Methods and compositions for treatment of concrete wash water
AssigneeCarboncure Technologies Inc.
InventorsGeorge Sean MONKMAN, Paul J. SANDBERG, Kevin CAIL, Dean Paul FORGERON, Mark MACDONALD
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Abstract
The invention provides methods and compositions for treating wash water from concrete production with carbon dioxide. The treated wash water can be reused as mix water in fresh batches of concrete.
Claims30
An apparatus for carbonating wash water produced in the production of concrete, wherein the wash water comprises cement and/or supplementary cementitious materials (SCM), comprising
- (i) a source of carbon dioxide;
- (ii) a conduit operably connected to the source of carbon dioxide that runs to a wash water recirculation loop, for delivering a flow of carbon dioxide to the recirculation loop wherein
- (a) the wash water container contains wash water from a concrete production site;
- (b) the conduit is configured to deliver carbon dioxide to the wash water in the recirculation loop to produce carbonated wash water, and
- (c) the conduit comprises one or more actuators to adjust the flow of carbon dioxide to the wash water in the carbonation loop, or both;
- and
- (iii) a pump that pumps the wash water into the recirculation loop and from the loop back into the container;
- and
- (iv) a control system comprising at least two sensors configured to send information connected to a controller, wherein the controller is configured to process the information from the sensors and to modulate carbon dioxide flow by sending a signal to the one or more actuators based on the information, wherein the sensors are configured to monitor at least two characteristics of
- (a) pH of the wash water,
- (b) rate of delivery of carbon dioxide to the wash water,
- (c) total amount of wash water in the wash water container,
- (d) temperature of the wash water,
- (e) specific gravity of the wash water,
- (f) concentration of one or more ions in the wash water,
- (g) age of the wash water,
- (h) circulation rate of the wash water,
- (i) timing of circulation of the wash water,
- (j) appearance of bubbles at surface of the wash water,
- (k) carbon dioxide concentration of the air above the wash water,
- (l) electrical conductivity of the wash water,
- (m) optical characteristics of the wash water.
A method for sequestering carbon dioxide by treating wash water produced in the production of concrete, wherein the wash water comprises cement and/or supplementary cementitious materials (SCM), with carbon dioxide, comprising contacting the wash water with carbon dioxide from a source of carbon dioxide in an apparatus comprising
- (i) a source of carbon dioxide;
- (ii) a conduit operably connected to the source of carbon dioxide that runs to a wash water recirculation loop, for delivering a flow of carbon dioxide to the recirculation loop wherein
- (a) the wash water container contains wash water from a concrete production site;
- (b) the conduit is configured to deliver carbon dioxide to the wash water in the recirculation loop to produce carbonated wash water, and
- (c) the conduit comprises one or more actuators to adjust the flow of carbon dioxide to the wash water in the container, the wash water in the carbonation loop, or both;
- and
- (iii) a pump that pumps the wash water into the recirculation loop and from the loop back into the container;
- and
- (iv) a control system comprising at least two sensors configured to send information connected to a controller, wherein the controller is configured to process the information from the sensors and to modulate carbon dioxide flow by sending a signal to the one or more actuators based on the information, wherein the sensors are configured to monitor at least two characteristics of
- (a) pH of the wash water,
- (b) rate of delivery of carbon dioxide to the wash water,
- (c) total amount of wash water in the wash water container,
- (d) temperature of the wash water,
- (e) specific gravity of the wash water,
- (f) concentration of one or more ions in the wash water,
- (g) age of the wash water,
- (h) circulation rate of the wash water,
- (i) timing of circulation of the wash water,
- (j) appearance of bubbles at surface of the wash water,
- (k) carbon dioxide concentration of the air above the wash water,
- (l) electrical conductivity of the wash water,
- (m) optical characteristics of the wash water,
- to produce carbonated wash water.
A kit for retrofitting an operation that produces wash water from production of concrete, wherein the kit provides materials for carbonation of the wash water at the operation.
A method comprising shipping a kit comprising materials for carbonation of wash water produced from production of concrete to an operation that produces the wash water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.