# US 8,772,356 B2 · Methods for treating an inorganic slurry > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,772,356 B2 - Document ID: US8772356B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/856,058 - Filed: 2013-04-03 - Published: 2013-08-29 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2003-01-29 - Assignees: Rhodia Operations - Applicants: Rhodia Operations - Inventors: Christopher Raymond Jones - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8772356B2 ## CPC - A01N 57/34: having phosphorus-to-halogen bonds; Phosphonium salts - A01N 25/04: Dispersions, {emulsions, suspoemulsions, suspension concentrates} or gels (foams A01N25/16) - A01N 57/20: containing acyclic or cycloaliphatic radicals - C04B 16/00: Use of organic materials as fillers, e.g. pigments, for mortars, concrete or artificial stone; Treatment of organic materials specially adapted to enhance their filling properties in mortars, concrete or artificial stone - C09C 1/021: {Calcium carbonates} - C09C 1/42: Clays - C09C 3/08: Treatment with low-molecular-weight {non-polymer} organic compounds {(C09C3/006, C09C3/048 take precedence)} - C01P 2006/80: Compositional purity - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS - 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 - C09C: TREATMENT OF INORGANIC MATERIALS, OTHER THAN FIBROUS FILLERS, TO ENHANCE THEIR PIGMENTING OR FILLING PROPERTIES (treatment of materials specially adapted to enhance their filling properties in mortars, concrete or artificial stone C04B14/00, C04B18/00, C04B20/00); PREPARATION OF CARBON BLACK {; PREPARATION OF INORGANIC MATERIALS WHICH ARE NO SINGLE CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS AND WHICH ARE MAINLY USED AS PIGMENTS OR FILLERS} - C01P: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO STRUCTURAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF SOLID INORGANIC COMPOUNDS ## Abstract A method for treating an inorganic slurry to preserve the slurry against bacterial contamination, including (I) providing a slurry in a substantially homogeneous phase, and then (II) adding to the slurry an effective amount of a composition containing: (a) a tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salt selected from the group consisting of tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulphate, tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride, tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium phosphate, tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium nitrate and tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium oxalate; and (b) a dispersant selected from the group consisting of (i) a phosphonated compound containing at least one tertiary nitrogen atom and (ii) a homopolymer of an unsaturated acid; and (III) preserving the slurry against bacterial contamination, while avoiding instantaneous heterogeneous thickening of the slurry due to the tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salt. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for treating an inorganic slurry to preserve the slurry against bacterial contamination, comprising the steps of: (I) providing a slurry in a substantially homogeneous phase, and then (II) adding to said slurry an effective amount of a composition comprising: (a) a tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salt selected from the group consisting of tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulphate, tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride, tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium phosphate, tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium nitrate and tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium oxalate; and (b) a dispersant selected from the group consisting of (b)(i) a sodium salt of nitrilo-tris(methylene phosphonate) and (b)(ii) a homopolymer of acrylic acid having a molecular weight in the range of 2,000 to 5,000; and (III) preserving the slurry against bacterial contamination, whilst avoiding instantaneous heterogeneous thickening of the slurry due to the tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salt. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salt is tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulphate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein the tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salt is tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride, tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium phosphate, tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium nitrate or tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium oxalate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the dispersant is a sodium salt of nitrilo-tris(methylene phosphonate). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the salt is the tetra-sodium salt. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the dispersant is a homopolymer of acrylic acid having a molecular weight in the range of 2,000 to 5,000. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salt to dispersant in the composition is about 2:1, as active ingredients. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is added to said slurry in an amount in the range of 10 ppm to 1000 ppm, by weight of said slurry. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is added to said slurry in an amount of about 750 ppm, by weight of said slurry. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said slurry comprises a calcium carbonate-based slurry. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said slurry comprises a pigment slurry, a clay slurry or a cement slurry. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said slurry contains 70 to 80% by weight of undissolved suspended solids. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said slurry comprises a calcium carbonate slurry that contains 70 to 80% or more, by weight, of undissolved suspended solids. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the composition is added to said slurry in an amount in the range of 10 ppm to 1000 ppm, by weight of said slurry. ### Claim 15 A method for treating an inorganic slurry to preserve the slurry against bacterial contamination, comprising the steps of: (I) providing a slurry in a substantially homogeneous phase, and then (II) adding to the slurry an effective amount of a composition comprising: (a) a tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salt selected from the group consisting of tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulphate, tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride, tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium phosphate, tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium nitrate and tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium oxalate; and (b) a dispersant which is the tetra sodium salt of nitrilo-tris(methylene phosphonate); and (III) preserving the slurry against bacterial contamination, whilst avoiding instantaneous heterogeneous thickening of the slurry due to the tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salt. ### Claim 16 A method for treating an inorganic slurry to preserve the slurry against bacterial contamination, comprising the steps of: (I) providing a slurry in a substantially homogeneous phase, and then (II) adding to the slurry an effective amount of a composition comprising: (a) a tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salt selected from the group consisting of tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulphate, tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride, tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium phosphate, tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium nitrate and tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium oxalate; and (b) a dispersant which is a homopolymer of acrylic acid, the homopolymer having a molecular weight in the range of 2,000 to 5,000, and (III) preserving the slurry against bacterial contamination, whilst avoiding instantaneous heterogeneous thickening of the slurry due to the tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salt.