# US 6,297,295 B1 · Transport of solid particulates

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- Number: US 6,297,295 B1
- Document ID: US6297295B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/506,770
- Filed: 2000-02-18
- Granted: 2001-10-02
- Earliest claimed: 1999-03-03
- Assignees: MBT Holding AG
- Inventors: Frank T. Gay; Daniel Constantiner; Jeffrey T. Champa; Kevin Hutchings; Daniel G. Millette
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6297295B1

## CPC

- C09K 8/94: Foams
- B65G 53/30: Conveying materials in bulk through pipes or tubes by liquid pressure
- C04B 18/12: from quarries, mining or the like
- C09K 8/38: Gaseous or foamed well-drilling compositions
- E21F 15/005: {characterised by the kind or composition of the backfilling material}
- E21F 15/08: Filling-up hydraulically or pneumatically (hydraulic or pneumatic transport devices B65G; pipes, pipe couplings F16L)
- Y02W 30/91: Use of waste materials as fillers for mortars or concrete
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)
- C04B: LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE {(roofing granules E04D7/005)}; CERAMICS (devitrified glass-ceramics C03C10/00); REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- E21F: SAFETY DEVICES, TRANSPORT, FILLING-UP, RESCUE, VENTILATION, OR DRAINING IN OR OF MINES OR TUNNELS
- Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT

## Abstract

A method is provided for incorporating a foaming agent into mixtures of particulates and then forming a foam within the mixture to increase the flowability of the particulates. A method is also provided for excavating solid particulates, incorporating a foaming agent into mixtures of solid particulates, and then forming a foam within the mixture to increase the flowability of the particulates. The particulates can be transported through pipelines or boreholes. Examples of particulates include, but are not limited to, mine tailings, ores, sand, coal, soils, clays, silts, aggregates, and mixtures thereof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of transporting particulates comprising,
providing particulates;
adding water to the particulates, if necessary, in an amount sufficient to form a paste consistency;
adding a foaming agent to form a mixture;
mixing said mixture to form a foam within the mixture;
transporting the mixture;
wherein water is optionally provided with the particulates; and
wherein the foaming agent is in the form of a dry powder.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the mixture has a water content of less than about 50% based on the mass of the particulates and in an amount sufficient to form at least a paste consistency in the mixture.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the foaming agent is added in an amount from about 0.001% to 0.4% based on the mass of the particulates.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said particulates are selected from the group consisting of mine tailings, ores, sand, coal, soils, clays, silts, aggregates, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said foaming agent is selected from the group consisting of alkanolamides, alkanolamines, alkylaryl sulfonates, polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymers, alkylphenol ethoxylates, carboxylates of fatty acids, ethoxylates of fatty acids, sulfonates of fatty acids, sulfates of fatty acids, fluorocarbon containing surfactants, olefin sulfonates, olefin sulfates, hydrolyzed proteins, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising adding a foam stabilizing agent and mixing said mixture.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the foam stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of pre-gelatinized starches, cellulose ethers, polyethylene oxides, very fine clays, natural gums, polyvinyl alcohols, synthetic polyelectrolytes, silica fume, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the foam stabilizing agent is added in an amount from about 0.0001% to about 2% based on the mass of the mixture.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising adding a water reducing dispersant to the mixture and mixing the mixture.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the water reducing dispersant is selected from the group consisting of lignosulfonate salts, beta naphthalene sulfonate salts, melamine containing water reducers, polycarboxylic salts, polycarboxylate copolymers, polycarboxyl amines, polycarboxyl imides, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the water reducing dispersant is added in an amount from greater than 0% to about 2% based on the mass of the particulates.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising adding a binder to the mixture.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the binder is added in an amount from greater than 0% to about 30% based on the mass of particulates.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the binder is added at least one of prior to the mixing step and after the transportation step.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of portland cement, ground granulated blast furnace slag, fly ash, lime, high alumina cement, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the particulates are mine tailings.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 further comprising transporting the mixture into a mine as backfill.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the mixture further comprises a binder.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 further comprising transporting the mixture from a mine to an area outside of the mine.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 further comprising adding an additive selected from the group consisting of set retarders, set accelerators, corrosion inhibitors, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 21

A method of excavating and transporting solid particulates comprising:
a. removing the solid particulates from an excavation area;
b. mixing a foaming agent with the solid particulates to form a foamed transportable mixture;
c. adding water and a binder to the transportable mixture;
d. mixing the transportable mixture, water, and binder to form a hydraulic composition; and
e. transporting the hydraulic composition to a desired location.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein said foaming agent is selected from the group consisting of alkanolamides, alkanolamines, alkylaryl sulfonates, polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymers, alkylphenol ethoxylates, carboxylates of fatty acids, ethoxylates of fatty acids, sulfonates of fatty acids, sulfates of fatty acids, fluorocarbon containing surfactants, olefin sulfonates, olefin sulfates, hydrolyzed proteins, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the foaming agent is in the form of a dry powder.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the foaming agent is added in an amount from about 0.001% to 0.4% based on the mass of the solid particulates.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein adding further comprises adding an admixture.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, wherein the admixture is selected from the group consisting of foam stabilizing agent, water reducing dispersants, rheological modifying agents, accelerating agents, any other dispersant, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, wherein the foam stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of pre-gelatinized starches, cellulose ethers, polyethylene oxides, very fine clays, natural gums, polyvinyl alcohols, synthetic polyelectrolytes, silica fume, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein the foam stabilizing agent is added in an amount from about 0.0001% to about 2% based on the weight of the solid particulates.

### Claim 29 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, wherein the water reducing dispersant is selected from the group consisting of lignosulfonate salts, beta naphthalene sulfonate salts, melamine containing water reducers, polycarboxylic salts, polycarboxylate copolymers, polycarboxyl amines, polycarboxyl imides, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 30 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, wherein the water reducing dispersant is added in an amount from greater than 0% to about 2% based on the weight of the solid particulates.

### Claim 31 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein steps a) and b) occur in a mixing pump.

### Claim 32 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of portland cement, ground granulated blast furnace slag, fly ash, lime, high alumina cement, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 33 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the binder is added in an amount from greater than 0% to about 30% based on the weight of the solid particulates.

### Claim 34 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21 further comprising adding a defoaming agent at the end of the transporting step.

### Claim 35 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the solid particulates are at least one of mine tailings, sand, and soils.

### Claim 36

A method of transporting particulates comprising,
providing particulates;
adding water to the particulates, if necessary, in an amount sufficient to form a paste consistency;
adding a foaming agent to form a mixture;
mixing said mixture to form a foam within the mixture;
transporting the mixture;
wherein water is optionally provided with the particulates; and
wherein no binder is added to the mixture before transporting.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The method of claim 36, wherein the mixture has a water content of less than about 50% based on the mass of the particulates and in an amount sufficient to form at least a paste consistency in the mixture.

### Claim 38 (depends on 36)

The method of claim 36, wherein the foaming agent is added in an amount from about 0.001% to 0.4% based on the mass of the particulates.

### Claim 39 (depends on 36)

The method of claim 36, wherein said particulates are selected from the group consisting of mine tailings, ores, sand, coal, soils, clays, silts, aggregates, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 40 (depends on 36)

The method of claim 36, wherein said foaming agent is selected from the group consisting of alkanolamides, alkanolamines, alkylaryl sulfonates, polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymers, alkylphenol ethoxylates, carboxylates of fatty acids, ethoxylates of fatty acids, sulfonates of fatty acids, sulfates of fatty acids, fluorocarbon containing surfactants, olefin sulfonates, olefin sulfates, hydrolyzed proteins, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 41 (depends on 36)

The method of claim 36, wherein the foaming agent is in the form of a dry powder.

### Claim 42 (depends on 36)

The method of claim 36, further comprising adding a foam stabilizing agent and mixing said mixture.

### Claim 43 (depends on 42)

The method of claim 42, wherein the foam stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of pre-gelatinized starches, cellulose ethers, polyethylene oxides, very fine clays, natural gums, polyvinyl alcohols, synthetic polyelectrolytes, silica fume, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 44 (depends on 42)

The method of claim 42, wherein the foam stabilizing agent is added in an amount from about 0.0001% to about 2% based on the mass of the mixture.

### Claim 45 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising adding a water reducing dispersant to the mixture and mixing the mixture.

### Claim 46 (depends on 45)

The method of claim 45, wherein the water reducing dispersant is selected from the group consisting of lignosulfonate salts, beta naphthalene sulfonate salts, melamine containing water reducers, polycarboxylic salts, polycarboxylate copolymers, polycarboxyl amines, polycarboxyl imides, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 47 (depends on 45)

The method of claim 45, wherein the water reducing dispersant is added in an amount from greater than 0% to about 2% based on the mass of the particulates.

### Claim 48 (depends on 36)

The method of claim 36, wherein the particulates are mine tailings.

### Claim 49 (depends on 48)

The method of claim 48 further comprising transporting the mixture into a mine as backfill.

### Claim 50 (depends on 48)

The method of claim 48 further comprising transporting the mixture from a mine to an area outside of the mine.