Alkaline-treated inverted molasses as dispersants for mineral suspensions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9981875-B2
Application number	US-201415028604-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2014
Priority date	Oct 18, 2013
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

Abstract

Modified molasses are used as dispersants for mineral suspensions, the modified molasses being obtained by means of a method comprising the steps: a) inversion of molasses and/or provision of inverted molasses; b) reaction of the inverted molasses with alkalis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of using modified molasses as dispersants for a mineral suspension, wherein the modified molasses is obtained according to the following steps:
a) inverting molasses and/or providing inverted molasses, and
b) reacting the inverted molasses with alkalis,
wherein the mineral suspension has a solids content of from 20 to 95% by weight of the total amount of the mineral suspension, and
wherein the amount by weight of the mineral solid particles in the mineral suspension having a particle size of less than 100 μm is at least 50% by weight of the total amount of all solids in the mineral suspension,
the method comprising:
adding the modified molasses to the suspension, and
dispersing the solid particles in the suspension.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the inverting of the molasses in step a) is performed enzymatically with an invertase.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the alkaline treatment in step b) is performed with a base selected from the group consisting of Ca(OH) 2 , Mg(OH) 2 , NaOH, KOH and mixtures thereof.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein step b) is carried out at a temperature of from 10° C. to 90° C.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in step b), a temperature of from 30° C. to 80° C., and a pH of from 6 to 14, is maintained for 0.5 to 5 hours.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the modified molasses is used together with at least one liquefier, and wherein the at least one liquefier has a structure according to formula (I)

wherein
R 1 , independently of one another, represents H or an alkyl group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms,
R 2 , independently of one another, represents H, —COOM, or an alkyl group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms,
M, independently of one another, represents an alkali metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, a di- or tri-valent metal ion, an ammonium ion, or an organic ammonium group,
X represents —COO—, —NH— or mixtures thereof,
m=0, 1 or 2,
p=0 or 1,
Y, independently of one another, represents H, M, a C 1 - to C 20 -alkyl group, -cycloalkyl group, -alkylaryl group, -hydroxyalkyl group, or a group of the formula -[AO] n —R a , wherein the mentioned groups are unsubstituted or substituted by a sulfone group, a sulfate group or by a phosphate group,

wherein A=C 2 - to C 4 -alkylene, R a represents H, a C 1 - to C 20 -alkyl group, -cyclohexyl group or -alkylaryl group, and n=1-10.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one liquefier includes a poly(meth)acrylic acid and/or a salt thereof.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the modified molasses, optionally together with the at least one liquefier, is used in an amount of from 0.01 to 5% by weight, based on the solids content of the mineral suspension.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the amount by weight of solid particles having a particle size greater than 10 mm in the mineral suspension is less than 10% by weight, based on the total weight of all the solids in the mineral suspension.

10. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the modified molasses, optionally together with the at least one liquefier, is used in an amount of from 0.01 to 5% by weight, based on the solids content of the mineral suspension, and
wherein the amount by weight of solid particles having a particle size greater than 10 mm in the mineral suspension is less than 10% by weight, based on the total weight of all the solids in the mineral suspension.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the modified molasses, optionally together with the at least one liquefier, is used in an amount of from 0.01 to 0.8% by weight based on the total weight of the mineral suspension.

12. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the mineral suspension comprises a mineral binder, and
wherein the mineral suspension is a mortar composition or a concrete composition.

13. A method for producing a mineral suspension,
wherein modified molasses, as described in claim 1 , is mixed with mineral solid particles and a liquid, and
wherein the mineral suspension has a solids content of from 20 to 95% by weight of the total amount of the mineral suspension, and
wherein the amount by weight of the mineral solid particles in the mineral suspension having a particle size of less than 100 μm is at least 50% by weight of the total amount of all solids in the mineral suspension.

14. A mineral suspension obtained by the method according to claim 13 .

15. A molded body obtained by hardening a mineral suspension according to claim 14 , wherein the mineral suspension comprises mineral binder tempered with water.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the amount by weight of solid particles having a particle size of greater than 1 mm is less than 10% by weight of the total amount of all solids.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the amount by weight of solid particles having a particle size of greater than 1 mm is less than 1% by weight of the total amount of all solids.

18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the amount by weight of solid particles having a particle size of less than 100 μm is 95% or greater by weight of the total amount of all solids.

19. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein step b) is carried out at a temperature of from 30° C. to 80° C. and the temperature is maintained constant for from 1.5 to 4 hours.

20. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a total amount of cement, hydraulic binders and mineral binders in the mineral suspension is less than 5% by weight of the total weight of all the solids in the mineral suspension.

21. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a total amount of cement, hydraulic binders and mineral binders in the mineral suspension is less than 0.1% by weight of the total weight of all the solids in the mineral suspension.

22. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mineral suspension has a pH of from 5 to 10.

23. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mineral suspension comprises tailings.

24. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the amount by weight of solid particles having a particle size of greater than 1 mm is less than 10% by weight of the total amount of all solids;
the amount by weight of solid particles having a particle size of less than 100 μm is 95% or greater by weight of the total amount of all solids; and
a total amount of cement, hydraulic binders and mineral binders in the mineral suspension is less than 5% by weight of the total weight of all the solids in the mineral suspension.

Assignees

• Sika Tech Ag

Inventors

• Haack Thomas
• Olivares Hugo
• Gallegos Pedro

Classifications

• C04B24/18

  Lignin sulfonic acid or derivatives thereof, e.g. sulfite lye · CPC title

• C04B24/2652

  Nitrogen containing polymers, e.g. polyacrylamides, polyacrylonitriles · CPC title

• C04B40/0039

  Premixtures of ingredients · CPC title

• C04B24/22

  Condensation {or polymerisation} products thereof · CPC title

• C04B2103/32

  Superplasticisers · CPC title