MXPA98000598A - Materials manufacturing process resilien - Google Patents

Abstract

A chemically agglomerated medium is obtained from a resilient macromolecular organic material, cut into an elongated or finely divided form (for example: fodder or peat). The material is dried under conditions which allow the escape of water vapor, so that the dried material has a predominantly hydrophobic surface and a water content of not more than 10% by weight and, optionally, is then subjected to rapid heating . The surface properties of the dried material are then balanced, under conditions that inhibit the escape of water vapor and other volatile substances, so that the predominantly hydrophobic surface becomes predominantly hydrophilic. The product is then mixed with a lignosulphonate, with application of heat in an amount sufficient to maintain the lignosulfate in a fluid form, so that the lignosulfate forms a coating film on the surface. The lignosulfonate is caused to undergo partial polymerization (typically by means of heat and / or oxygen treatment) on the surface of the dried material to produce a chemically agglomerated, fluid, essentially non-resilient and non-tacky medium. The agglomerated medium can be stored or formed under pressure to form agglomerated elements

Description

MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF RESILIENT MATERIALS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the manufacturing process of resilient macromolecular organic materials (and to the handling of the properties of the agglomerated media with these materials), so that the resulting agglomerated media may be suitable for a variety of uses. end, such as animal feed and fuel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are many resilient macromolecular organic materials, such as peat, sewage sludge, fodder, animal feed, wood chips, wood sawdust, straw, waste paper, municipal waste, cardboard and plastic material. crushed or ground. It is often very difficult to process these materials reliably and reproducibly as useful products, due to the wide variety in the properties and composition of the materials. For example, it is often difficult to compact these materials due to their resilience. I have invented a method to use and process macromolecular materials, which is both reliable and reproducible and which can result in a compacted agglomerate environment of carefully managed and controlled properties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a chemically agglomerated medium, from a starting material comprising a resilient macromolecular organic material, in which the macromolecular organic material is presented in elongated form or finely divided. The macromolecular material is thermally dried, at least in part, under conditions which allow the escape of water vapor, so that the resulting dried material has a predominantly hydrophobic surface and a water content of not more than 10% by weight ( water content after this step is preferably no more than 5%, more preferably 2 to 3%). Drying may include a subsequent step in which at least the surface of the dried material is subjected to flash drying (using for example hot air at a temperature of 350 to 450 ° C). This instant drying can remove additional moisture and cause degradation and change of some compounds present in the resilient macromolecular material. (These can be, for example, waxes, lignins, cellulose remnants or resins when the resilient material is peat). At least some of the dried material is then subjected to equilibrium of vapor pressure, under conditions which inhibit the escape of water vapor and other volatile substances, so that the predominantly hydrophobic surface becomes hydrophilic. The equilibrium can be made, for example, in a closed container (such as in a hopper or in a silo unit maintained at, say, approximately 80 ° C); However, sufficient heat must be applied to maintain the lignosulfonate in the form of fluid, so that the lignosulfonate forms a coating film (typically a monolayer or the like) on the hydrophilic surface; it is then caused that the lignosulfonate undergoes a partial polymerization, at a temperature not higher than 150 ° C, on the surface of the finely divided material, to produce a chemically agglomerated medium substantially non-resilient and able to flow. For certain macromolecular organic materials (such as certain forms of sewer sludge) the heating / drying required before mixing with the aqueous lignosulfonate can be achieved using conventional heating / drying means.

