US5079036A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of inhibiting freezing and improving flow and handleability characteristics of solid, particulate materials
Assignee: Veolia WTS USA Inc
•
Filing: 1990-07-27
•
Granted: 1992-01-07
•
Expires: 2010-07-27
Abstract
Abstract A stable foam having foam bubble diameters of 0.005-0.015 inches and being comprised of from about 10-30 wt. % of a brine freeze control agent selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, borax, potassium thiocyanate, potassium acetate, sodium acetate, and sodium nitrite, anionic surfactant, amphoteric surfactant, and water is applied to solid, particulate materials such as coal or mineral ores to inhibit freezing and improve handleability characteristics of the particulate materials. The foam optionally may contain additional freeze control agents such as ethylene glycol or cellulose ethers.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald C. Roe
- 👤 David M. Polizzotti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:49
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K3/00; C09K3/18; B; B01; B01J; B01J2/00; B01J2/30; C10; C10L; C10L9/00; C10L9/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
Method of inhibiting freezing and improving flow and handleability characteristics of solid, particulate materials comprising: forming a stable foam having foam bubble diameters of 0.005-0.015 inches, said foam comprising from about 10-30 wt. % of a brine freeze control agent selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, borax, potassium thiocyanate, potassium acetate, sodium acetate, and sodium nitrite, anionic surfactant, amphoteric surfactant and water, and contacting said solid, particulate materials with said stable foam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
Method of inhibiting freezing and improving flow and handleability characteristics of solid, particulate materials comprising: forming a stable foam having foam bubble diameters of 0.005-0.015 inches, said foam comprising from about 10-30 wt. % of a brine freeze control agent selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, borax, potassium thiocyanate, potassium acetate, sodium acetate, and sodium nitrite, anionic surfactant, amphoteric surfactant and water, and contacting said solid, particulate materials with said stable foam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Method as recited in claim 1 comprising contacting said solid, particulate materials with about 0.5-5 pints of said freeze control agent per ton of said solid, particulate materials.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
Method as recited in claim 1 wherein said anionic surfactant is present in an amount of from 1-5 parts by weight per part by weight of said amphoteric surfactant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
Method as recited in claim 3 wherein said anionic surfactant comprises an alkyl ether sulfate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
Method as recited in claim 3 wherein said amphoteric surfactant comprises a betaine derivative selected from the group consisting of coco betaine, coco amido betaine, alkyl betaine, coco imadozoline betaine, coco amido alkyl betaine, fatty acid amido alkyl betaine, and stearyl betaine surfactants.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
Method as recited in claim 1 wherein said brine comprises calcium chloride.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
Method as recited in claim 1 wherein said foam further comprises a polyhydroxyalkane or mono- or di-alkyl ether thereof as a freeze control agent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
Method as recited in claim 7 wherein said polyhydroxyalkane or mono- or di-alkyl ether thereof comprises a member selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, glycerine, sugar and mixtures thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Method as recited in claim 8 wherein said polyhydroxyalkane or mono- or di-alkyl ether thereof comprises ethylene glycol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
Method as recited in claim 1 wherein said foam further comprises a cellulose ether as a freeze controlage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 10 wherein said cellulose ether comprises a member selected from the group consisting of anionic cellulosic ethers and non-ionic cellulose ethers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said cellulose ether comprises an anionic cellulosic ether.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said anionic cellulosic ether comprises carboxyloweralkylcellulose.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as recited in claim 13 wherein said carboxyloweralkylcellulose comprises carboxymethylcellulose.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said non-ionic cellulose ether comprises a hydroxyalkylcellulose.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
Method as recited in claim 1 comprising mixing said freeze control agent, surfactant, and water with air to form said foam, wherein about 1 gallon of said freeze control agent, surfactant and water combination is mixed with about 1-100 scf of air.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
Method as recited in claim 16 comprising mixing about 1 gallon of said freeze control agent, surfactant, and water combination with about 1-10 scf air.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
Method as recited in claim 1 wherein said freeze control agent is present in an amount of about 10-500 parts by weight based upon weight of said surfactant.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
Method as recited in claim 18 wherein said freeze control agent is present in an amount of about 25-250 parts by weight based upon weight of said surfactant.
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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) | 1995-01-06 | 1995-07-08 | 1996-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-06 | 1999-07-08 | 2000-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-06 | 2003-07-08 | 2004-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |