Alum pellets

Abstract

Compositions including pellets of alum, a smectite mineral material and optionally sodium or calcium carbonate that can be delivered to a phosphate impoundment located at the bottom of a body of water at the bottom. The pellets of alum, smectite mineral material and optionally sodium or calcium carbonate are dropped through the body of water so that the alum is released when the pellet reaches the bottom of the impoundment thereby treating the phosphates.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating a phosphate impoundment in a body of water comprising: 
 adding to the body of water a composition comprising alum and a smectite mineral material, wherein the composition is in a form selected from a tablet, extruded noodle, pellet, briquette or ribbon; and    releasing alum from the composition as the composition passes through the body of water.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the smectite mineral material is selected from the group consisting of: bentonite, attapulgite, saponite, hectorite, sepiolite and fallers earth.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition retains about 90 percent of the integrity of its form for about 2 minutes.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a pH buffer selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprising alum and smectite material is coated with a water soluble resin material selected from corn starch, guar gum, alginates, polyvinyl alcohol and partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamides.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the composition retains about 90 percent of the integrity of its form for about 24 hours.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition in the form of a tablet, extruded noodle, pellet, briquette or ribbon, has a diameter of from ¼ to 24 inches.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition in the form of a tablet, extruded noodle, pellet, briquette or ribbon, has a density of from 1.0 to 2.0 gm/cm 3 .  
     
     
         9 . A method of treating a phosphate impoundment in a body of water comprising: 
 adding to the body of water a composition comprising alum and a smectite mineral material, wherein the composition is in a form selected from a tablet, extruded noodle, pellet, briquette or ribbon; and    delivering the composition to the sediment water interface whereby alum is released from the composition at the sediment water interface.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the smectite mineral material is selected from the group consisting of: bentonite, attapulgite, saponite, hectorite, sepiolite and fullers earth.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the composition retains about 90 percent of the integrity of its form for about 2 minutes.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the composition further comprises a pH buffer selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the composition comprising alum and smectite material is coated with a water soluble resin material selected from corn starch, guar gum, alginates, polyvinyl alcohol and partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamides.  
     
     
         14 . A composition for treating a phosphate impoundment in a body of water comprising: 
 a) alum; and    b) a smectite mineral material.    
     
     
         15 . A composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the smectite mineral material is selected from the group consisting of: bentonite, attapulgite, saponite, hectorite, sepiolite and fullers earth.  
     
     
         16 . A composition according to  claim 14 , further comprising a pH buffer selected from the group consisting of: sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate.  
     
     
         17 . A composition according to  claim 14 , further comprising a water soluble resin material selected from guar gum, alginates, polyvinyl alcohol and partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamides.  
     
     
         18 . A composition according to  claim 14 , where the composition comprises from 30 to 99 percent by weight of alum and from 1 to 70 percent by weight of the smectite mineral material.  
     
     
         19 . A composition according to  claim 16 , wherein the composition further comprises from 0 to 30 percent by weight of the pH buffer.  
     
     
         20 . A composition according to  claim 17 , wherein the composition further comprises from 0 to 5 percent by weight of the water soluble resin.