Bentonite Slurry

Abstract

There is provided an alkaline earth phyllosilicate material-containing slurry. It has been found the slurries of the present invention may be made at concentrations of up to 75% solids and remain pumpable. Broadly speaking, the slurry includes an alkaline earth phyllosilicate material and a polyfunctional compound and the remainder being water. The alkaline earth phyllosilicate material-containing slurry is preferably a pre-activated bentonite which is essentially semi-swollen upon addition to the slurry, and the polyfunctional compound is preferably an essentially non-monomeric, tall-oil derivative or distillate and the remainder being water. Other polyfunctional compounds include lignin, pitch, and liginosulfonate. The slurry does not requiring the addition of electrolyte. The properties of the slurry are such that the slurry contains between 5% and 75% total solid material in a pumpable form. There is also provided processes for making paper and for dewatering sludge using the slurry of this invention.

1 . A slurry comprising a blend of alkaline earth phylosilicate material and a polyfunctional compound in an amount such that the final inorganic solids are between 5% and 75%.  
   
   
       2 . A slurry comprising a blend of a swellable clay and a polyfunctional tall-oil distillate or derivative is present in an amount such that the final solids are, between 5% and 75% total solids.  
   
   
       3 . The slurry according to  claim 2  wherein said polyfunctional tall-oil distillate or derivative is present in an amount such that the final inorganic solids are between 40% and 70%.  
   
   
       4 . The slurry according to  claim 2  wherein said swellable clay is bentonite.  
   
   
       5 . The slurry according to  claim 2  wherein said tall-oil derivative comprises a blend of rosin acids in a form-type selected from a member of the group of types consisting of solubilized, dispersed, and saponified.  
   
   
       6 . The slurry according to  claim 2  wherein said tall-oil derivative comprises at least one fatty acid.  
   
   
       7 . The slurry according to  claim 2  wherein said tall-oil derivative comprises a blend of acids selected from the group consisting of fatty acids and rosin acids.  
   
   
       8 . The slurry according to  claim 2  wherein said tall oil derivative is a polyfunctional rosin and said fatty acid derivative and is the only dispersion stabilizer in said slurry.  
   
   
       9 . The slurry according to  claim 4  wherein said polyfunctional rosin derivative is present in solubilized form.  
   
   
       10 . The slurry according to  claim 4  wherein said polyfunctional rosin derivative are present in a finely dispersed, solid form such that the particle size of the dispersed rosin is less than 2 μm.  
   
   
       11 . The slurry according to  claim 1  wherein said polyfunctional compound is selected from the group consisting of lignin, pitch and lignosulfonate.  
   
   
       12 . The slurry according to  claim 1  wherein said slurry has a Hercules viscosity of the concentrate is below 100 cps (Bob: A, Spring: 200, 4400 rpm).  
   
   
       13 . A high solids, pumpable slurry comprising: bentonite and a blend of essentially non-monomeric gum or tall-oil rosin, fatty acids, water, wherein said bentonite does not require activation and wherein electrolyte is added to the resulting slurry, and wherein the final slurry solids are between 5% and 75% total solids and in which the final 1-day Brookfield viscosity is below 3000 cps.  
   
   
       14 . The slurry according to  claim 13  wherein said polyfunctional rosin and fatty acid derivatives are the only dispersion stabilizers in the concentrated slurry.  
   
   
       15 . The slurry according to  claim 13  wherein said polyfunctional rosin derivatives are present in solubilized form.  
   
   
       16 . The slurry according to  claim 13  wherein said polyfunctional rosin derivatives are present in a finely dispersed, solid form, such that the particle size of the dispersed rosin is less than 2 μm.  
   
   
       17 . A process for making paper or paperboard comprising: forming an aqueous cellulosic suspension, mixing a pumpable blend of an alkaline earth phylosilicate material and an amount of tall-oil derivative or distillate to form a dispersion such that the final inorganic solids are between 5% and 75% total solids draining the cellulosic suspension to form a wet sheet, and drying said sheet.  
   
   
       18 . The process according to  claim 17  wherein said dispersion has a Hercules viscosity of below 100 cps (Bob: A, Spring 200, 4400 rpm).  
   
   
       19 . A process for dewatering sludge comprising: forming a high solids, pumpable slurry comprising: bentonite and a blend of essentially non-monomeric gum or tall-oil rosin, fatty acids, water, wherein said bentonite does not require activation, and wherein electrolyte is added to the resulting slurry and wherein the final slurry solids are between 5% and 75% total solids and in which the final 1-day Brookfield viscosity is below 3000 cps., mixing said slurry with waste sludge, draining said mixture to dewater, and disposing of said sludge.