Stable and homogenous anthraquinone compositions and preparations thereof

Abstract

Substantially homogeneous and stable suspensions of anthraquinone (AQ) compositions and methods of preparation are disclosed. The AQ compositions are utilized in pulping processes.

1 . A composition for use in a pulping process comprising:
 anthraquinone;   one or more metal ions;   a dispersant;   a polyglycol; and   water,   
       wherein the composition is a substantially homogeneous and stable suspension. 
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is stable after being left at room temperature in a closed container from about 24 hours to about 1 year. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the mean particle size of anthraquinone is about 150 μm or less, about 100 μm to about 1 μm, about 75 μm to about 1 μm, about 50 μm to about 1 μm, about 25 μm to about 1 μm, about 20 μm, to about 1 μm, about 15 μm to about 1 μm, about 10 μm to about 1 μm, about 8 μm to about 1 μm, about 5 μm to about 1 μm, or about 3 μm to about 1 μm. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more metal ions are divalent cations, trivalent cations, tetravalent cations, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the divalent metal ions are magnesium and calcium, or salts thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 5 , wherein the molar ratio of calcium to magnesium in the composition is about 1:1. 
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one or more metal ions are water soluble. 
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispersant is an anionic dispersant, a cationic dispersant, or a neutral dispersant. 
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the dispersant is water soluble. 
     
     
         10 . The composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the dispersant is a naphthalene sulfonate dispersant. 
     
     
         11 . The composition according to  claim 10 , wherein the dispersant is a salt of diisopropylnaphthalene sulfonate. 
     
     
         12 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the polyglycol is polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polybutylene glycol, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The composition according to  claim 12 , wherein the polyglycol is water soluble. 
     
     
         14 . The composition according to  claim 12 , wherein the average molecular weight of polyethylene glycol in the polyethylene glycol composition is from about 200 to about 5,000, from about 500 to about 3,000, from about 750 to about 2,000, or about 1,000. 
     
     
         15 . The composition according to  claim 1 , having a viscosity of about 500 to about 10,000 cP at 25° C., about 1,000 to about 7,000 cP at 25° C., or about 2,000 to about 5,000 cP at 25° C., wherein the composition contains 50% by mass anthraquinone. 
     
     
         16 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of anthraquinone to metal ion is about 50:1. 
     
     
         17 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of anthraquinone by weight is at least about 20%, at least about 30%, at least about 40%, or about 50%. 
     
     
         18 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the dispersant by weight is from about 0.1% to about 5%, from about 0.2% to about 3%, or from about 0.5% to about 2%. 
     
     
         19 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the polyglycol by weight is from about 1% to about 10%, from about 2% to about 8%, from about 3% to about 6%, or about 5%. 
     
     
         20 . The composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising a dye or other additives. 
     
     
         21 . A composition for use in a pulping process comprising:
 anthraquinone;   one or more calcium salts;   one or more magnesium salts;   a salt of diisopropylnaphthalene sulfonate;   polyethylene glycol; and   water,   
       wherein the composition is a substantially homogeneous and stable suspension. 
     
     
         22 . A composition for use in a pulping process comprising:
 anthraquinone having a mean particle size of about 150 μm or less;   one or more metal ions;   a dispersant;   a polyglycol; and   water.   
     
     
         23 . The composition according to  claim 22 , wherein the composition is a substantially homogeneous and stable suspension. 
     
     
         24 . The composition according to  claim 22 , wherein the composition is stable after being left at room temperature in a closed container from about 24 hours to about 1 year. 
     
     
         25 . The composition according to  claim 22 , wherein the mean particle size of anthraquinone is 100 μm to about 1 μm, about 75 μm to about 1 μm, about 50 μm to about 1 μm, about 25 μm to about 1 μm, about 20 μm to about 1 μm, about 15 μm to about 1 μm, about 10 μm to about 1 μm, about 8 μm to about 1 μm, about 5 μm to about 1 μm, about 3 μm to about 1 μm. 
     
     
         26 . The composition according to  claim 22 , wherein the one or more metal ions are divalent cations, trivalent cations, or tetravalent cations, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The composition according to  claim 26 , wherein the divalent metal ions are magnesium and calcium, or salts thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The composition according to  claim 27 , wherein the molar ratio of calcium to magnesium in the composition is about 1:1. 
     
     
         29 . The composition according to  claim 26 , wherein the at least one or more metal ions are water soluble. 
     
     
         30 . The composition according to  claim 22 , wherein the dispersant is an anionic dispersant, a cationic dispersant, or a neutral dispersant. 
     
     
         31 . The composition according to  claim 30 , wherein the dispersant is water soluble. 
     