However, it is believed that the fact of mixing and subsequent partial polymerization of the material that has been heated / dried in a conventional manner is both novel and inventive per se. Depending on the nature of the materials used in the method according to the invention, calcium (for example calcium oxide) can be added together with the lignosulfonate. The chemically agglomerated medium can be transferred to a storage room before the additional process. If stored at this stage, the medium can be subsequently treated with water or steam (for example, saturated or superheated steam) before being further processed by, for example, agglomeration or compaction. The water-treated or steam-treated material, in some embodiments of the invention, can be subsequently cured (for example, by heating from 250 to 280 ° C per 1 to 1.5 hours). Either after storage or. immediately after partial polymerization, the medium can be compacted and compressed (or agglomerated); the resulting compressed medium is substantially non-resilient (without the natural resilience of the original macromolecular material), so that the resulting compacted material does not tend to expand. The greatest influence on the mechanical properties of the resulting compacted material is the adhesion between the particles. When compacted with heat, the compacted material achieves chemical adhesion that extends through the structure of the compacted material. The nature of this adhesion is important not only under test conditions, but also under service conditions. If the adhesion were purely adhesive in nature, there would be a separate phase at the interface between the particles, - in accordance with the invention, the adhesion is chemical in nature and extends through the agglomerated structure. The particles become fused and chemically bound together in such a way that the macromolecular material and any particulate organic material (as for example carbonaceous fuel) present in the mixture, ceases to exist as separate entities, the complete compacted mass seems to act as a single homogeneous mass. The use of a lignosulfonate in the method according to the invention, which is a material typically produced as a product in the cellulose pulp industry, results in a chemically agglomerated medium which is a friable material substantially not resilient, but which it can be regenerated in a non-friable, pressure-sensitive form (which is still not resilient) by suitable reactivation (using, for example, water, urea or the like). The lignosulfonate present in the agglomerated medium can be regenerated by reaction with urea or with a urea derivative, which can contribute to the plasticity of the resulting mixture. This reaction of lignin with urea or with a urea derivative is known per se. The ability to handle the properties of the resulting product makes it possible to provide lignin derivatives in various stages of the method according to the invention, in forms analogous to those occurring in nature, - for example, the lignosulfonate starting material is analogous. to the lignin present in the thinnest branches of a tree, while the lignosulfonate in a final compressed and compacted product is analogous to the lignin present in the trunk of a tree. The lignosulfonate present in the partially polymerized medium is in an intermediate state. The lignosulfonate is preferably present in a minor amount, for example up to 15% by weight, relative to the hydrophilic surface product, the amount referred to is in relation to lignosulfonate in aqueous form. The lignosulfonate can be used in aqueous form, as an aqueous solution. A preferred aqueous solution contains 40 to 60% by weight (on a dry basis) of the lignosulfonate. The lignosulfonate may include any suitable cation or cations, examples of suitable cations include ammonium, sodium, calcium and magnesium. Calcium lignosulfonate is preferred for many terminal uses of the agglomerated medium, for the following reasons: (a) when the final product is to be burned, calcium can react with sulfur dioxide to form calcium sulfate and melt with ash products; and (b) when the final product is to be used as animal feed, calcium is a useful nutrient. It is particularly preferred that the lignosulfonate be essentially free of sugar (sugars and the like have been removed, typically by fermentation or the like). When the lignosulfonate is in the form of a calcium salt, the calcium ions can cause the separation of lignosulfonate in forms a and β (which are defined according to the solubility of lignin in a bisulfite solution - the lignins produce lignosulfonates which they are less densely sulphonated than ß-lignins and are, therefore, more insoluble when subjected to the same conditions). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lignosulfonate may be in highly dilute form, containing smaller lignosulfonate molecules. The diluted lignosu fonate may comprise the permeate residue from an ultrafiltration process of a more concentrated solution of lignosulfonate. The resilient organic material can be, for example, ground or crushed peat or sewer sludge, preferably in the form of flakes, powder or granules with a particle size of not more than 10 mm, more preferably less than 2 millimeters. It can alternatively be an elongated cutting plant material, such as forage. Typical forms of achieving partial polymerization of lignosulfonate are as follows: (a) using hollow mixer screws heated by oil or steam (typically a double screw unit, of the type known commercially as "holoflite"), which can provide excellent transfer from heat to finely divided material; (b) using a drum-action fluid bed system, similar to a tray for coating tablets, in which typically, the tray is tilted and the material in the tray is made to jump by means of blades conveniently shaped as pallets, used together with hot air supply (the supply of hot air is typically done at a temperature in the range of 300 to 500 ° C), - and (c) using a hot air oven (usually at about 130 ° C) or a vacuum oven (usually at approximately 90 ° C and approximately 25 inches Hg). As a general rule, however, the most important parameters required for the control of partial polymerization are the supply of heat and / or oxygen. The material that has been subjected to vapor pressure equilibrium, after it has been mixed with a lignosulfonate in the method according to the invention, can also be mixed with powdered or finely divided carbonaceous fuel. The partial polymerization of the lignosulfonate can then take place in the presence of oxygen (for example, air). The fluid medium, chemically bound, substantially non-resilient and non-sticky resulting, can be formed under pressure (preferably after reactivation using for example, water, urea or the like) to form agglomerates. The agglomerates can be briquettes (formed between profiled matrices or the like), pellets, bodies formed by extrusion, by agglomeration in tray or the like. The mixture to be agglomerated can be formed by any suitable apparatus, such as a roller press. When the agglomerates are in the form of briquettes, they preferably have the form of pads. When a carbonaceous fuel is present, this can be any suitable particulate carbonaceous material, such as for example petroleum coke, anthracite, bituminous or sub-bituminous coal, coking coal or lignite. This fuel normally has a particle size in the range indicated above for the resilient material. The amount of carbonaceous fuel is usually between 30 and 70% by weight, based on the weight of the resilient material. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the resilient macromolecular material according to the invention can be a foodstuff for animals, such as for example one comprising one or more of: soybeans, beet pulp and fodder. It is particularly preferred that the food product comprises fodder (a plant material cut into an elongated shape), in which case, an important advantage that can be achieved is that a stable processed material can be obtained which retains and increases the odor to desired fresh pasture, for a prolonged period (as for example by several months, so that the processed pasture can be used in the form of blocks as winter fodder). The method according to the invention can, therefore, result in controlled release of an improved aroma to fresh pasture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be illustrated, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a flow diagram showing an example sequence of operations in the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Referring to the flow diagram, two possible starting conditions are shown (blocks 1, 2), depending on the macromolecular organic material that is being processed. Certain materials (block 1), which are not significantly hydrophobic after heat treatment, can be heated or dried by conventional heating / drying (block 3). Other starting materials, which would otherwise be significantly hydrophobic after conventional heat treatment, are subjected to treatment in a three-step process (block 4). The first step consists in partially thermally drying the material under conditions which allow the escape of water vapor (so that the resulting dry material has a predominantly hydrophobic surface and a substantially reduced water content). In the second stage the material is subjected to instant drying with a hot gas, before an additional stage in which the dry material is subjected to vapor pressure equilibrium, under conditions that inhibit the escape of water vapor and other volatile substances. The predominantly hydrophobic surface of the material becomes predominantly hydrophilic. Depending on the particular starting material, the heat-conditioned material (either from process block 3 or from block 4) is mixed and subsequently conditioned (block 5) with aqueous lignosulfonate in the manner described herein in order to form a coating film on the surface of the macromolecular organic material. In this step (or before mixing with lignosulfonate) the macromolecular organic material can be mixed with additional material such as for example particulate carbonaceous fuel (for example anthracite charcoal).

Subsequently, the material undergoes a partial (but reversible) polymerization step (block 6) in which the lignosulfonate is heated to a level in the region of the temperature at which the irreversible polymerization would occur, but below it . After polymerization, the material can be either stored or used in its current form. Alternatively, after polymerization (block 6) or storage, the material can be further processed typically by mixing or otherwise by conditioning (block 7) which normally comprises regeneration using water / steam and / or urea for a form of material sensitive to pressure. The subsequent process may comprise compaction to form, for example, briquettes, pellets, etc. (block 8). The following Examples are further illustrative of the present invention: Example 1 The peat dried with air with a moisture content of about 15% and a particle size of about 4 mm was dried in a hot air oven set at 105 ° C to reduce the moisture content to about 2% in weight. The dry peat was then left to equilibrate at 80 ° C. 50 grams of the dry peat were placed in a sealed container, without compaction, and placed in a hot air oven at 80 ° C. 50 grams of anthracite charcoal with a moisture content of about 1% by weight and a particle size of about 2 mm were heated to 80 ° C and allowed to equilibrate. 50 grams of anthracite were then placed in a sealed container so that 50 grams would fill the container without compaction. The vapor pressure was allowed to equilibrate in the sealed containers, both peat and anthracite; The balanced vapor pressure was retained for 2 hours. The surface of the particles became hydrophilic. The peat and anthracite were then transferred to a Beaken double-shaft paddle mixer, with an outer jacket of water maintained at 80 ° C and mixed for 1 minute with the closed mixer lid. The product was then added for a period of 5 seconds, with 15 grams of aqueous calcium lignosulfonate with a solids content of 50%, which had been heated in a water bath at 80 ° C. The material was then mixed for 2.5 minutes with the lid closed and conditioned in the mixer for 2 minutes with the lid open. The relatively soft flow and conditioned material was then transferred to a hot air oven at 130 ° C and processed to achieve the semi-polymerization of the lignosulfonate, for a period of 1.5 hours. The semi-polymerized material was then transferred to the Beaken mixer and allowed to equilibrate with the water jacket at a temperature of 80 ° C. 2 grams of urea was added to the mixture for a period of 20 seconds and mixed for 1 minute with the lid closed, - 1 gram of water was then added at 80 ° C and further mixed for 2.5 minutes with the lid closed. The lid was opened and the material was conditioned for 2 minutes. The relatively free flowing, conditioned material was transferred to a floating ring die, preheated to 60 ° C, to be pressed; a strong green briquette was produced without resilience to rupture. The briquettes produced by this method were subjected to a thermal shock test, placing the briquettes at room temperature in a muffle set at 800 ° C. The briquettes were supported on a support with three points of contact. There was no degradation or descaling of the briquettes; the briquettes were calcined and kept intact until only ashes remained. The briquettes produced by the above method were also calcined in a small forge. Radiant heat measurements were made using a pyrometer, - when these measurements were compared with anthracite briquettes of improved property the radiant heat levels indicated were as high as twice those produced with 100% anthracite briquettes. The peat and the ashes formed are capable of converting the heat of convection produced by the anthracite into radiant heat.

Example 2 Air-dried peat, with a content of about 15% and a particle size of about 4 mm, was processed in a drum-type fluid bed with a gas inlet temperature of about 300 ° C to reduce the content of humidity at approximately 2% by weight. The dry peat was then left to equilibrate at 80 ° C. 1 kg of the dried tuba was placed in a sealed container to fill the container without compaction. The container was placed in a hot air oven set at 80 ° C. The anthracite with a moisture content of about 1% by weight and a particle size of about 2 mm was heated to 80 ° C and allowed to equilibrate. 1 Kg of the anthracite was then placed in a sealed container until the container was filled without compaction. The vapor pressure in the sealed containers of both peat and anthracite were allowed to equilibrate; The balanced vapor pressure was retained for 2 hours so that the surface of the particles became hydrophilic. P1047 / 98MX The peat and anthracite were then transferred to a Baker Perkins mixer with double handle blades, with a water jacket maintained at 80 ° C and mixed for 1 minute with the lid of the mixer closed. 300 g of aqueous calcium lignosulfonate with a solids content of 50%, which had been heated in a water bath at 80 °, were then added for a period of 5 seconds. The material was then mixed for 2.5 minutes with the lid closed and conditioned in the mixer for 2 minutes with the lid open. The relatively free conditioned and fluence material was transferred to a Denver double-helix holoflite lab dryer. The holoflite propellers and the jacket were heated with thermal transfer oil at 300 ° C from a Churchill heating manifold and heated in the hot holoflite propellers to achieve the semi-polymerization of the lignosulfonate for a period of 30 minutes. The semi-polymerized material was then transferred to the Baker Perkins mixer and allowed to equilibrate with the water jacket at a temperature of 80 ° C. 30 g of urea was added to the additional mixture for a period of 20 seconds and mixed for 1 minute with the lid closed, - 10 g of water were then added at 80 ° C and further mixed for 2.5 minutes with the lid closed . The lid was opened and the material was P1047 / 9TMX conditioned for 2 minutes. The relatively free flow-conditioned material was then pressed as in Example 1.

