicken an aqueous solution, the clay is dispersed in water with a chemical dispersant and the predispersion is agitated in the aqueous liquid with a flocculent. To thicken an organic liquid, the dried and ground clay is stirred into the liquid with a surfactant.
Inventors
- 👤 Edgar W. Sawyer, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:14
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/06; C; C05; C05G; C05G5/00; C05G5/20; C05G5/23; C05G5/27; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of thickening an aqueous solution using a normally nongelling clay comprising the steps of: providing a nongelling clay selected from the group consisting of aluminum montmorillonite and calcium montmorillonite; drying the clay to 10 to 15 percent free moisture; grinding the clay to at least 100 percent finer than about 45 microns; adding a condensed phosphate dispersant to the clay and forming a predispersion; providing a flocculent capable of neutralizing the dispersant; adding the predispersion and flocculent to an aqueous solution; and stirring the solution until said solution thickens.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of thickening an aqueous solution using a normally nongelling clay comprising the steps of: providing a nongelling clay selected from the group consisting of aluminum montmorillonite and calcium montmorillonite; drying the clay to 10 to 15 percent free moisture; grinding the clay to at least 100 percent finer than about 45 microns; adding a condensed phosphate dispersant to the clay and forming a predispersion; providing a flocculent capable of neutralizing the dispersant; adding the predispersion and flocculent to an aqueous solution; and stirring the solution until said solution thickens.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said flocculent is selected from the group consisting of (1) a polyvalent cation that reacts with said dispersant and (2) a solution containing a high concentration of dissolved ions of the type that are capable of collapsing the protective dispersant charge layer on the clay particles.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of thickening an aqueous liquid using a normally nongelling clay comprising the steps of: drying nongelling aluminum or calcium montmorillonite clay to 10 to 15 percent free moisture; grinding the clay to at least 100 percent finer than about 45 microns; dispersing the clay in water or urea aqueous solution with a condensed phosphate dispersant producing a predispersion; adding the predispersion to the aqueous liquid to be thickened with a flocculent capable of neutralizing the dispersant; agitating the resulting product until the clay gels.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of thickening an aqueous liquid using a normally nongelling clay comprising the steps of: drying nongelling aluminum or calcium montmorillonite clay to 10 to 15 percent free moisture; grinding the clay to at least 100 percent finer than about 45 microns; dispersing the clay in water or urea aqueous solution with a condensed phosphate dispersant producing a predispersion; adding the predispersion to the aqueous liquid to be thickened with a flocculent capable of neutralizing the dispersant; agitating the resulting product until the clay gels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein: said dispersant is tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP); and said flocculent is capable of neutralizing the dispersing characteristics of said TSPP.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein: said flocculent is a solution containing a high concentration of dissolved ions of the type that are capable of collapsing the protective dispersant charge layer on the clay particles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein: said TSPP is present in an amount equal to about 2 to 3 percent by weight of said clay on an as is basis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein: said clay is present in said predispersion in an amount equal to about 25 to 35 percent of the total weight of the predispersion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein: said predispersion is produced by relatively high-shear mixing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein: said clay is extruded prior to forming said predispersion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein: soda ash is added to the clay prior to extrusion.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of thickening an organic liquid using a normally nongelling clay comprising the steps of: drying nongelling aluminum or calcium montmorillonite clay to 10 to 15 percent free moisture; grinding the clay to at least 100 percent finer than about 45 microns; adding the clay with a surfactant selected from the group consisting of a quaternary ammonium compound, an amine salt, an imidazoline and an alkanolamide to an organic liquid; and agitating the resulting product until the clay gels.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of thickening an organic liquid using a normally nongelling clay comprising the steps of: drying nongelling aluminum or calcium montmorillonite clay to 10 to 15 percent free moisture; grinding the clay to at least 100 percent finer than about 45 microns; adding the clay with a surfactant selected from the group consisting of a quaternary ammonium compound, an amine salt, an imidazoline and an alkanolamide to an organic liquid; and agitating the resulting product until the clay gels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein: ground coal is stirred into said product.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of thickening an organic liquid using a normally nongelling clay comprising the steps of: drying nongelling aluminum or calcium montmorillonite clay to 10 to 15 percent free moisture; grinding the clay to at least 100 percent finer than about 45 microns; adding the clay with an imidazoline of tallow fatty acid and aminoethylethanolamine to an organic liquid; and agitating the resulting product until the clay gels.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of thickening an organic liquid using a normally nongelling clay comprising the steps of: drying nongelling aluminum or calcium montmorillonite clay to 10 to 15 percent free moisture; grinding the clay to at least 100 percent finer than about 45 microns; adding the clay with an imidazoline of tallow fatty acid and aminoethylethanolamine to an organic liquid; and agitating the resulting product until the clay gels.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein: ground coal is stirred into said product.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-12-26 | 1987-06-27 | 1987-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-12-26 | 1991-06-27 | 1991-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-12-26 | 1995-06-27 | 1995-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |