US4759856A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Flocculation processes
Assignee: Ciba Specialty Chemicals Water Treatments Ltd
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Filing: 1986-04-23
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Granted: 1988-07-26
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Expires: 2006-04-23
Abstract
Abstract A cross linked high molecular weight polymer formed from a water soluble monomer or blend of monomers and which has IV and/or solubility and/or rheology properties indicating that it would be unsuitable for use as a flocculant can be used as a flocculant after shearing the polymeric material. The shearing may be applied to the polymeric material before addition to the suspension that is to be flocculated or can be applied to the suspensionthat is being flocculated. The shearing increases the intrinsic viscosity of the polymeric material and can improve its rheology and solubility. The polymeric material must be of high molecular weight.
Inventors
- 👤 David Farrar
- 👤 John R. Field
- 👤 Peter Flesher
- 👤 Tony Whittaker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:53
CPC Classifications
D; D21; D21H; D21H21/00; D21H21/06; D21H21/10; B; B01; B01D; B01D37/00; B01D37/03; C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/34; C02F1/36; C02F1/52; C02F1/5227; C02F1/54; D21H17/00; D21H17/20; D21H17/33; D21H17/34; D21H17/37; D21H17/41; D21H17/42; D21H17/43; D21H17/44; D21H17/45; D21H17/455; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S524/00; Y10S524/922
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A flocculation process for suspended solids in an aqueous suspension comprising, adding a polymeric material to water to form an aqueous composition, adding the aqueous composition to said aqueous suspension to flocculate the suspended solids of the suspension, wherein the polymeric material is subjected to shear in the aqueous composition before addition to the suspension or is subjected to shear during flocculation of the suspension and the polymeric material comprises cross linked water swellable polymer that is sheared to an intrinsic viscosity of at least 4 dl/g that is formed from a water soluble monomer or blend of water soluble monomers and the aqueous composition of the polymeric material is selected from (a) compositions that are a stable homogeneous composition and the shearing causes an increase in intrinsic viscosity of at least 1 dl/g, (b) compositions that will become a stable homogeneous composition upon ageing or stirring and the shearing causes an increase in intrinsic viscosity of at least 1 dl/g, and (c) compositions that include non-dispersible, insoluble, polymer and the shearing converts it to a stable homogeneous composition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A flocculation process for suspended solids in an aqueous suspension comprising, adding a polymeric material to water to form an aqueous composition, adding the aqueous composition to said aqueous suspension to flocculate the suspended solids of the suspension, wherein the polymeric material is subjected to shear in the aqueous composition before addition to the suspension or is subjected to shear during flocculation of the suspension and the polymeric material comprises cross linked water swellable polymer that is sheared to an intrinsic viscosity of at least 4 dl/g that is formed from a water soluble monomer or blend of water soluble monomers and the aqueous composition of the polymeric material is selected from (a) compositions that are a stable homogeneous composition and the shearing causes an increase in intrinsic viscosity of at least 1 dl/g, (b) compositions that will become a stable homogeneous composition upon ageing or stirring and the shearing causes an increase in intrinsic viscosity of at least 1 dl/g, and (c) compositions that include non-dispersible, insoluble, polymer and the shearing converts it to a stable homogeneous composition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process according to claim 1 which a 1% by weight stable aqueous homogeneous composition of the polymeric material has a rheology of below 2 cm before the shearing and a rheology of above 5 cm after the shearing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the aqueous composition is formed by adding to water the polymeric material in the form of dry or gel particles having a size below 10 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the polymeric material is insoluble in water, has a particle size below 3 mm and is subjected to shear to form a stable homogeneous aqueous composition that has intrinsic viscosity above 4 dl/g and that is then added to the suspension.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the polymeric material is formed from one or more water soluble monoethylenically unsaturated monomers selected from non-ionic monomers, anionic monomers containing a carboxylic group or a sulphonic acid group and cationic monomers that are dialkylaminoalkyl(meth)acrylates or dialkylaminoalkyl(meth)acrylamides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the polymer is a Mannich base polymer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the polymeric material undergoes an ionicity regain (X-Y)/X×100 where X is the ionicity after the shearing and Y is the ionicity before the shearing) due to the shear of at least 30%.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
156 words
A process for flocculating suspended solids in an aqueous suspension comprising, forming an aqueous composition of a crosslinked water swellable polymeric material which has an absolute ionicity regain value (X-Y)/X×100 (where X is the ionicity after shear to constant ionicity and Y is the ionicity before shear) and includes recurring units selected from Mannich base monomer, sulphomethylated acrylamide, CH 2 =CR 1 .CO.X.CH 2 .CHOH.CH 2 NR 2 , CH 2 =CR 1 .CO.NH.CH 2 .CH 2 OH and CH 2 =CR 1 .CO.NH.CH 2 .COOH, wherein R 1 is hydrogen or methyl, each group R 2 is C 1-4 alkyl and X is O or NH, shearing said aqueous composition to an intrinsic viscosity of at least 4 dl/g, wherein said shearing causes an increase in said intrinsic viscosity of at least 1 dl/g, adding a flocculating amount of said aqueous composition to said aqueous suspension and dewatering the resultant flocculated suspension on a centrifuge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
