AU606758B2 - Agent for grinding lime to augment its reactivity - Google Patents

Description

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FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRi PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPEC IFICATIO

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int Class Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: 0 10 4C *00 000 0 64 0 t 040a 00 of 0 U.0 o: 0 4 00.0 0 of Priority: Related Art: Name and Address of Applicant: Coatex S.A.

Cours AristidL- Briand F-69300 Caluire

FRANCE

Address for Service: Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Austrq8& Complete Specification for the invention entitled: Agent for Grinding Lime to Augment Its Remstivity The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us .4 5845/6 4. The basic application(x) referred to in paragraph 2 of this Declaration was/w gcthe first applicationt) made in a Convention country in respect of the invention tx) the subject of the application.

Declared at Caluire this thi "i day of August'. 198 .cQQATEX. To: The Commissioner of Patents Signature of Declarant(s) SFP4 0

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ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A grinding agent for refining coarse lime by grinding in an aqueous medium to a microparticulate size, composed of a water-soluble ethylene polymer and/or copolymer, wherein, said grinding agent: a) is formed from a least one monocarboxylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and b) has an average molecular weight of between 200 and 1,900 g/mole.

Grinding in the presence of the grinding agent allows the production of aqueous lime suspensions which have a high concentration of dry material expressed in weight percent, preferably between 40\ and 60%, with particles of a size of less than 4 microns and median diameter of less than 2.9 microns.

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.1r I TITLE OF THE INVENTION AGENT FOR GRINDING LIME TO AUGMENT ITS REACTIVITY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention: The present invention relates to an agent for grinding coarse lime in an aqueous medium for the production of rheologically stable aqueous suspensions of refined lime. The invention also relates to a method for grinding the coarse lime in an aqueous medium in the presence of the grinding agent, the aqueous suspensions of lime produced thereby, and the new chemical applications of the aqueous suspensions of lime refined by grinding in the presence of the agent.

Discussion of the Background: For a long time hydrated lime (or calcium hydroxide) has been used in numerous fields in the form of aqueous suspensions, known under the name of milk of lime, whose particles, often rough and irregular, were responsible for poor reactivity and considerable sedimentation. Sucl, aqueous suspensions of lime were, nevertheless, used as chemical neutralization agents or even as antiseptic agents although the lime had a low coefficient of solubility in an aqueous medium.

44 4 4 4 4 t 4 tr *4 4 4 4 44( -2- Since this mineral substance is obtained fiesQ by calcining calcium carbonate at a high temperature, then by refining the calcined product by dry grinding or even by grinding in the presence of a small amount water, the lime produced by said refining, whether or not it is hydrated, is in the form of aggregates whose very rough grain size is in the range of from 5 to microns.

By definition, particles of hydrated lime with such a rough grain size provide low reactivity when they are used in this state, both in a pulverized form and in the foim of an aqueous suspension, even in the presence of an additive such as a dispersion agent.

Therefore, in order to be able to increase the reactivity of the lime, over ti-i last few years it has been shown to be desirable to improve the fineness until a particle size of preferably less than 5 microns has been achieved and, where it is in the form of a *s.t pigmentary aqueous suspension, to increase the dry matter concentration at the same time as refining the particles.

To achieve the object of a particle size of a C preferably less than 5 microns, it has been shown to be desirable to carry out more effective grinding using 0'°ie one or other of the wet or dry methods.

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Where dry grinding is used, the ground mineral materials must undergo a size selection so as to collect the finest particles desirably sought and to recycle all the particles having too large a size as many times as necessary to convert them to the desired size or, as far as possible, to remove them. Such a recycling and/or removal operation of the oversized particles remains impractical since the cost of the operation would be industrially unacceptable.

Where wet grinding is used, the suspension resulting from said grinding is presently naturally limited to an industrial concentration in dry matter of at most 20% by weight due to the increase noted in the viscosities, whether the grinding is carried out in water alone or in an aqueous medium in the presence of a dispersion agent of mineral or organic origin.

This second method consists of using, during grinding operations in an 4queous medium, more and more elaborate grinding agents so as to facilitate the carrying out of said grinding, the dispersion of the particles, and the maintaining of the viscosities of the suspensions produced at acceptable levels.

A first type of dispersion agent which could be considered as a grinding agent (described in patents GB 2,127,395 and FR 2,351,706) is composed of alkaline 1 L .4 I 1, I 44

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S-4polyacrylates, polyphosphates and lignosulfonates.

This agent, which is used in lime and/,.r calcium carbonate and even other mineral suspensions at a concentration of at le st 40% by weight, is introduced after flocculation of tt.e mineral materials with a polymer that is usually of a high molecular weight.

It is certain that the prior flocculating action causes the agglomeration of the particles by providing flakes with lessened chemical reactivity, which are favorably dispersed due to the presence of the dispersion agent.

However, while the purpcse of this type of agent is essentially to provide a suspension with a low viscosity and a high concentration of dry material, this agent also provides an increase in particle diameter due to the formation of flakes and not the 4.e refining thereof as desired (GB 2,127,395) or due to the inability to refine to a particle size less than 4 microns (FR 2,351,706), 4 6 A second type of dispersion agent (described in French Patent 2,387,911) is composed of a salt of 4 acrylic and maleic acid ,opolymers with an average molecular weight of between 2,000 and 10,000, which enables the production of pigmentary suspensions of calcium carbonate having amounts of dry material of a 4 4 1 l between only 40% and 60% by weight. When such an agent, not in a suspension of calcium carbonate but in a suspension of lime at 40% by weight of dry material, is submitted to a grinding operation, there occurs a very rapid increase in the viscosity of the medium Scausing the blockage of the industrial grinding i without, however, a substantial refinement of the lime particles being observed.

A third type of agent, described as a grinding ij agent in French Patent 2,539,137, is composed of i acrylic acid polymers and' r copolymers simultaneously Sneutralized using lime and another neutralizing agent with a monovalent function. Such a grinding agent i provides the stabilization of the rheological l\ poperties of calcium carbonate suspensions over time i but, with regard to lime, does not provide the i simultaneous increase in the concentration of dry i material and a refining of the particles as it causes a large and rapid increase in viscosity, going as far as I blocking the industrial grinder.

j A last type of dispersion agent (described in I I European Patent 0,061,354) consists of polyelectrolytes with a low average molecular weight, which, however, is always greater than 2,200, such as carboxymethylcelluloses, acrylic and methacrylic acid polymers and I I 11 ~2 i L ly -6d lignosulfonates. The dispersion agents belonging to this family lead to good results when they are used for torming suspensions of rough lime particles which are always greater than 5 microns, but they cause a sudden ard uncontrollable rise in the viscosity of such suspensions, qcing as far as blocking the industrial grinder, when they are used as grinding agents at concentrations of dry material on the order of 40% by weight or more.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide novel grinding agents for the oo 0 09 °00" production of rheologically stable aqueous suspensions o 0 00 of lime which contain a high lime content and in which 0 00 O 9 6. the lime has a fine particle size.

00 0 0 It is another object of the present invention to 0 Q9 provide rheologically stable aqueous suspensions of 9 lime which contain a high lime content and in which the lime particles have a fine particle size.

It is a further object of the present invention to 0.o provide a method for the grinding of lime to form rheologically stable aqueous suspensions which contain 0.09 a high lime content and in which the lime has a fine particle size.

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1 7 These and other objects which will become apparent during the description of the present invention have been achieved by the inventors' discovery of an agent for grinding lime in an aqueous medium which provides refined suspensions having at the same time a concentration in dry material of at least 20% by weight, a particle size of less than 4 microns, 50% of which have a size of less than 2.9 microns, and a low viscosity which is stable over time.

In accordance with the invention, the agent for grinding the rough lime to be refined in an aqueous medium to a microparticulate size, with a view to increasing the reactivity of the lime, is composed of a water-soluble ethylene polymer and/or copolymer, which is characterizec that said agent is a) formed from at least one monocurboxylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer; and b) selected within the range of average molecular weights of between 200 and 1,900 g/mole. I According to a broad form of the invention there is provided an aqueous suspension of lime, which comprises lime and a grinding agent, wherein said grinding agent is composed of a water-soluble ethylene polymer or copolymer and wherein said grinding agent: is formed from at least one monocarboxylic ethylenically P unsaturated monomer, and has an average molecular weight of between 200 and 1,900 g/mole and wherein said aqueous suspension of lime has a concentration 2) ii dry material of at least 20% by weight and wherein said lime has a particle size of less than 4 microns and a medium particle diameter of less than 2.9 microns.

According to another form of the invention there is provided a process for the production of an aqueous suspension of refined lime, which comprises the steps of: introducing a grinding agent into a first aqueous phase to obtain a second aqueous phase; (ii) introducing coarse lime into said second aqueous phase while stirring to obtain a fluid suspension of coarse lime; and (i11) grinding said fluid suspension of coarse lime to obtain said suspension of refined lime; wherein said grinding agent is one KE-/0140f _i 7A member selected from the group consisting of water-soluble ethylene polymers and water-soluble ethylene copolymers and wherein said grinding agent is formed from at least one monocarboxylic eth~lenically unsaturated monomer and has a molecular weight of between 200 and 1,900 g/mole, and wherein said refined lime has a particle size of less than 4 microns and a medium particle diameter of less than 2.9 microns.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAHINGS A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same become better understood by refsrence to the following detailed description when

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KEH/0140f considered in conneqction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:G Figure 1 is a representation of piloc installation for grinding aqueous suspensions of lime in the presence of a grinding agent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Therefore, while the prior ar-t essentially describes dis;persion and/or grinding agents using the wet method, certain of which are water-solublte ethylene polymers and/or copolymners, the grinding agents in accordance with the poresent invention are distinguished from the prior art by the fact that they are composed of at least one ethylene polymer and/or copolymer, 0 r,0 a which is required to be formed from at least one alonocarboxylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer. In other words, any agent for grinding lime in an aqueous medium which does not at least partially contain said monomer is certain to provide hhe same effects as those caused by the agents of the prior art. That is, they give rise to a sudden and uncontrollable rise in the viscosity of the lime suspension, rendering refining impossible as soon as the concentration of dry material I reaches or exceeds 40% by weight.

Further, the grinding agent of the ipnt invention, based on at least one polymer and/or copolymer formed from at least one monocarboxylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer, must possess an average molecular weight in the above-identified range of between 200 and 1,900 g/mole.

Outside of this range of average molecular weights, any polymer having the same structure but with an average molecular weight of greater than 1,900, even close to said limit, leads to lime suspensions which are poorly ground or are even impossible to grind when the concentration of dry material in :he suspension exceeds 40% by weight. In such cases, the So characteristics of viscosity and parti.cle size are *4 poor.

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#fit Thus, the inventors have surprisingly discovered that the two above-identified conditions of the present invention cooperate fully and create a state of synergy, providing aqueous suspensions of microparticulate lime, highly concentrated in dry material, with low and stable viscosities, and whose particles have the desired size and a very much improved reactivity for the applications envisaged, 1 As previously stated, the grinding agent of the present invention is composed of at least one acid stirring to obtain a fluid suspension of coarse lime; and (i i) grinding said fluid suspension of coarse lin~to obtain said suspension of refined lime; wherein said grinding agent is one member selected from the group consisting of water-soluble ethylerie polymers and water-soluble ethylene copolymers and /2

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polymer and/or copolymer containing at least one monocarboxylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer.

The monocarboxylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer is preferably selected from among acrylic acid and methacrylic acid.

The other monomers used within the framework of the present invention can be itaconic acid, crotonic aoid, fumaric acid, anhydrous rnaleic acid or everi isocrotonic acid. aconitic acid, mesaconic acid, sinapinic acid, undecylenic acid, angelic acid, hydro~:yacrylic acid, or even acrolein, acrylarnide and its stbstjtutes, acrylonitrile, acrylic and rethacrylic acid esters anid, in particular, C 1 to C8 acrylate and methacry2.ate estp 4 as well as quaternized or nonquaternized dixnethylaminn~ethyl methacrylate, imidazoles, vinylpyrrolidone, vinylcaprolactam, ethylene, propylene, isobutylene, diisobutylene, vinyl acetate, styrtne and its substitutes, alphamethylstyrene, methylvinylketoner vinyl chlorides, hydroxyl monomers, more especially ethylene glycl and propyleft glycol acrylates and rethacrylates, as well as their phosphate, phosphonate, phosphonyl, sulfate, sulfone, nitrate and nitroso derivatives.

These acid polymers and/or copolymers result from the polymerization and/or copolymnerization using known 00 8 a, o *0* S. *e 0. eG t#1? *4 *0 I o 6 4£ I I

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n -11methods, in the presence uf appropriate initiators and regulators, in an aqueous, alcoholic, aqueousalcoholic, aromatic, or aliphatic medium or in a halogenated solvent, of at least one of the acrylic and/or methacrylic acid monomers.

Thus, the polymerization medium can be water, methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanols, or even dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxider tetrahydrofuran, acetone, methylethylketone, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, hexane, heptane, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, mercaptoethanol, tertiododecylmercaptan, thioglyoliic acid and its esters, n-dodecylmercaptan, acetic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, citric acid, g'uconic acid, glucoheptonic acid, 2-mercaptopropionic acid, thiodiethanol, halogenated solvents such as carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, methylene chloride, and methyl chloride and monopropyleneglycol or diethyleneglycol ethers.

The polymers and/or copolymers intended to be used as the grinding agents of the present invention are generally selected from among those having a molecular weight of between 200 and 1,900 and preferably between 500 and 1,500.

Immediately after the polymerization, the acid polymers and/or copolymers of the present invention in on 0 0 qa a ~On a n 0 aO a a a.) a* a n* a a 50 O) 04 -12an aqueous solution are collected and can be used in this form, In Gccordance with an alternative embodiment which has proved useful, the polymers and/or copolymers of the present invention in an aqueous solution can be completely or partially neutralized with a neutralizing agent having a monovalent function. In addition, a neutralizing agent having a polyvalent function can be combined with said monovalent agent.

In the first case, the neutralizing agent is preferably selected from the group consisting of alkali mnetals and similar cations, in particular lithium, sodium, potassium, ammonium, or polysubstituted ammnonium. This agent, in the second case, can be combined with an agent from, the alkaline earth or similar group, preferably calcium and magnesium, zinc or aluminum.

In practice, the liquid phase resulting from the polymerization and/or the copolymerization and containing the acid polymer and/or copolymer can be used as such for grinding the coarse lime to be refined, but it can also be dried by any known means in orde.r to remove said liquid and isolate the polymeL.

and/or copolymer in the form of a fine powder and can be used in zlid other form as a grinding agent.

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440C 0 4 0 0444 0400 0 0 00.0 .0 0 O 4o 0 44 o o 000a.a -13- The grinding agent of the present invention can be used in a method for the preparation of aqueous lime suspensions which comprises the following steps: The preparation of an aqueous suspension of coarse lime is carried out under sti:ring by first introducing all or part of the grindinig agent into the aqueous phase and then introducing the lime so as to obtain a desirably homoi'eneous, fluid suspension; The suspension prepared in step is introduced into a grinding area composed of a grinder with microelements; The temperature of the suspension during grinding is maintained at a level below 100 0 C and preferably between room temperature and The suspension is ground in the presence of the micro-elements for the time necessary to obtain -he i :desired Rverage grain size; k During the grinding, an additional fraction of the grinding agent is possib:Ly introduced in at least one step; On exitng the grinder, the finely ground lime suspension is continuously separated from the grinding elements and the lime particles which are rejected as being too coarse; i:; j ii i B ii ,in l -r -14- At least one rheology-odifying agent is possibly introduced into the suspension of finely ground lime.

The grinding agent in accordance with the invention is introduced into the aqueous lime suspension in an amount of from 0.05 to 2% by weight based the dry weight of the coarse iineLial materials to be ground and, preferably, in an amount of from 0.5 to Where at least one rheology-modifying agent is introduced into the lime suspension following grinding, it is selected from among those which have the property of adjusting the viscosity to a suitable value desired by the user for each subsequent application, or further to enhance the compatibility between the lime and other charges possibly introduced into the medium.

When said rheology-modifying agent is introduced into the suspension following grinding, it is in an amount of from 0.01% to 3% by weight based on the dry weight of the mineral materials.

The suspension collected following the grinding generally has a concentration of dry matter of at least and preferably of between 40 and 60% by weight, a pigmentary particle size of less than 4 microns, with 50% thereof having a size of less than 2.9 microns (median size).

9 99 9o 0 0 9990a 9909r 4.44 9994 9 4* 9I 999 9999 9 9* 9 944 944* 9 99 9 9 0. 0 o 0 o0O0 o 1-15- The lime suspensions refined in this manner in the presence of the grinding agent o-f the present invention can preferably be used for the neutralization of watars or industrial fumes, or even as a chemical neutralization agent in industrial synthesis processes, such as, for example, the production of calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, dispersion agents for phytosanitizations, lubricants, calcium soaps, antiseptic agents or surfacq treatment agents, due to the substantial increase in its reactivity which renders it equivalent tc the alkaline hydroxides.

other features of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following descriptions of ~0 ~00the exemplary embodiments which are given for OL I *0 illustration of the invention and are not intended to hsbe )eimihming thereof.

