Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of preparing waste fossil fuel ash for disposal comprising the steps of: (a) providing waste fossil fuel ash; (b) introducing a sodium sulfur oxide salt compound into said ash in the range of from about 5 to 85 weight % on a dry basis; (c) said sodium sulfur oxide salt compound being selected from Na 2 SO x , where x is 3 or 4, NaHCO 3 , and mixtures thereof; (d) said sodium sulfur oxide compound and said ash comprising an ash/sodium oxide salt composite; and (e) adjusting the water content of said composite to have from about 15 to about 28% by weight water content to produce a substantially homogenous, substantially impermeable wetted composite mass in non-pellet form having a coefficient of permeability value below about 10 -6 cm/sec suitable for substantially solid mass landfill disposal without heat sintering.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of preparing waste fossil fuel ash for disposal comprising the steps of: (a) providing waste fossil fuel ash; (b) introducing a sodium sulfur oxide salt compound into said ash in the range of from about 5 to 85 weight % on a dry basis; (c) said sodium sulfur oxide salt compound being selected from Na 2 SO x , where x is 3 or 4, NaHCO 3 , and mixtures thereof; (d) said sodium sulfur oxide compound and said ash comprising an ash/sodium oxide salt composite; and (e) adjusting the water content of said composite to have from about 15 to about 28% by weight water content to produce a substantially homogenous, substantially impermeable wetted composite mass in non-pellet form having a coefficient of permeability value below about 10 -6 cm/sec suitable for substantially solid mass landfill disposal without heat sintering.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as in claim 1 which includes the added step of: (a) mixing said composite with a source of smectite clay in an amount in the range of below about 5 weight percent dry basis, in the presence of sufficient water to produce an additive-enhanced wetted composite having said water content.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 2 which includes the added step of: (a) permitting said wetted composite to swell for a holding period of time sufficient that swelling substantially ceases before disposal is completed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein: (a) amount of water is an amount sufficient to produce a composite of dough-like texture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein: (a) said wetted composite is let set for a time sufficient to achieve a penetration resistance of about 4.5 tons/sq.ft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 2 which includes the added step of: (a) disposing of said additive-enhanced composite in a compacted landfill.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein: (a) said ash is a mixture of fly ash and bottom ash.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein: (a) said bottom ash is present in an amount of up to about 80% by weight of the entire ash mixture, and the balance is fly ash.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 8 wherein: (a) said bottom ash comprises ash particles of size on the order of 60% by weight less than 10 US standard sieve mesh.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein: (a) said hold time is on the order of 0.5-8 hours.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein: (a) at least a portion of said water content is achieved by adding water to at least one of said clay, said composite and said additive-enhanced composite.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as in claim 11 wherein: (a) a substantial portion of the water required to be added to achieve said water content is added to said clay to form a clay slurry, and said slurry is added to said composite.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein: (a) said Na 2 SO x is introduced in said fly ash by injection of a dry sodium sorbent into the flue gas duct of an industrial or utility boiler.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein: (a) said dry sodium sorbent is selected from Nahcolite, sodium bicarbonate, soda ash, trona, sodium sesquicarbonate, Wegscheiderite, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 14 wherein: (a) said sodium sorbent is solution-mined Nahcolite.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein: (a) up to about 3% of said water is replaced by a flocculant in an amount of up to 1 dry weight percent of said mix.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein: (a) up to about 3% of said water is replaced by a flocculant in an amount of up to 1 dry weight percent of said mix.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein: (a) said smectite clay is present in an amount of up to about 3 weight %.