Patent · US Expired

Flocculation processes

US4720346A · kind A · utility

72Cited by
14References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 23, 1986
Grant dateJan 19, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 23, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S524/922
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

When flocculating an aqueous suspension of suspended solids using a high molecular weight synthetic polymeric flocculant, the shear stability of the flocs is increased if the polymeric material includes polymeric particles of below 10 .mu.m dry size. The flocculated solids can therefore be subjected to shear without increasing the amount of discrete suspended solids in the aqueous medium and generally they are subjected to shear by shearing the aqueous medium containing them, either before dewatering, generally on a centrifuge, piston press or belt press, or by continuously agitating them, for instance in a chemical reaction medium. The polymeric material is generally formed by mixing into water polymeric particles made by reverse phase or emulsion polymerization in the presence of added cross linking agent. Alternatively, particles insolubilized by insoluble monomer may be used. A reverse phase dispersion of water soluble polymer may be used if the particles remain undissolved, e.g. if they are added in the absence of an oil in water emulsifying agent.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.