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EXAMPLES

Exatcple 1 peeThis example, the object of which is to illustrate the prior technology, relates to the preparation of a esuspension of coarse lime subjected to grinding so as 0 4 to refine it to a micraparticUlate suspension.

For this purpose, several suspensions of coarse lime were prepared from a lime of the same origin theemlremoietwhhargie o llutraton f te inenton ad ae nt inendd t I 7 -16- (ULTRA-LEICHT from the Wulfrath deposit, sold by RHEINISCHE KALKSTEINWERKE GmbH) using various prior art grinding agents.

A first group of tests (Tests 1 and 2) demonstrate the preparation and the grinding of aqueous lime suspensions without any grinding agents and with a concentration of dry matter of from 20 to 30% by weight.

A second group of tests (Tests 3 to 5) demonstrate the preparation and the grinding of aqueous lime suspensions with different concentrations in the presence of a sodium polyacrylate having an average molecular weight of 2,400, sold under the trade name o DISPEX u o A third group of tests (Tests 6 to 8) demonstrate the preparation and the grinding of aqueous lime suspensions with different concentrations in the q i presence of sodium polyacrylate having an average molecular weight of 2,500, sold under the trademark OROTAN 850.

A fourth group of tests (Tests 9 and t demonstrate the use in the lime suspensions to be ground of low molecular weight carboxymethylcellulose, sold under the trademark FINNFIX p Ccs L __1 a -17- A fifth group of tests (Tests 11 to 13) demonstrate the use of a sodium polyacrylate having an average molecular weight of 4,000 as the grinding agent for the lime in aqueous suspension.

These tests were carried out under the same experimental conditions and in the sacme apparatus so that the results obtained could be compared.

For each test, an aqueous suspension of lime from the above-indicated source and having a grain size of less than 26 microns was prepared.

The aqueous suspension had a variable concentration in dry matter expressed as a weight percentage of the total volume, it the amounts indicated in the following table.

a *0 The grinding agent was present in said suspension in the quantities indicated in the following table, expressed as a weight percentage based on the amount of dry lime to be ground.

The suspension prepared in this manner was placed in a Dyno-Mill type gtinder with a fixed cylinder and a turning impeller, whose grinding component was composed of corundum bearings having a diameter of between 0.6 millimeters and 1.0 millimeters.

The total volume occupied by the grinding component was 5000 ml, while its weight was 10 kg. The grinding chamber had a volume of 5000 ml.

-18- The circumferential speed of the grinder was meters per second. The lime suspension was recycled at a rate of 50 liters per hour.

The exit of the Dyno-Mill grinder was provided with a 300 micron mesh separator, which enabled the suspension resulting from the grinding and the grinding body to be separated.

During each grinding test the temperature was maintained at 25 0

C.

The grinding time under the above-identified experimental conditions was variable and at most equal to 90 minutes when grinding was possible.

At the end of the grinding, the viscosity of the microparticulate suspension was measured using a Brookfield viscometer, at a temperature of 20°C and at rotation speeds of 10 and 100 revolutions per minute.

tS After a rest time of 24 hours, the viscosity of each suspension was again measured after brief stirring.

Similarly, at the end of the grinding, the grain size was determined using an H R 850 laser granulometer made by CILAS ALCATEL.

All the experimental results of Tests 1 to 13 are given in Table I.

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0* 0 4 0 4 U t 0 b S a 0 TABLE I Median Brookfield Viscosity (mPs) Diameter Exit 24 hrs. after Molecular Concentration of the Grinding after Grinding Grinding Test Grinding Weight of the of the Lime Grinding Agent Time in Grinding Ko. Agent Grinding Agent in weight in dry/dry minutes in pm 10 100 10 100 rpm rpm rpm rpm 1 None 20 0 39 2.3 4,500 480 5,000 520 2 30 0 Grinding impossible 3 Dispex N 40 2,400 30 1 48 2.7 3,000 365 3,500 410 4 Dispex N 40 2,400 45 1.5 22 3.2 2,300 345 2,600 390 Dispex N 40 2,400 50 1.5 16 3.8 2,400 450 2,800 490 6 Orotan 850 2,500 30 1 62 2.8 3,500 415 3,700 470 7 Orotan 850 2,500 40 1 6 4.3 2,450 355 2,700 410 8 Orotan 850 2,500 50 1.5 Grinding impossible 9 Finnfix 5 Non-compara- 30 1 5 4.5 3,500 540 4,000 610 Finnfix 5 tive polycyclic 40 1.5 Grinding impossible chemical structure

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DT 450 DT 450 DT 450 4,000 4,000 14,000 2.6 3,500 450 3.3 3,500 400 Grinding impossible 3,700 490 3,650 470 J J Li yi IIuiriy sdIU riuia suspension or coarse lime to oDtain said suspension of refined lime; wherein said grinding agent is one Table I shows that the grinding of the lime in an aqueous medium without the assistance of a grinding agent is possible only insofar as the concentration in dry matter is approximately 20% by weight (median diameter of the particles after grinding: 2.3 microns). At higher concentrations, the grinding of the lime is shown to be impossible.

As also shown in Table I, the grinding of the lime in an aqueous medium with the assistance of a grinding agent, selected from among those of the prior art having the lowest average molecular weight, is possible and gives good results when the lime concentration is on the order of 30% by weight. At higher concentrations however, the median diameter of the ground particles remains greater than 3 microns when grinding is still possible, that is, when the concentration of lime is less than 40% by weight.

s Example 2 This example, which is intended to illustrate the I present invention, relates to the grinding of the same i coarse lime used in Example 1 in the presence of a j grinding agent composed of acid homopolymers having a average molecular weights varying bet ween 800 to 7,000 which are salified with the sodium ion.

