# US 2015/0144573 A1 · Consolidation and dewatering of particulate matter with protein > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0144573 A1 - Document ID: US20150144573A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/400,803 - Filed: 2013-07-14 - Published: 2015-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-17 - Assignees: Georgia Tech Research Corporation - Applicants: Georgia Tech Research Corporation - Inventors: Sujit Banerjee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150144573A1 ## CPC - C02F 1/56: Macromolecular compounds - C02F 1/5263: {using natural chemical compounds} - D21H 17/22: Proteins - D21H 17/375: {Poly(meth)acrylamide} - C02F 1/5272: {using specific organic precipitants} - C02F 11/122: using filter presses (C02F11/123 takes precedence) - C02F 11/127: by centrifugation - C02F 2103/28: from the paper or cellulose industry - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - D21H: PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A method of treating a suspension of particles in a fluid including the steps of promoting flocculation of the particles, and dewatering the flocs to form a cake with a solids content, an improvement including the step of exposing the suspension to chemicals of the protein family. The suspension can include a suspension of biological sludge in water. The suspension can be a suspension of non biological material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a method of treating a suspension of particles in a fluid including the steps of (i) promoting flocculation of at least a portion of the suspension of particles with an additive and (ii) dewatering at least a portion of the suspension of particles to form a cake with a solids content, the improvement comprising promoting flocculation of at least a portion of the suspension of particles with an additive comprising protein; wherein the concentration of the total amount of protein present in the additive is between approximately 0.01 and 30 lbs/ton of particles, expressed on a dry solids basis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the additive comprises soy protein. ### Claim at position 3 -4. (canceled) ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the concentration of the total amount of protein present in the additive is between approximately 0.01 and 10,000 mg/liter of the fluid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the additive further comprises a flocculant. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the flocculant is a cationic polymer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the flocculant is a cationic polyacrylamide. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, where the flocculant is present at a concentration ranging from approximately 1%-90% of the concentration of the total amount of protein present. ### Claim 10 A method of forming a cake with solids content from particles in a fluid comprising: subjecting at least a portion of the particles in the fluid with an additive; and dewatering at least a portion of the solids content from particles to form a cake with a solids content; wherein the additive comprises one or more proteins; wherein the concentration of the total amount of protein present in the additive is between approximately 0.01 and 10,000 mg/liter of fluid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the additive comprises soy protein. ### Claim 12 (canceled) ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the concentration of the total amount of protein present in the additive is between approximately 0.01 and 30 lbs/ton of particles, expressed on a dry solids basis. ### Claim at position 13 -16. (canceled) ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the additive further comprises a flocculant; and wherein the flocculant is a cationic polymer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the additive further comprises a flocculant; and wherein the flocculant is a cationic polyacrylamide. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the additive further comprises a flocculant; and where the flocculant is present at a concentration ranging from approximately 1%-90% of the concentration of the total amount of protein present. ### Claim 20 In a method of treating a suspension of particles in a fluid including the steps of (i) promoting flocculation of the particles and (ii) dewatering the flocs to form a cake with a solids content, the improvement comprising the step (iii) of exposing the suspension to one or more proteins, which step (iii) increases the solids content of the cake after the step (ii) of dewatering over that which is provided without step (iii). ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the protein structure is derived from soy protein and derivatives thereof; wherein the fluid is water; wherein the protein structure is not separated from the reaction mixture used to extract the protein from soy flour; and wherein the suspension is a suspension selected from the group consisting of biological sludge, non-biological sludge, pulp fiber, and a combination of one or more biological sludge, non-biological sludge and pulp fiber. ### Claim at position 19 -29. (canceled) ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the concentration of the total amount of protein present in the suspension is between approximately 0.01 and 30 lbs/ton of the particles expressed on a dry solids basis. ### Claim 31 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the concentration of the total amount of protein present in the suspension is between approximately 0.01 and 10,000 mg/liter of the fluid. ### Claim at position 22 -45. (canceled) ### Claim 46 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 further comprising exposing the suspension to a flocculant, wherein the flocculant is present at a concentration ranging from 1%-90% of the concentration of the total amount of protein present in the suspension. ### Claim at position 24 -48. (canceled)