Example 3 Air-dried peat, with a moisture content of about 15% and a particle size of about 4 mm, was processed in a drum-type fluid bed with a gas inlet temperature of about 300 ° C to reduce the moisture content to approximately 2% by weight. The dry peat was then left to equilibrate at 80 ° C. 2 Kg of the dry peat was placed in a sealed container, so that the container would be filled without compaction. The container was placed in a hot air oven set at 80 ° C. The temperature was maintained exactly at 80 ° C by means of an external controller. The vapor pressure in the sealed container was allowed to equilibrate; The balanced vapor pressure was retained for 2 hours. The surface of the particles became almost hydrophilic. The peat was then transferred to a Baker Perkins double-vane paddle mixer, with a water jacket maintained at 80 ° C. 300 g of aqueous calcium lignosulfonate with a solids content of 50%, which had been heated in an 80 ° water bath, was then added to the P1047 / 98MX product for a period of 5 seconds. The material was then mixed for 2.5 minutes with the lid closed and conditioned in the mixer for 2 minutes with the lid open. The relatively smooth flow and conditioned material was transferred to a Denver double-helix holoflite lab dryer. The holoflite propellers and the jacket were heated with thermal transfer oil at 300 ° C from a Churchill heating manifold and heated in the hot holoflite propellers to achieve the semi-polymerization of the lignosulfonate for a period of 30 minutes. The semi-polymerized material was then transferred to the Baker Perkins mixer and allowed to equilibrate with the water jacket at a temperature of 80 ° C. 30 g of urea was added to the additional mixture for a period of 20 seconds and mixed for 1 minute with the lid closed, - 10 g of water were then added at 80 ° C and further mixed for 2.5 minutes with the lid closed. The lid was opened and the material was conditioned for 2 minutes. The relatively free flow conditioned material was then transferred to the floating ring matrix (preheated to 60 ° C) for pressing. A strong green briquette was produced without resilience to fractures. The briquettes produced by this method were subjected to thermal shock test, P1047 / 98MX placing the briquettes at room temperature in a muffle set at 800 ° C. The briquettes were supported on a support with three points of contact. There was no degradation or descaling of the briquettes; the briquettes were calcined and kept intact until only ashes remained.

Example 4 Long pasture of approximately 20 to 70 mm long, suitably processed, was processed in a drum-type fluid bed with a gas inlet temperature of about 300 ° C to reduce the moisture content to about 4% by weight. The long pasture was then left to equilibrate at 80 ° C. 1.5 Kg of the long pasture was placed in a sealed container to fill the container without compaction and placed in a hot air oven set at 80 ° C. The vapor pressure in the sealed container was allowed to equilibrate, - the balanced vapor pressure was retained for 2 hours so that the surface of the pasture became hydrophilic. The long pasture was then transferred to a Baker Perkins double-handle paddle mixer, with a water jacket maintained at 80 ° C. 150 g of 50% solids aqueous calcium lignosulfonate, which had been heated in an 80 ° water bath, was then added to the pasture P1047 / 98MX for a period of 5 seconds. The material was then mixed for 2.5 minutes with the lid closed and conditioned in the mixer for 2 minutes with the lid open. The relatively free conditioned and fluence material was transferred to the drum-like fluid bed and exposed to the fluidizing action of the hot air drum at 300 ° C to achieve the semi-polymerization of the lignosulfonate for a period of 5 minutes. The semi-polymerized material was then transferred to the Baker Perkins mixer and allowed to equilibrate with the water jacket at a temperature of 80 ° C. 30 g of urea powder was added to the additional mixture for a period of 20 seconds and mixed for 1 minute, with the lid closed, -then 10 g of water was added at 80 ° C and further mixed for 2.5 minutes with the lid closed. The lid was opened and the material was conditioned for 2 minutes. The relatively free flow conditioned material was then transferred to a cylindrical block die preheated to 60 ° C for pressing. A hard block was produced, 65 mm long and 44 mm in diameter; there was no resilience to the fracture. The natural smell of fresh pasture was very strong and improved, - this smell of pasture was stronger than that produced by the original long pasture.

P1047 / 98MX Example 5. A mixture was prepared containing 600 g of suitably processed long pasture, approximately 20 to 70 mm long, 600 g of soybean meal and 600 g of beet pulp. The mixture was processed in a drum-type fluid bed with an inlet temperature of about 300 ° C to reduce the moisture content to about 4% by weight. Then, the mixture was allowed to equilibrate at 80 ° C. 1.5 Kg of the mixture was placed in a sealed container so that the container was filled without compaction and placed in a hot air oven set at 80 ° C. The vapor pressure in the sealed container was allowed to equilibrate, - the balanced vapor pressure was retained for 2 hours. The surface of the particles became hydrophilic. The mixture was then transferred to a Baker Perkins double-bladed paddle mixer, with a water jacket maintained at 80 ° C and mixed for 1 minute with the lid closed. 150 g of aqueous calcium lignosulfonate of 50% solids which had been heated in a water bath at 80 ° C were then added to the mixture for a period of 5 seconds. The material was then mixed for 2.5 minutes with the lid closed and conditioned in the mixer for 2 minutes with the lid open. The conditioned and creeping material Relatively free P1047 / 9TMX was transferred to the drum fluid bed and exposed to hot air drum fluidizing action at 300 ° C to achieve the semi-polymerization of the lignosulfonate for a period of 5 minutes. The semi-polymerized material was then transferred to the Baker Perkins mixer and allowed to equilibrate with the water jacket at a temperature of 80 ° C. 30 g of urea powder was added to the additional mixture for a period of 20 seconds and mixed for 1 minute, with the lid closed, - 10 g of water were then added at 80 ° C and further mixed for 2.5 minutes with the lid closed. The lid was opened and the material was conditioned for 2 minutes. The relatively free flow-conditioned material was then pressed as in Example 5 and a block was produced with the natural odor to fresh pasture, which was stronger than that produced by the original long pasture.

