US4460292A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for containment of liquids as solids or semisolids
Assignee: AGRISILICAS LLC
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Filing: 1982-07-15
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Granted: 1984-07-17
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Expires: 2002-07-15
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is the containment or controlling of waste and hazardous liquids, drilling muds and chemicals in a semi-solid or solid form for removal, transportation and disposal or otherwise handling thereby avoiding the problems and reducing the expense in removing, transporting, disposing or otherwise handling them in liquid form.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Durham
- 👤 Carl R. Henderson
- 👤 II Richard C. Allison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:00
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F11/00; C02F11/008; C09; C09K; C09K3/00; C09K3/32; E; E21; E21B; E21B21/00; E21B21/06; E21B41/00; E21B41/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of containing a liquid selected from the group consisting of waste liquids, hazardous liquids, drilling muds, and chemicals, comprising, absorbing the liquid in biogenetic silica in amorphous state having a porous skeletal structure, a major portion of the liquid being contained in void spaces of the porous skeleton, the biogenetic silica being present in an amount sufficient to contain the liquid in at least a semisolid mass.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of containing a liquid selected from the group consisting of waste liquids, hazardous liquids, drilling muds, and chemicals, comprising, absorbing the liquid in biogenetic silica in amorphous state having a porous skeletal structure, a major portion of the liquid being contained in void spaces of the porous skeleton, the biogenetic silica being present in an amount sufficient to contain the liquid in at least a semisolid mass.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 where, a water swellable polymer is combined with the biogenetic silica in an amount sufficient to gel the liquid within the void spaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2 where, the biogenetic silica is rice hull ash.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 including, mixing the biogenetic silica and the water swellable polymer with the liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 where, the biogenetic silica and water swellable polymer are added to the liquid in pellet form.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 where, the biogenetic silica is rice hull ash.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 including, mixing the biogenetic silica with the liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 where, the biogenetic silica is added to the liquid in pellet form.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of containing a liquid selected from the group consisting of waste liquids, hazardous liquids, drilling muds and chemicals comprising, containing the liquid in biogenetic silica in amorphous state having a porous skeletal structure, a major portion of the liquid being contained in void spaces of the porous skeleton, the biogenetic silica being present in an amount sufficient to contain the liquid in at least a semisolid mass, and holding the contained liquids in the void spaces with an additive selected from the group consisting of carbon, water soluble cement, plastic polymer, inorganic salt, paraffin, wax, solidifying agents and gels.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of containing a liquid selected from the group consisting of waste liquids, hazardous liquids, drilling muds and chemicals comprising, containing the liquid in biogenetic silica in amorphous state having a porous skeletal structure, a major portion of the liquid being contained in void spaces of the porous skeleton, the biogenetic silica being present in an amount sufficient to contain the liquid in at least a semisolid mass, and holding the contained liquids in the void spaces with an additive selected from the group consisting of carbon, water soluble cement, plastic polymer, inorganic salt, paraffin, wax, solidifying agents and gels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 where, the biogenetic silica and additive are in pellet form.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 9 where the additive includes, a water swellable polymer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 including, adding a water swellable polymer to the mud along with the biogenetic silica.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of containing mud or sludge in a pit comprising, adding biogenetic silica in amorphous state and having a porous skeleton to the mud or sludge in the pit effective to contain a major portion of the mud or sludge in void spaces of the porous skeleton, the biogenetic silica being present in an amount to contain the liquid in at least a semisolid condition.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of containing mud or sludge in a pit comprising, adding biogenetic silica in amorphous state and having a porous skeleton to the mud or sludge in the pit effective to contain a major portion of the mud or sludge in void spaces of the porous skeleton, the biogenetic silica being present in an amount to contain the liquid in at least a semisolid condition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 12 where, the biogenetic silica is rice hull ash.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13 including, adding a water swellable polymer with the rice hull ash to the mud.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of removing mud or sludge from a pit comprising, adding a quantity of biogenetic silica in amorphous state and having a substantially porous skeleton to the mud or sludge in the pit effective to contain a major portion of the mud or sludge in void spaces of the porous skeleton, the biogenetic silica being present in an amount sufficient to contain the mud or sludge in at least a semisolid condition, removing the mud from the pit in said condition, and transporting and disposing of the mud in said condition.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of removing mud or sludge from a pit comprising, adding a quantity of biogenetic silica in amorphous state and having a substantially porous skeleton to the mud or sludge in the pit effective to contain a major portion of the mud or sludge in void spaces of the porous skeleton, the biogenetic silica being present in an amount sufficient to contain the mud or sludge in at least a semisolid condition, removing the mud from the pit in said condition, and transporting and disposing of the mud in said condition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 16 including, adding a water swellable polymer with the biogenetic silica to the mud.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 17 including, adding a water swellable polymer along with the the biogenetic silica to the mud.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16 where, the biogenetic silica is rice hull ash.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18 including, adding a water swellable polymer with the rice hull ash to the mud.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of disposing of a liquid selected from the group consisting of waste liquids, hazardous liquids, drilling muds, and chemicals comprising, absorbing the liquid in biogenetic silica in amorphous state having a porous skeletal structure, a major portion of the liquid being contained in void spaces of the porous skeleton, the biogenetic silica being present in an amount sufficient to contain the liquid in at least a semisolid condition, and placing the liquid in said condition in a disposal site.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of disposing of a liquid selected from the group consisting of waste liquids, hazardous liquids, drilling muds, and chemicals comprising, absorbing the liquid in biogenetic silica in amorphous state having a porous skeletal structure, a major portion of the liquid being contained in void spaces of the porous skeleton, the biogenetic silica being present in an amount sufficient to contain the liquid in at least a semisolid condition, and placing the liquid in said condition in a disposal site.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 21 including, absorbing the liquid with the biogenetic silica and an additive selected from the group consisting of water swellable polymers, carbon, soluble cement, plastic polymer, inorganic salt, paraffin, wax, solidifying agents and gels, the additive attracting the liquid to and holding the major portion of the liquid in the void spaces.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of disposing of a hazardous liquid selected from the group consisting of waste liquids, hazardous liquids, drilling muds and chemicals comprising, containing the liquid in a container in at least a semisolid form absorbed by biogenetic silica in amorphous state with a porous skeleton, a major portion of the liquid being contained in void spaces of the skeletal structure, the biogenetic silica being present in sufficient quantity to confine the liquid in at least the semisolid form.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of disposing of a hazardous liquid selected from the group consisting of waste liquids, hazardous liquids, drilling muds and chemicals comprising, containing the liquid in a container in at least a semisolid form absorbed by biogenetic silica in amorphous state with a porous skeleton, a major portion of the liquid being contained in void spaces of the skeletal structure, the biogenetic silica being present in sufficient quantity to confine the liquid in at least the semisolid form.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 23 where, there is less than 5% by weight free liquid in the container.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of containing a liquid spill comprising, adding to the liquid biogenetic silica in amorphous state with a porous skeletal structure in an amount sufficient to absorb the liquid by the biogenetic silica in at least a semisolid mass, a major portion of the liquid being contained in void spaces of the biogenetic silica.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of containing a liquid spill comprising, adding to the liquid biogenetic silica in amorphous state with a porous skeletal structure in an amount sufficient to absorb the liquid by the biogenetic silica in at least a semisolid mass, a major portion of the liquid being contained in void spaces of the biogenetic silica.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 25 including, removing the mass.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of containing a liquid selected from the group consisting of waste liquids, hazardous liquids, drilling muds and chemicals comprising, absorbing the liquid with biogenetic silica in amorphous state having a porous skeletal structure, a major portion of the liquid being contained in void spaces of the porous structure, the biogenetic silica being combined with at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a water swellable polymer, loosely crosslinked copolymer of the class typified by polytertiary-butylstyrene copolymerized with divinylbenzene, polycarylonitrilebutadiene copolymer, polycarboxymethylcellulose polymers, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of containing a liquid selected from the group consisting of waste liquids, hazardous liquids, drilling muds and chemicals comprising, absorbing the liquid with biogenetic silica in amorphous state having a porous skeletal structure, a major portion of the liquid being contained in void spaces of the porous structure, the biogenetic silica being combined with at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a water swellable polymer, loosely crosslinked copolymer of the class typified by polytertiary-butylstyrene copolymerized with divinylbenzene, polycarylonitrilebutadiene copolymer, polycarboxymethylcellulose polymers, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 27 where, the biogenetic silica is rice hull ash.
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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) | 1987-07-17 | 1988-01-16 | 1988-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-17 | 1992-01-16 | 1992-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-17 | 1996-01-16 | 1996-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |