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US 4,457,781 AGranted
Method for solidifying waste slime suspensions
AssigneeUnited States Gypsum Company
InventorsJay W. Palmer, John C. Gaynor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Solidification of colloidal argillaceous matter in essentially non-settling, aqueous slime media into a solid stable matrix is accomplished by mixing such slime with a hydratable calcium sulfate and hydrating to form an interlocking strength bearing matrix. The method is particularly useful for coalescing phosphatic clay slimes with hydratable calcium sulfate prepared from the co-produced waste phosphogypsum.
Claims17
A method for solidifying colloidal argillaceous matter in suspension in a non-settling aqueous medium to a load bearing solid consisting essentially of:
- (a) adding, to a colloidal argillaceous suspension of about 1-40% solids, an effective amount of hydratable calcium sulfate with thorough mixing such that the admixture contains about 45-85 weight % total solids and a weight proportion of hydratable calcium sulfate to argillaceous matter solids on a dry solids basis of from about 1:1 to about 20:1 provided further that at weight proportions of less than about 3:1 the total solids are at least about 50 weight %;
- and
- (b) allowing a substantial portion of the hydratable calcium sulfate in the admixture to hydrate to an interlocking matrix of gypsum crystals having load bearing strength.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.