Example 6 40 g of dry and sterilized sewage sludge was heated in a hot air oven set at 126 ° C for 30 minutes. They also dried and heated 40 gr. of coal Pitsburg No. 8, in the same oven at 126 ° C for 30 minutes. The mud and coal were then mixed for 1 min. with the lid closed. HE P1047 / 9T X added 12 gr. of calcium lignosulfonate (Ca Borresperse approximately 50% solids) for a period of 5 seconds, were mixed for 2.5 minutes with the lid closed and then the material was conditioned for 2 minutes with the lid open. The material was then transferred to a stainless steel hot air oven set at 136-137 ° C for 2 hours. The semi-polymerized material was transferred after the hot air oven to the Beakin mixer with the water jacket at 80 ° C. 2 g of urea powder were added to the additional mixture for a period of 20 seconds. The material was then mixed for 1 minute with the lid closed, - 1 gram of water was then added and the material was mixed for an additional 2.5 minutes, with the lid closed, and then conditioned for 2 minutes with the lid open. The material was then transferred to a floating ring briquette matrix which was preheated to 60 ° C. The material in the matrix was given an initial compaction using pressure by hand and then pressed in a hydraulic press at 6000 pounds per square inch, on a ram of 2 1/8 inch in diameter (21,279 pounds load). A strong green briquette was produced with a smooth surface without resilience to the fractures. The green briquette was placed in a stainless steel charcoal crucible and carefully surrounded P1047 / 98MX by fine anthracite to reduce the presence of air. The carbonisation crucible was placed in the carbonization furnace with both the furnace and the container at room temperature, - the furnace began to raise its temperature to reach 800 ° C in 1.25 hours. Smoke was observed at 450 ° C but it was finished practically at the time when the temperature had reached 800 ° C; the carbonization crucible was removed from the furnace, there was a small flame in the container; the flame did not produce smoke. The weight of the carbonized briquette was 25.6 g, producing a weight loss of 45.6%. There were no visible fractures and the briquette was in the form of charcoal. The appearance of the briquette gave no indication of its component parts. The briquette was crushed in an experimental briquette installation that had been calibrated independently for the crushing force of the test, which was 153 KgF.

