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US4003737A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method of agglomerating with additives in the bridging liquid

Assignee: National Research Council Canada
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Filing: 1974-07-22
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Granted: 1977-01-18
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Expires: 1994-07-22
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Abstract

Abstract Method of agglomerating solids in a liquid suspension utilizing in the bridging liquid an additive chemically active with respect to such solids. The solid to be agglomerated is suspended in a first liquid which is, or is made to be, at least relatively nonwetting with respect thereto. A second immiscible or bridging liquid is then introduced into said first liquid. Said second liquid is, or contains dissolved therein material which is, reactive to such solid material. The entire system is then agitated and the solid material thereby formed into agglomerates. The use of a chemically reactive material in the bridging liquid provides a wide range of selectability of and control over the properties, either physical or chemical, of the resulting agglomerates.

Inventors

  • 👤 Bruce F. Caswell
  • 👤 I. E. Puddington

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 16:30
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J2/00; B01J2/14; C; C22; C22B; C22B1/00; C22B1/14; C22B1/24; C22B1/2406

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 302 words
A process for forming agglomerates of aluminum oxide from finely divided aluminum oxide particles in a two-phase liquid system, comprising: a. forming a suspension of aluminum oxide particles having a particle size in the range of from 10 to 250 microns, in a first liquid which is lyophobic with respect to aluminum oxide particles; b. adding to said suspension a second liquid consisting essentially of an aqueous nitric acid solution containing from 0.3 to 10 percent by weight of nitric acid and from 0.5 to 20 percent by weight of aluminum nitrate, said second liquid being lyophilic with respect to said aluminum oxide particles and being immiscible with said first liquid whereby to form a two-phase liquid system containing said particles in suspension; c. agitating the two-phase liquid system to effect repeated collisions of said aluminum oxide particles and thereby forming in said system a dispersion of agglomerates of said aluminum oxide particles and said second liquid, and during said agitating, simultaneously initiating a chemical reaction between said nitric acid and aluminum oxide on the surfaces of said aluminum oxide particles to form aluminum nitrate; d. discontinuing said agitating, maintaining said agglomerates immersed in the liquid phase and permitting said chemical reaction to proceed for a period of time effective to form aluminum nitrate on the surfaces of the aluminum oxide particles in the agglomerates, and then separating the agglomerates from the liquid phase; e. drying said agglomerates to drive off water and to crystallize said aluminum nitrate which bonds together the aluminum oxide particles in the agglomerates, the drying step being carried out at a rate effective to prevent cracking of the agglomerates; and f. calcining the dried agglomerates to transform said aluminum nitrate to aluminum oxide, whereby to obtain agglomerates of aluminum oxide particles bonded together by aluminum oxide binder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 302 words
A process for forming agglomerates of aluminum oxide from finely divided aluminum oxide particles in a two-phase liquid system, comprising: a. forming a suspension of aluminum oxide particles having a particle size in the range of from 10 to 250 microns, in a first liquid which is lyophobic with respect to aluminum oxide particles; b. adding to said suspension a second liquid consisting essentially of an aqueous nitric acid solution containing from 0.3 to 10 percent by weight of nitric acid and from 0.5 to 20 percent by weight of aluminum nitrate, said second liquid being lyophilic with respect to said aluminum oxide particles and being immiscible with said first liquid whereby to form a two-phase liquid system containing said particles in suspension; c. agitating the two-phase liquid system to effect repeated collisions of said aluminum oxide particles and thereby forming in said system a dispersion of agglomerates of said aluminum oxide particles and said second liquid, and during said agitating, simultaneously initiating a chemical reaction between said nitric acid and aluminum oxide on the surfaces of said aluminum oxide particles to form aluminum nitrate; d. discontinuing said agitating, maintaining said agglomerates immersed in the liquid phase and permitting said chemical reaction to proceed for a period of time effective to form aluminum nitrate on the surfaces of the aluminum oxide particles in the agglomerates, and then separating the agglomerates from the liquid phase; e. drying said agglomerates to drive off water and to crystallize said aluminum nitrate which bonds together the aluminum oxide particles in the agglomerates, the drying step being carried out at a rate effective to prevent cracking of the agglomerates; and f. calcining the dried agglomerates to transform said aluminum nitrate to aluminum oxide, whereby to obtain agglomerates of aluminum oxide particles bonded together by aluminum oxide binder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
