Stable particulate suspensions
AssigneeInternational Telephone and Telegraph Corporation
InventorEdgar W. Sawyer, Jr.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing homogeneous liquid suspensions of materials that are not readily wet by the liquid. Sulfonate based dispersants in combination with a gelling grade clay mineral provide stable and homogeneous suspensions of materials such as sulfur and coal dust in water. When attapulgite clay is used as a suspending agent for coal dust in flammable liquid hydrocarbons the fly ash combination by-products remain similarly suspended in the effluent flue gases to facilitate the removal of the fly ash within the flue assembly.
Claims5
A method for forming a stable homogeneous suspension between water and particles not readily wet by water and employing a floculated clay suspending agent comprising the steps of:
- adding 0.1 to 0.5% by weight of a wetting type dispersing agent to water to disperse the particles without dispersing clay;
- adding the particles to the water in an amount equal to at least 60% of the total weight of the suspension to form a mixture between the water and the particles;
- and
- adding a gelling grade clay in an amount from 1 to 3% based on the total suspension weight to suspend the particles in water.
A coal dust-water slurry having good rheological properties comprising:
- at least 60% by weight of finely divided coal dust in water;
- 0.10 to 0.50% by weight of a wetting type dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of sulfonates and acrylates;
- and
- 1 to 3% by weight of a gelling grade clay selected from the group consisting of attapulgite, sepiolite and bentonite.
A sulfur dust-water slurry having good rheological properties comprising:
- at least 60% by weight of finely divided sulfur powder in water;
- 0.10 to 0.50% by weight of a wetting type dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of sulfonates and acrylates;
- and
- 1 to 3% by weight of a gelling grade clay selected from the group consisting of attapulgite, sepiolite and bentonite.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.