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US 5,041,275 AGranted
Reduced acid buildup in moist sulfur during storage
AssigneeUnion Oil Company of California
InventorAlex E. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Moist particulate sulfur is subject to microbial oxidation during extended storage, resulting in an undesirable accumulation of sulfuric acid in the sulfur. Treatment of the sulfur with an antimicrobial agent reduces or prevents the formation of the acid.
Claims48
A process which comprises storing particulate sulfur for at least about 1 month, the sulfur comprising an antimicrobial agent and at least about 1 weight percent moisture.
A method comprising:
- combining particulate sulfur with an antimicrobial agent, and
- storing said sulfur for at least about 1 month, the sulfur comprising at least about 1 weight percent moisture during storage.
A process which comprises:
- treating particulate sulfur having an initial acid content of less than about 0.2 weight percent, calculated as H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, with an antimicrobial agent, and
- maintaining the resultant treated sulfur at a moisture content of at least about 1 percent by weight of sulfur for at least about 1 month,
- wherein the acid content of the treated sulfur is still less than about 0.2 weight percent after said 1 month.
Hydrocarbon-free particulate sulfur comprising an antimicrobial agent and between about 1 and about 10 weight percent moisture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.