Process for converting calcium bentonite to sodium bentonite
AssigneeKing Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
InventorsMusaab Ibrahim Magzoub, Mustafa Saleh Nasser, Ibnelwaleed Ali Hussein, Mohamed Ahmed Nasr Eldin Mahmoud, Abdullah Saad Sultan
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Abstract
Method of converting calcium bentonite to sodium bentonite that is suitable for use as drilling mud or a cement additive. After the addition of a calcium bentonite sample to a prepared soda ash solution at predetermined soda ash/bentonite weight ratios, the bentonite suspension is continuously heated and stirred for up to 24 h. The heating and stirring are crucial towards enhancing the sodium activation of the bentonite, as well as other rheological properties of the bentonite.
Claims14
A method of converting calcium bentonite to sodium bentonite, comprising:
- mixing a calcium bentonite sample with a sodium carbonate aqueous solution to form a bentonite suspension comprising calcium bentonite, sodium carbonate, and water,
- wherein the sodium carbonate aqueous solution comprises no more than 1% by weight of sodium carbonate based on the total weight of the water in the sodium carbonate aqueous solution,
- wherein the ratio of the weight of the sodium carbonate present in the sodium carbonate aqueous solution to the total weight of the calcium bentonite sample mixed with the sodium carbonate aqueous solution is 1:7 to 1:23, and
- wherein after the mixing, a calcium bentonite concentration in the bentonite suspension is from 5 to 10 wt % based on a total weight of the water in the bentonite suspension;
- and
- heating and stirring the bentonite suspension at below 80° C. for 6-24 hours to form a sodium bentonite product comprising water, sodium bentonite and calcium carbonate,
- wherein the sodium bentonite product formed by the heating and stirring has a Na/Ca molar ratio of at least 2.5.
A method of converting calcium bentonite to sodium bentonite, comprising:
- mixing a calcium bentonite sample with a sodium carbonate aqueous solution to form a bentonite suspension comprising calcium bentonite, sodium carbonate, and water,
- wherein the sodium carbonate aqueous solution comprises no more than 1% by weight of sodium carbonate based on the total weight of the water in the sodium carbonate aqueous solution,
- wherein the ratio of the weight of the sodium carbonate present in the sodium carbonate aqueous solution to the total weight of the calcium bentonite sample mixed with the sodium carbonate aqueous solution is 1:7 to 1:23, and
- wherein after the mixing, a calcium bentonite concentration in the bentonite suspension is from 5 to 10 wt % based on a total weight of the water in the bentonite suspension;
- and
- heating and stirring the bentonite suspension at below 80° C. for 6-24 hours to form a sodium bentonite product comprising water, sodium bentonite and calcium carbonate,
- wherein the sodium bentonite present in the sodium bentonite product formed by the heating and stirring has a particle size of 1100-1400 μm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.