-e i I*li(li.-i-i il~l~)i.l- .li.-l.ii ii.. Il-i-.~l -21- For this purpose, several tests were carried out with acrylic acid homopolymers (Tests 14 to 31) and methacrylic acid homopolymers(Te3ts 32 and 33), while varying the concentrations of the lime suspensions subjected to grinding from 30 to 50% by weight.

All these tests were carried out using the same conditions and apparatus as those in Example 1. The results of these various tests are collected in Table II below.

9* 4o 0o "0 o 0 0000 0 o 9 998 4 0 Q Q 0 4 o o9 9# of 9 o 994 99e TABLE II (.sasssttfct^- Median Brookfield Viscosity (mPs) Diameter Exit 24 hrs. after Molecular Concentration of the Grinding after Grinding Grinding Test Grinding Weight of the of the Lime Grinding Agent Time in Grinding No. Agent Grinding Agent in weight n dry/dry minutes in 1m 10 100 10 100 rpm rpm rpm rpm 14 poly(aer rlie 800 30 1 82 1.9 3,000 400 3,250 430 acid) 800 45 1.5 40 2.4 6,500 650 7,000 690 16 800 50 1.5 35 2.6 2,800 420 3,100 465 17 1,000 30 1 68 2 3,100 450 3,300 470 18 1,000 45 1.5 40 2.6 6,000 600 6,500 640 9 1,000 50 1.5 33 2.7 3,000 440 3,200 470 1,800 30 1 70 2 3,000 410 3,200 440 21 1,800 45 1.5 37 2.7 6,200 630 6,600 685 2 1,800 50 1.5 31 2.8 3,150 450 3,500 500 2 2,200 30 1 47 2.2 3,300 520 3,700 590 2 2,200 45 1.5 30 3.2 4,500 470 5,000 510 2,200 50 1.5 15 4 2,300 370 2,850 420 26 4,000 30 1 16 2.6 3,500 450 3,900 490 27 4,000 45 1.5 21 3.3 3,700 440 3,850 475 28 ,000 50 1.5 5 5.0 2,100 310 2,600 360 29 7,00 30 1 17 2.6 4,600 500 4,900 550 7,000 45 1.5 5 3.9 1,400 200 2,500 380 31 7,000 50 1.5 Grinding impossible 32 poly(meth- 1,300 30 1 61 2 3,400 470 3,550 490 acrylic acid) 33 1,300 45 15 33 2.7 3,500 420 3,700 500

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.I -23- Table II shows that the efficacy of the grinding agent of the present invention, with a molecular weight of less than ±,900, was excellent and provided suspensions of finely ground lime in which the average particle size was less than 2.9 microns.

Such is the case with Tests 14 to 22, in which the grinding agent was an acrylic acid homopolymer, and with Tests 32 and 33, in which the grinding agent was a methacrylic acid homopolymer.

All the other tests (Tests 23 to 31), in which the grinding agent had a molecular weight above 1,900, provided results which worsened as the average molecular weight increased.

Example 3 0 .0 This example, which is intended to illustrate the 0 of o present invention, relates to the grinding of the same oo coarse lime used in the preceding examples in the oo presence of grinding agents which are copolymers of 0, acrylic acid (85% by weight) and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (15% by weight) quaternized with methyl chloride, with average molecular weightri varying from 0 0 500 to 2,500 and salified with the sodium ion.

'1 Several tests were carried out (Tests 34 to 48), 0 °°00 with the aqueous lime suspension concentration of dry o* matter varying from 30 to 45% by weight.

0o 0* 4 -24- These tests wsre carried out using the same method and technological means as in Example 1. The results from these tests are given in Table I below.

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to a a a 4. a 4. a 4.~a a a *in~ a -a a a a TABLE III Median Brookfield Viscosity (mPs) Diameter Exit 214 hrs. after Molecular Concentration %of the Grinding after Grinding Grinding Test Weight of the of' the Lime Grinding Agent Time in Grinding No. Grinding Agent in weight in dry/dry minutes in -pm 10 100 10 100 rpm rpm rpm rpm 314 500 30 1 68 2 3,300 460 3,550 485 500 40 1 25 2.7 3,700 5140 3,950 575 36 500 45 1.5 19 2.7 3,250 3140 3,500 365 37 1,000 30 1 80 1.9 41,450 560 4,800 600 38 1,000 40 1 32 2.6 3,950 420 41,150 455 39 1,000 45 1.5 43 2.1 3,1400 390 3,650 420 140 1,600 30 1 75 2 411400 5140 4,700 575 141 1,600 40 1 30 2.6 3,1400 400 3,500 430 42 1,600 45 1.5 19 2.8 3,200 370 3,1450 410 43 1,800 30 1 70 2 3,600 480 41000 510 1414 1,800 40 A 20 2.7 3,500 450 4,050 ~490 1,800 45 1.5 17 2.8 3,100 350 3,300 400 46 2,500 30 1 60 2.3 3,200 400 3,500 470 47 2,500 40 16 3.6 3,800 450 4,250 525 4q2,500 45 1.5 9 14 3,1400 380 3,700 460 p p ;L liuir-i1 i- -26- It can be seen from Table III that the efficacy of the grinding agents composed of said copolymers is equal to LhaL observed for the homopolymers of Example 2, since such agents lead to an average ground particle size of less than 2.9 microns, provided that the average molecular weight of said copolymers is less than 1,900.

Under the conditions of m.oles II and III, the grinding agent of the present invention, defined as a polymer and/or copolymer based on at least one carboxylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer having an average molecular weight of preferably between 500 and 1,900, is seen to display superior results.

Example 4 This example, which is intended to illustrate the present invention, relates to the grinding of the same coarse lime used in the preceding examples in the presence of grinding agents composed of copolymers of acrylic acid (75% by weight) and acrylamide (25% by weight) having average molecular weights varying from 700 to 3,200 and salified with the sodium ion.

Several tests were carried out (Tests 49 to with the aqueous suspensions of lime undergoing grinding having concentrations of dry matter varying from 30 to 45% by weight.

4 r4 4) o 1 4( 041 4 04<04 o) o 0044 00 0 o Oe 44 -27- These tests were carried out with the same method and technoloaical means as in Example 1. The results o,-f these tests are given in Tabla IV below.

o a, I 4 4.

44 4 o .ce 4~a4 44,, 4 '9 a 41 4 I

II

4. I 44 4,44 a 4 a a 0 4~44a4 4 4 0040 4 4 0 0 44 4 04 -1 a a a a a a a a a aa a a a a a

A.

a a a a a, a a a aaa a a a a TABLE IV Median Brookfield Viscosity (mPs) Diameter Exit 214 hrs. after Molecular Concentration %of the Grinding after Grinding Grinding Test Weight of the of the Lime Grinding Agent Time in Grinding No. Grinding Agent in weight in dry/dry minutes in jim 10 100 10 100 rpm rpm rpm rpm 49 700 30 1 80 2 3,900 470 4,250 520 700 40 1 20 2.6 3,600 450 3,900 475 51 700 45 1.5 28 2.5 3,1400 500 3,700 5140 52 1,000 30 1 90 1.9 4,100 500 4,400 5145 53 1,000 40 1 23 2. S 3,650 465 4,000 500 514 1,000 45 1529 2.5 3,000 420 3,250 1440 1,500 30 1 83 2 3,800 490 4,150 520 56 1,500 40 1 114 2.7 3,700 480 4,000 510 57 1,500 45 1.5 25 2.7 3,300 460 3,550 485 58 3,200 30 1 541 2.14 5,200 620 5,500 670 59 3,200 40 1 9 3.3 3,700 490 4,000 520 3,200 45 1.5 7 3.9 3,150 420 3,300 450 1* -29- It can be seen from Table IV that the efficacy of the grinding agents composed of said copolymers is equal to that observed for the homopolymers of Example 2, since they provide an average ground particle size of less than 2.9 microns, provided that the average molecular weight of said copolymers is less than 1,900.

Under the conditions of Tables II to IV, the grinding agent of the present invention, defined as a polymer and/or copolymer based on at least one carboxylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer having an average molecular weight of between 500 and 1,900, is seen to display superior results.

Example This example, which is intended to illustrate the present invention, relates to the grinding of the same coarse lime used in the preceding examples in the .i presence of a grinding agent composed of copolymers of acrylic acid (85% by weight) and butyl acrylate (15% by weight) with average molecular weights varying from 800 to 4,500 and salified with the sodium ion.

4 1 Several tests were carried out (Tests 61 to 77), with the aqueous lime suspension concentration of dry °oa' matter varying from 30 to 55% by weight.

I

o P L These tests were carried out using the same method and technological means as in Example 1. The results of these tests are given in Table V below.

4 4 4 0 t 0. 0 44 -j TABLE V Median Brookfield Viscosity (mPs Diameter Exit 214 hrs. after Molecular Concentration of the Grinding after Grinding Grinding Test; Weight of the of the Lime Grinding Agent Time in Grinding No. Grinding Agen~t in weight in dry/dry minutes in jim 10 100 10 100 rpm rpm rpm rpm 61 800 30 1 80 2 4,000 440 4,150 460 62 800 40 1 23 2.5 3,550 420 3,750 455 63 800 45 1.5 30 2.5 4,100 380 4,250 410 64 800 50 1.5 28 2.6 5,000 520 5,450 580 1,200 40 1 27 2.4 2,750 350 3,100 385 66 1,200 45 1.5 39 2.2 3,300 340 3,560 375 67 1,200 50 1.5 38 2.2 3,500 4 00 3,750 430 1,200 55 1.5 30 2.6 5,200 550 5,500 600 69 1,500 30 1 79 1.9 3,800 440 3,950 470 1,500 ho 1 21 2.6 3,700 480 4,100 500 71 1,500 45 1.5 38 2.2 4,000 410 4,250 440 72 2,500 30 1 63 2.2 3,500 410 3,900 450 73 2,500 40 1 15 3.1 3,200 390 3,500 420 74 2,500 45 1.5 17 3.2 3,300 360 3,6uO 400 4,500 30 1 54 2.4 4,400 450 4,8CC. 465 76 4,500 40 1 10 3.1 3,500 360 4,100 420 77 4,500 45 1.5 9 3.3 2,500 350 2,8UO 400 u -32- It can be seen from Table V that the efficacy of the grinding agents composed of said copolymers is equal to that observed for the homopolymers of Example 2, since they provide an average ground particle size of less than 2.9 microns, provided that the average molecular weight of said copolymers is less than 1,900.

Under the conditions of Tables II to V, the grinding agent of the present invention, defined as a polymer and/or copolymer based on at least one carboxylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer having an average molecular weight of between 500 and 1,900, is seen to display superior results.

In accordance with these same tables and in comparison with Table I, it is apparent that the concentration of dry matter of the aqueous suspensions of lime to be ground can reach values as high as 55% by weight in the presence of the grinding agent of the present invention.

4 4 Example 6 This example, which is intended to illustrate the present invention, relates to the grinding of the same coarse lime used in the preceding examples in the r presence of a grinding agent composed of copolymers of acrylic acid (85% by weight) and methyl methacrylate o* (15% by weight) with average molecular weights varying Jo from 800 to 2,500 and salified with the sodium ion. 'I1

;L

-32- It can be seen from Table V that the efficacy of the grinding agents composed of said copolymers is equal to that observed for the homopolymers of Example 2, since they provide an average ground particle size of less than 2.9 microns, provided that the average molecular weight of said copolymers is less than 1,900.