A process according to claim 1, in which said second liquid contains a maximum of about 2 percent by weight of nitric acid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 313 words
A process for forming agglomerates of aluminum oxide from finely divided aluminum oxide particles in a two-phase liquid system, comprising: a. forming a suspension of aluminum oxide particles having a particle size in the range of from 10 to 250 microns, in a first liquid which is lyophobic with respect to aluminum oxide particles; b. adding to said suspension a second liquid consisting essentially of an aqueous nitric acid solution containing from 0.5 to 2 percent by weight of nitric acid and containing up to 20 percent by weight of aluminum nitrate, said second liquid being lyophilic with respect to said aluminum oxide particles and being immiscible with said first liquid whereby to form a two-phase liquid system containing said particles in suspension; c. agitating the two-phase liquid system to effect repeated collisions of said aluminum oxide particles and thereby forming in said system a dispersion of agglomerates of said aluminum oxide particles and said second liquid, and during said agitating, simultaneously initiating a chemical reaction between said nitric acid and aluminum oxide on the surfaces of said aluminum oxide particles to form aluminum nitrate; d. discontinuing said agitating, maintaining said agglomerates in contact with the liquid phase under conditions effective to prevent drying out of the agglomerates and permitting said chemical reaction to proceed for a period of time effective to form aluminum nitrate on the surfaces of the aluminum oxide particles in the agglomerates and then separating the agglomerates from the liquid phase; e. drying said agglomerates to drive off water and to crystallize said aluminum nitrate which bonds together the aluminum oxide particles in the agglomerates, the drying step being carried out at a rate effective to prevent cracking of the agglomerates; and f. calcining the dried agglomerates to transform said aluminum nitrate to aluminum oxide, whereby to obtain agglomerates of aluminum oxide particles bonded together by aluminum oxide binder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 313 words
A process for forming agglomerates of aluminum oxide from finely divided aluminum oxide particles in a two-phase liquid system, comprising: a. forming a suspension of aluminum oxide particles having a particle size in the range of from 10 to 250 microns, in a first liquid which is lyophobic with respect to aluminum oxide particles; b. adding to said suspension a second liquid consisting essentially of an aqueous nitric acid solution containing from 0.5 to 2 percent by weight of nitric acid and containing up to 20 percent by weight of aluminum nitrate, said second liquid being lyophilic with respect to said aluminum oxide particles and being immiscible with said first liquid whereby to form a two-phase liquid system containing said particles in suspension; c. agitating the two-phase liquid system to effect repeated collisions of said aluminum oxide particles and thereby forming in said system a dispersion of agglomerates of said aluminum oxide particles and said second liquid, and during said agitating, simultaneously initiating a chemical reaction between said nitric acid and aluminum oxide on the surfaces of said aluminum oxide particles to form aluminum nitrate; d. discontinuing said agitating, maintaining said agglomerates in contact with the liquid phase under conditions effective to prevent drying out of the agglomerates and permitting said chemical reaction to proceed for a period of time effective to form aluminum nitrate on the surfaces of the aluminum oxide particles in the agglomerates and then separating the agglomerates from the liquid phase; e. drying said agglomerates to drive off water and to crystallize said aluminum nitrate which bonds together the aluminum oxide particles in the agglomerates, the drying step being carried out at a rate effective to prevent cracking of the agglomerates; and f. calcining the dried agglomerates to transform said aluminum nitrate to aluminum oxide, whereby to obtain agglomerates of aluminum oxide particles bonded together by aluminum oxide binder.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-01-18 1980-07-19 1981-01-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-01-18 1984-07-19 1985-01-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-01-18 1988-07-19 1989-01-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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