Continuous mixing and injection of lime-fly ash slurry

Abstract

Method of treating subsurface layers of the earth for controlling movement of subsurface water and building strength of the subsurface layers characterized by injecting at a plurality of predetermined depths and at a plurality of predetermined spaced-apart locations a lime-fly ash slurry consisting essentially of water, particulate hydrated lime and particulate fly ash; the particulate lime and fly ash being present as particulate solids and a proportion of from twenty-five percent by weight of the water to as much as two hundred percent by weight of the water when employed along. The particulate solids comprise lime and fly ash in proportions ranging from three parts lime to one part fly ash to one part lime to ten parts fly ash. The injection is carried out by pumping the slurry of one of the particulate solids and water through a jet slurry mixing apparatus for aspirating in the other dry particulate solid. Preferably the fly ash will be aspirated into a slurry of the lime in water. Injection occurs within less than ten minutes from admixture so as to obtain additional strength compared to conventional prior art processes. Minor amounts of additives may be employed to obtain desired properties. In particular embodiments there are disclosed the use of additional materials such as cement, attapulgite, sandy loam and bentonite. These additional materials may be employed in concentrations of twenty-five to two hundred percent by weight of the water and are in addition to the lime and fly ash in the slurry.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.