Under the conditions of Tables II to V, the grinding agent of the present invention, defined as a polymer and/or copolymer based on at least one carboxylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer having an average molecular weight of between 500 and 1,900, is seen to display superior results.

In accordance with these same tables and in comparison with Table I, it is apparent that the concentration of dry matter of the aqueous suspensions of lime to be ground can reach values as high as 55% by weight in the presence of the grinding agent of the I present invention.

Example 6 This example, which is intended to illustrate the present invention, relates to the grinding of the same coarse lime used in the preceding examples in the presence of a grinding agent composed of copolymers of S acrylic acid (85% by weight) and methyl metha.~ylate (15% by weight) with average molecular weigh;s varying o from 800 to 2,500 and salified with the sodium ion.

00r -33- Several tests were carried out (Tests 78 to 86), with the aqueous lime suspension concentration of dry matter varying from 30 co 45% by weight.

These tests were carried out using the same method and technological means as in Example 1. The results of these tests are given in Table VI below, and enable the same conclusions to be drawn as in Examples 2 to

I

/I

Si 41 4 4 I I 4 4 4 441t -r L I L i i I a. a aGe a C C U a cc C U 6 C C C C p C 4 C C. 4 *4 6 aUG 4 a U C C U a. C C a a a a a a C. C a P PUC C SC C U PC C P a 4 C P TABLE VI Median Brookfield Viscosity (niPs) Diameter Exit 24 hrs. after Molecular Concentration %of the Grinding after Grinding Grinding Test Weight of the of the Lime Grinding Agent Time in Grinding NCO. Grinding Agent in weight in dry/dry minutes in jim 10 100 10 100 rpm rpm rpm rpm 78 800 30 1 82 1-9 3,200 4110 3,4100 1445 79 800 410 1 314 2-11 41,100 4150 41,450 480 800 145 1.5 144 2.3 41900 550 5,300 600 81 1, 500 30 1 80 1.9 3,800 460 4,100 500 82 1,500 110 1 32 2.41 3,600 420 3,900 1165 83 1,500 115 1-5 40 2.6 4,000 495 4,300 530 84125~ 30 1 53 2.14 3,000 455 3,800 500 2,500 40 1 21 3.3 35300 1110 3,750 470P 86 2,500 45 1-5 25 3.14 3,100 400 3,600 450 fI t ia 0-7 all L.

c 0 0 a C 0.

wr) c- CC')o M-.c0 c' o 0 a' o- C\ ro

E

CuriC\j C'JC\J c\rCra ojmro m Example 7 This example, which is intended to illustrate the present invention, relates to the grinding of the same coarse lime used in the preceding examples in the presence of a grinding agent composed of an acrylic acid homopolymer with an average molecular weight of 800, in a form salified with sodium, lithium, ammonium, or potassium ions, or Jn an acid form, or even completely neutralized by a combination of sodium and calcium ions at a rate of 0.5 for each.

Several tests were carried out (Tests 87 to 92), with the aqueous lime suspensions undergoing grinding having concentrations of dry matter fixed at 45% by weight.

These tests were carried out using the same method and technological means as in Example I. The results of these tests are given in Table V11 below.

4 4a 4 41 4 4 4 44 4xml 74 can, b 4,

TABLE.VII

Brookfield ViscositV in mPs Exit Grinding Trest

NO.

Agent and Rate of' Salification, Grinding Time in minutes Median Diameter in 11 m, Na 1.0 Li LO0

NH

1 4: 1.0 K :1.0 Acid Na 0.5 Ca 2.41 2.0 2-9 2.3 2-9 2-7 6,500 3,500 2,4100 4,700 3,050 3, 100 -37- As can be seen from Table VII, the grinding agents of the present invention provide aaueous suspensions with an average ground particle size of less than 2.9 microns, regardless of the degree of neutralization or the nature of the neutralizing agent.

Example 8 This example illustrates the semi-industrial application of the present invention by use of the grinding agent in an aqueous suspension of lime to be refinee. which is intended, after having undergone grinding, to be used for neutralizing gaseous acid effluents.

For this purpose and in accordance with Figure 1, a pilot installation was used w.,I-h comprises a slaking tank provided with stirring means, a buffer ta1'k kept under stirring, a grinder with microelements and a separation zone o 4 The necessary water was introduced into. the slaking tank through pipe then the grinding agent of the present invention was introduced through pipe and fi.ally the lime to be refined was g 'A Introduced through pipe d The suspensio formed in this manner was o.4. maintained under stirring in said tank for a iy* o approximately 15 minutes.

-38- The aqueous suspension in the slaking tank had the following composition, expressed in weight percent: lime 2 100%) grinding agent, copoiymer of acrylic acid and butyl acrylate dry/dry, with a molecular weight of 1,200 salified with the sodium ion 1% water 49% The slaked aqueouL 4uspension was transferred from the slaking tank to the buffer tank through pipe provided with pump The buffer tank provided with a stirring means ensured the regular supply of the grinder by means of pipe (10) and pump (11).

The grinder with micro-elements of the Dyno- Mill type, with a capacity of 50 liters, was composed of a double cylindrical envelope enabling the circulation of a cooling .luid. Inside the double envelope was a turning impeller with a peripheral tangential speed of 16 meters per second.

The grinding micro-elements were corundum bearings with a diameter of from 1.2 to 1.6 millimeters, representing a total weight of 100 kilograms.

The rate at which the micro-,lements filled the useful volume was 0.85.

-*I

Lrni S-39- The rate of supply of the suspension to unde, .o grinding was 1300 kilograms per hour.