P1047 / 98MX

Claims (30)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content of the following CLAIMS is claimed as property; 1. A method for producing a chemically agglomerated medium, the method comprising: (a) providing a resilient macromolecular organic material, wherein the macromolecular organic material is cut into an elongated or finely divided form, - (b) heat-dried, less partially, the material cut into an elongated or finely divided form, under conditions that allow the escape of water vapor thereof, said dry material having a predominantly hydrophobic surface and a water content of not more than 10% by weight, drying optionally comprises instantly subjecting to at least the surface of the material; (c) subjecting at least some of the dry material to vapor pressure equilibrium, under conditions that inhibit the escape of water vapor and other volatile substances, so that the predominantly hydrophobic surface becomes hydrophilic; and (d) mixing the product of step (c) with a
2. P1047 / 98MX lignosulfonate, with application of sufficient heat to keep the lignosulfonate in a fluid form, so that the lignosulfonate forms a coating film on the hydrophilic surface; and (e) causing partial polymerization of the lignosulfonate on the surface, to produce a chemically agglomerated and fluid medium, substantially not resilient. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the water content in the stage (b) is no more than 5%.
3. 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the water content in step (b) is not more than 3%.
4. 4. A method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the coating film of step (d) is a monolayer or the like.
5. 5. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the chemically agglomerated medium is stored before being processed further.
6. 6. A method according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the chemically agglomerated medium of step (e) is further processed to P1047 / 98MX give the chemically agglomerated medium sensitive to pressure.
7. 7. A method according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the chemically agglomerated medium of step (e) is treated with water or steam? / Or urea.
8. 8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the chemically agglomerated medium is cured after treatment with water or steam and / or urea.
9. 9. A method according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the chemically agglomerated medium comprises the compaction and compression of the chemically agglomerated medium.
10. 10. A method according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the lignosulfonate, in aqueous form is present in an amount not greater than 15% by weight, in relation to the hydrophilic surface product.
11. 11. A method according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the lignosulfonate is used in aqueous form containing 40 to 60% by dry weight of the lignosulfonate.
12. 12. A method according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the lignosulfonate is an ammonium, sodium, calcium or magnesium salt. P1047 / 98MX
13. 13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the salt is calcium lignosulfonate.
14. 14. A method according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the lignosulfonate is substantially free of sugar.
15. 15. A method according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the resilient material comprises ground or crushed peat or sewer sludge.
16. 16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the ground peat or sewer sludge is in the form of chips, powder or granules.
17. 17. A method according to claims 15 to 16, where peat or sewage sludge have a particle size of no more than 2 millimeters.
18. 18. A method according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the resilient material comprises cut pasture. A method according to any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the partial polymerization is achieved in a hot air oven, in a vacuum oven or by means of hollow mixing propellers P1047 / 98MX heated by oil or steam, or by means of a fluid bed system driven by drum. 20. A method according to any of claims 1 to 19, wherein the chemically agglomerated medium is formed under pressure to form agglomerates. 21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the agglomerates are briquettes. 22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the briquettes are in the form of a pad. 23. A method for producing a chemically agglomerated medium, the method comprising: (a) providing a resilient macromolecular organic material, wherein the macromolecular organic material is cut into an elongated or finely divided form; (b) heating and / or drying the macromolecular organic material; (c) mixing the macromolecular organic material of step (b) with a lignosulfonate, with the application of sufficient heat to maintain the lignosulfonate in a fluid form, so that the lignosulfonate forms a coating film on the surface of the macromolecular organic material; Y P1047 / 98 X (d) cause the partial polymerization of the lignosulfonate on said surface to produce a chemically agglomerated and fluid medium, substantially not resilient. 24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the macromolecular organic material is mixed with an additional material. 25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the macromolecular organic material is mixed with the additional material before step (c). 26. A method according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the additional material comprises a particulate organic material such as a carbonaceous fuel. 27. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of partial polymerization comprises raising the temperature of the lignosulfonate on the surface of the macromolecular organic material to a level in the region of the temperature at which the irreversible polymerization would occur. , but below it. 28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the temperature of the lignosulfonate on the surface of the organic material P1047 / 98MX macromolecular is raised to a temperature substantially in the range of 110 ° C and 150 ° C, in the partial polymerization stage. 29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the temperature of the lignosulfonate at the surface of the macromolecular organic material is elevated to a temperature substantially in the range of 120 ° C and 140 ° C, in the partial polymerization step. 30. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the macromolecular organic material comprises peat. P1047 / 98 X BSTTMpg OF THE INVENTION A chemically agglomerated medium is obtained from a resilient macromolecular organic material, cut into an elongated or finely divided form (such as for example: fodder or peat). The material is dried under conditions which allow the escape of water vapor, so that the dried material has a predominantly hydrophobic surface and a water content of not more than 10% by weight and, optionally, is then subjected to rapid heating . The surface properties of the dried material are then balanced, under conditions which inhibit the escape of water vapor and other volatile substances, so that the predominantly hydrophobic surface becomes predominantly hydrophilic. The product is then mixed with a lignosulfonate, with application of heat in sufficient quantity to keep the lignosulfonate in a fluid form, so that the lignosulfonate forms a coating film on the surface. The lignosulfonate is caused to undergo partial polymerization (typically by means of heat and / or oxygen treatment) on the surface of the dried material to produce a chemically agglomerated, fluid, essentially non-resilient and non-tacky medium. The agglomerated medium can be stored or formed under pressure to form agglomerated elements. P1047 / 98MX