     
         32 . The composition according to  claim 30 , wherein the dispersant is a naphthalene sulfonate dispersant. 
     
     
         33 . The composition according to  claim 32 , wherein the dispersant is a salt of diisopropylnaphthalene sulfonate. 
     
     
         34 . The composition according to  claim 22 , wherein the polyglycol is polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, or polybutylene glycol, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The composition according to  claim 34 , wherein the polyglycol is water soluble. 
     
     
         36 . The composition according to  claim 34 , wherein the average molecular weight of polyethylene glycol is from about 200 to about 5,000, from about 500 to about 3,000, from about 750 to about 2,000, or about 1,000. 
     
     
         37 . The composition according to  claim 22 , having a viscosity of about 500 to about 10,000 cP at 25° C., about 1,000 to about 7,000 cP at 25° C., and about 2,000 to about 5,000 cP at 25° C., wherein said composition contains 50% by mass anthraquinone. 
     
     
         38 . The composition according to  claim 22 , wherein the molar ratio of anthraquinone to metal ion is about 50:1. 
     
     
         39 . The composition according to  claim 22 , wherein the concentration of anthraquinone by weight is at least about 20%, at least about 30%, at least about 40%, or about 50%. 
     
     
         40 . The composition according to  claim 22 , wherein the concentration of the dispersant by weight is from about 0.1% to about 5%, from about 0.2% to about 3%, or from about 0.5% to about 2%. 
     
     
         41 . The composition according to  claim 22 , wherein the concentration of the polyglycol by weight is from about 1% to about 10%, from about 2% to about 8%, from about 3% to about 6%, or about 5%. 
     
     
         42 . The composition according to  claim 22 , further comprising a dye or other additives. 
     
     
         43 . A composition for use in a pulping process comprising:
 anthraquinone having a mean particle size of about 150 μm or less;   one or more calcium salts;   one or more magnesium salts;   a salt of diisopropylnaphthalene sulfonate;   polyethylene glycol; and   water.   
     
     
         44 . The composition according to  claim 43 , wherein the composition is a substantially homogeneous and stable suspension. 
     
     
         45 . The composition according to  claim 43 , wherein the composition is stable after being left at room temperature in a closed container from about 24 hours to about 1 year. 
     
     
         46 . The composition according to  claim 43 , wherein the mean particle size of anthraquinone is 100 μm to about 1 μm, about 75 μm to about 1 μm, about 50 μm to about 1 μm, about 25 μm to about 1 μm, about 20 μm to about 1 μm, about 15 μm to about 1 μm, about 10 μm to about 1 μm, about 8 μm to about 1 μm, about 5 μm to about 1 μm, about 3 μm to about 1 μm. 
     
     
         47 . A method for preparing a composition for use in a pulping process, comprising:
 a. providing a solution comprising water, at least one or more metal ions, a dispersant, and a polyglycol ; and   b. adding anthraquinone to the solution with agitation at a speed such that the composition forms a substantially homogeneous and stable suspension.   
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 47 , wherein the metal ions are magnesium and calcium, or salts thereof. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the anthraquinone has a mean particle size of about 150 μm or less, about 100 μm to about 1 μm, about 75 μm to about 1 μm, about 50 μm to about 1 μm, about 25 μm to about 1 μm, about 20 μm to about 1 μm, about 15 μm to about 1 μm, about 10 μm to about 1 μm, about 8 μm to about 1 μm, about 5 μm to about 1 μm, about 3 μm to about 1 μm. 
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 47 , wherein the composition is stable after being left at room temperature in a closed container for at least about 24 hours, greater than about 1 week, greater than about 1 month, greater than about 3 months, or about a year. 
     
     
         51 . A method for preparing a composition for use in a pulping process comprising:
 a. providing a solution comprising water, a magnesium salt, a calcium salt, a salt of diisopropylnaphthalene sulfonate, and polyethylene glycol; and   b. adding anthraquinone having a particle size of about 150 μm or less to the solution with agitation at a speed such that the composition forms a substantially homogeneous and stable suspension.   
     
     
         52 . The composition according to  claim 51 , wherein the mean particle size is about 100 μm to about 1 μm, about 75 μm to about 1 μm, about 50 μm to about 1 μm, about 25 μm to about 1 μm, about 20 μm to about 1 μm, about 15 μm to about 1 μm, about 10 μm to about 1 μm, about 8 μm to about 1 μm, about 5 μm to about 1 μm, about 3 μm to about 1 μm. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the composition is stable after being left at room temperature in a closed container for at least about 24 hours, greater than about 1 week, greater than about 1 month, greater than about 3 months, or about a year.