The temperature of the suspension in the grinder was maintained at 27 0 C 1 0

C.

I At an appropriate level of the grinder with I micro-elements, and if such proved necessary, it was i possible to introduce into the lime suspension during or after grinding the rheology-modifying agent such that the rheological characteristics of the microparticulate suspension were adapted to the planned use or uses thereof.

Under these conditions, the rheology-modifying agent was introduced into the grinder by means of i pipe (12) and dosing pump (13).

The exit of the grinder was connected by pipe (14) to a separation zone enabling the separation of the microparticulate lime suspension through exit j (15) and of the micro-elements through exit (16).

I The physical and chemical characteristics of the L1 microparticulate suspension obtained after separation in zone were the following: 'i before grinding after grinding median diameter in pm 4,85 2.2 "ange of distribution of the 0.5 to 30 Pm 0.4 to 6.5 Pn microparticulate diameters in pm specific surface 9984 cm 2 21065 cm 2 .g 1 viscosity of the suspension 350 mPs 5200 mPs at 100 rpm at 10 rpm 550 mPs at 100 rpm By way of comparison and under the same technological conditions, an aqueous lime suspension to be refined, free of any grinding agent, but with a very low concentration, was treated in the grinderc with micro-elements.

This suspension had the following composition, expressed in weight percent: 0 00 4 lime (Ca(OH) 2 at 100%) water This suspension, submitted to grinding, could only be introduced into the grinder at a very restricted flow rate of 200 kilograms per hour (while use of a grinding agent of the present invention permitted a flow rate of 1300 kilograms per hour) in order to achieve the characteristics of size of the microparticles which were substantially equivalent to those obtained when a grinding agent of the present invention was used.

00 ~i ii -c .I._LY -L.I~-Ill (llil; -41- Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

e e S* o a 0t o

S

Claims (18)

1. An aqueous suspension of lime, which comprises lime and a grinding agent, wherein said grinding agent is composed of a water-soluble ethylene polymer or copolymer and wherein said grinding agent: is formed from at least one monocarboxylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and has an average molecular weight of between 200 and 1,900 g/mole and wherein said aqueous suspension of lime has a concentration I;1 dry material of at least 20% by weight and wherein said lime has a particle size of less than 4 microns and a medium particle diameter of less than 2.9 microns.

2. The aqueous suspension of lime in accordance with Claim 1, wherein said monocarboxylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer is one member selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid.

3. The aqueous suspension of lime in accordance with Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said grinding agent has a molecular weight of between 500 and 1,500 g/mole.

4. The aqueous suspension of lime in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said grinding agent I; in the acid form,

5. The aqueous suspension of lime in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein said grinding agent is at least partially neutralized by a neutralizing agent having a monovalent function.

6. The aqueous suspension of lime in accordance with Claim wherein said neutralizing agent contains a cation which is one member selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, and ammonium,

7. The aqueous suspension of lime in accordance with Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein said grinding agent is at least partially neutralized with a neutralizing agent having a monovalent function and a neutralizing agent having a polyvalent function.

8. The aqueous suspension of lime in accordance with Claim 7, wherein said neutralizing agent having a polyvalent function contains a cation which is one member selected from the group consisting of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and aluminum.

9. The aqueous suspension of lime in accordance with any one of K/0 _KEH/0140f 0 .4 L' 43 Claims 1 to 8, wherein the amount of said grinding agent is from 0.05 to 2% by weight based on dry weight of said lime. The aqueous suspension of lime in accordance with Claim 9, i wherein the amount of said grinding agent is from 0.5 to 1,5% by weight based on dry weight of said lime.

11. The aqueous suspension of lime in accordance with any one of i Claims 1 to 10, wherein the concentration of dry material is between i and 60% by weight.

12. A process for the production of an aqueous suspension of refined lime, which comprises the steps of: introducing a grinding agent into a first aqueous phase to obtain a second aqueous phase; i (ii) introducing coarse lime into said second aqueous phase while j stirring to obtain a fluid suspension of coarse lime; and S(iii) grinding said fluid suspension of coarse lime to obtain said suspension of refined lime; wherein said grinding agent is one member selected from the group consisting of water-soluble ethylene polymers and water-soluble ethylene copolymers and wherein said grinding agent is formed from at least one monocarboxylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer and has a molecular weight of between 200 and 1,900 g/mole, and wherein i said refined lime has a particle size of less than 4 mir..)s and a medium particle diameter of less than 2,9 microns,

13. The process in accordance with Claim 12, wherein said grinding agent is Introduced in an amount of from 0.05 to 2% by weight based on dry weight of said lime and said coarse lime is introduced in an amount of from to 60% by weight based on total veight of said suspension.

14. The process In accordance with Claim 12 or Claim 13, wherein in said grinding step the temperature is maintained below 100 0 C. The process in accordance with Claim 14, wherein in said ;J grinding step the temperature is maintained between room temperature and

16. The process in accordance with any one of Claims 12 to wherein additional grinding agent is introduced during said grinding step.

17. The process in accordance with any one of Claims 12 to 16, which further comprises the step of: ERH/Q140f I I Ii 44 (iv) adding at least one ieology-modifying agent to the aqueous suspension of refined lime,

18. The process in accordance with Claim 17 wherein said rheology-modifying agent is added at a rate of 0.01% to 3% by weight based on dry weight of said lime.

19. An aqueous suspension of refined lime produced by the process of any one of Claims 12 to 18. An aqueous suspension of lime which comprises lime and a grinding agent, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of Examples 2 to 8.

21. A process for the production of an aqueous suspension of refined lime, which process is substantially as herein described with reference to any one of Examples 2 to 7, or Example 8 and Figure 1, DATED this THIRTEENTH day of NOVEMBER 1990 Coatex S.A. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON _KEH/0O40f Fell JC:~