156 words
A process for flocculating suspended solids in an aqueous suspension comprising, forming an aqueous composition of a crosslinked water swellable polymeric material which has an absolute ionicity regain value (X-Y)/X×100 (where X is the ionicity after shear to constant ionicity and Y is the ionicity before shear) and includes recurring units selected from Mannich base monomer, sulphomethylated acrylamide, CH 2 =CR 1 .CO.X.CH 2 .CHOH.CH 2 NR 2 , CH 2 =CR 1 .CO.NH.CH 2 .CH 2 OH and CH 2 =CR 1 .CO.NH.CH 2 .COOH, wherein R 1 is hydrogen or methyl, each group R 2 is C 1-4 alkyl and X is O or NH, shearing said aqueous composition to an intrinsic viscosity of at least 4 dl/g, wherein said shearing causes an increase in said intrinsic viscosity of at least 1 dl/g, adding a flocculating amount of said aqueous composition to said aqueous suspension and dewatering the resultant flocculated suspension on a centrifuge.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
106 words
A flocculation process for suspended solids in an aqueous suspension comprising, forming an aqueous composition of cross linked water swellable polymeric material from a water soluble monomer or blend of water soluble monomers, adding a flocculating amount of said aqueous composition to said aqueous suspension of suspended solids and flocculating the suspended solids, wherein the intrinsic viscosity of the polymeric material is increased by shearing the aqueous composition or the suspension after the addition of the aqueous composition or both, and the said shearing increases the intrinsic viscosity of the polymeric material by at least 1 dl/g to a value that is at least 4 dl/g.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
106 words
A flocculation process for suspended solids in an aqueous suspension comprising, forming an aqueous composition of cross linked water swellable polymeric material from a water soluble monomer or blend of water soluble monomers, adding a flocculating amount of said aqueous composition to said aqueous suspension of suspended solids and flocculating the suspended solids, wherein the intrinsic viscosity of the polymeric material is increased by shearing the aqueous composition or the suspension after the addition of the aqueous composition or both, and the said shearing increases the intrinsic viscosity of the polymeric material by at least 1 dl/g to a value that is at least 4 dl/g.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A process according to claim 9 in which the aqueous composition is a stable aqueous homogeneous composition and the polymer before shearing has intrinsic viscosity below 4 and is increased by shearing to above 6 and the shearing increases intrinsic viscosity by at least 1 dl/g.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process according to claim 9 in which the intrinsic viscosity of the polymeric material is increased by subjecting the aqueous composition of polymeric material to shearing to form a stable aqueous homogeneous composition of the polymeric material, and the stable composition is then added to the suspension.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 11 in which the shearing is by blades moving at above 500 meters/minute.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process according to claim 11 in which substantially all the shear is applied before adding the polymeric material to the suspension, the polymeric material has intrinsic viscosity above 6 when added to the suspension, and the suspension is dewatered substantially without shear.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 9 in which the polymeric material is added to the suspension and shear is applied to the suspension.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 9 in which shear is applied to the suspension by blades moving at above 500 meters per minute.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 9 in which the polymeric material has intrinsic viscosity below 4 when it is added to the suspension and the shearing gives an intrinsic viscosity above 6.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
71 words
A process according to claim 9 in which the polymer includes recurring units selected from Mannich base monomer, sulphomethylated acrylamide, CH 2 =CR 1 .CO.X.CH 2 .CHOH.CH 2 NR 2 , CH 2 =CR 1 .CO.NH.CH 2 .CH 2 OH and CH 2 =CR 1 .CO.NH.CH 2 .COOH, wherein R 1 is hydrogen or methyl, each group R 2 is C 1-4 alkyl and X is selected from O and NH.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 9 in which the polymer is formed from dialkylaminoalkyl(meth)acrylate copolymerised with 0 to 95 mole percent acrylamide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process according to claim 9 in which the polymeric material has an absolute ionicity regain value (X-Y)/X×100 (where X is the ionicity after shear to constant ionicity and Y is the ionicity before shear) of at least 40% before applying before the shear and below 10% after applying the shear.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process according to claim 9 in which a 1% by weight stable aqueous homogeneous composition of the polymeric material has a rheology of below 2 cm before the shearing and a rheology of above 5 cm after the shearing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 9 in which the aqueous composition is formed by adding to water the polymeric material in the form of dry or gel particles having a size below 10 microns.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process according to claim 9 in which the polymeric material is formed from one or more water soluble monoethylenically unsaturated monomers selected from non-ionic monomers, anionic monomers containing a carboxylic group or a sulphonic acid group and cationic monomers that are dialkylaminoalkyl(meth)acrylates or dialkylaminoalkyl(meth)acrylamides.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 9 in which the polymer is a Mannich base polymer.
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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) | 1991-07-26 | 1992-01-25 | 1992-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-07-26 | 1996-01-25 | 1996-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-07-26 | 2000-01-25 | 2000-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |