Extraction of organic matter from naturally occurring substrates
OwnerJohn R. Marihartinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Natural organic-containing substrates such as leonardite, lignite, peat, shale, sediment and soil are treated with alkaline or suitable chelating agents as extractants for organic matter in the nature of soluble fulvic and humic acid fractions. The mixture containing naturally occurring substances and extractant is then transferred to a centrifuge to produce a sediment or settled phase and a supernatant phase. The yield of organic matter found in the supernatant phase following centrifugation is significantly greater than the corresponding yield obtained when the mixtures are allowed to settle under gravity in the absence of centrifugation.
Claims22
A method of increasing the yield of organic matter in supernatant resulting from an alkaline extraction of a naturally occurring substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) mixing a naturally occurring, organic matter-containing substrate with an aqueous, alkaline solution to produce an alkaline mixture;
- (b) agitating said alkaline mixture for a period of time;
- (c) transferring said alkaline mixture into a centrifuge;
- (d) centrifuging said alkaline mixture in the centrifuge producing centrifugal force in the range of 20-25,000 Gs;
- and,
- (e) collecting supernatant from the centrifuge.
A method of increasing the yield of organic matter in supernatant resulting from an alkaline extraction of leonardite, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) mixing a quantity of particulate leonardite with an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide to produce an alkaline mixture;
- (b) agitating said alkaline mixture for about seven hours;
- (c) transferring said alkaline mixture into a centrifuge;
- (d) centrifuging said alkaline mixture in the centrifuge producing centrifugal force in the range of 20-25,000 Gs;
- and,
- (e) collecting supernatant from the centrifuge.
A method of increasing the yield of organic matter in supernatant resulting from an alkaline extraction of leonardite, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) mixing a quantity of particulate leonardite with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide to produce an alkaline mixture;
- (b) agitating said alkaline mixture for about seven hours;
- (c) transferring said alkaline mixture into a centrifuge;
- (d) centrifuging said alkaline mixture in the centrifuge producing centrifugal force in the range of 20-25,000 Gs;
- and,
- (e) collecting supernatant from the centrifuge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.