US3678140A - Process for foaming aqueous protein-containing blasting agents - Google Patents
Process for foaming aqueous protein-containing blasting agents Download PDFInfo
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- US3678140A US3678140A US881771A US3678140DA US3678140A US 3678140 A US3678140 A US 3678140A US 881771 A US881771 A US 881771A US 3678140D A US3678140D A US 3678140DA US 3678140 A US3678140 A US 3678140A
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- explosive
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- water
- blasting agent
- bearing
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
- C06B—EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES
- C06B47/00—Compositions in which the components are separately stored until the moment of burning or explosion, e.g. "Sprengel"-type explosives; Suspensions of solid component in a normally non-explosive liquid phase, including a thickened aqueous phase
- C06B47/14—Compositions in which the components are separately stored until the moment of burning or explosion, e.g. "Sprengel"-type explosives; Suspensions of solid component in a normally non-explosive liquid phase, including a thickened aqueous phase comprising a solid component and an aqueous phase
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- ABSTRACT Passing a thickened protein-containing water-bearing blasting agent through a plurality of orifices at a pressure of about 40 to 160 psi to create a vacuum in the area where the blasting agent exits from the orifice, incorporating air or other gas in the blasting agent and, thereafter, reducing the velocity of the blasting agent to provide a foamed product.
- water-bearing explosive compositions have certain disadvantages with regard to their physical and explosive properties, particularly at low temperatures, e.g., 32 to 40F to 5C).
- low temperatures e.g. 32 to 40F to 5C.
- water-bearing explosives, or water gels tend to separate or settle into layers or to harden or solidify, instead of remaining soft and pliable. Accordingly, there is a definite need for blasting agents that will provide stable, soft aqueous explosive compositions capable of reliable detonations even at low temperatures and in small diameter holes, e.g., about 2 to inches.
- the successful occlusion of gas in explosive compositions is reflected in the density of the product. Densities of 1.00 to 1.25 glcc are generally desired.
- Inclusion of proteinaceous material such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,400,026, helps to create satisfactory gas-liquid emulsions.
- Gas occlusion may be provided by simple mechanical agitation or whipping, by gas injection, by chemical blowing agents, or by reactions that produce gaseous products such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide.
- the present invention provides a means for manufacturing stable, permanent foamed explosive compositions that keep their foamed structure, retain their low density, and maintain their reliability of detonation during long periods in storage or in boreholes.
- the present invention provides a process for foaming blasting agents which comprises (a) passing a thickened proteincontaining water-bearing blasting agent through a plurality of orifices at a pressure of about 40 to 160, preferably 125 to 140, pounds per square inch into a suction chamber in order to form a plurality of streams of thickened explosive and create a vacuum in the area where the blasting agent exits therefrom; (b) simultaneously incorporating gas into the thickened explosive in the suction chamber so as to cause an intimate admixture of the gas with the thickened explosive; (c) thereafter reducing the velocity of the thickened explosive by subsequently passing it through an enlarged opening, and recovering the resulting foamed, thickened blasting agent.
- the thickened protein-containing water-bearing explosive slurry is foamed by forcing it to flow at high velocity through a converging nozzle into a suction chamber where air or other gas is entrained in the liquid by friction and other forces induced by the kinetic energy of the turbulent, highvelocity stream, and thence into a Venturi-shaped diffuser, i.e., a length of conduit of progressively increasing diameter, where the velocity is progressively reduced.
- a Venturi-shaped diffuser i.e., a length of conduit of progressively increasing diameter, where the velocity is progressively reduced.
- Devices in which such a process may be carried out are known by the names ejector, injector, siphon, water jet, eductor, jet pump, exhauster, etc.
- a pump having a rubber impeller is a preferred means of propelling the slurry through the foaming device, e.g., eductor having a multiple nozzle design.
- the slurry may be forced through the nozzle by gas pressure, which also offers the opportunity of incorporating more gas in the product.
- the water-bearing blasting agents contain an inorganic oxidizing salt, fuel, thickener, proteinaceous material and gas bubbles.
- the proteinaceous material in the water-bearing explosive is any protein or protein derivative, such as those obtained by hydrolysis, amidation, acylation or other chemical reaction applied to a protein that is soluble in the explosive composition.
- soluble is meant that at least about 10 percent by weight of the proteinaceous material in the waterbearing explosive composition having a pH of 3 to 10 dissolves therein, the balance of the proteinaceous material being either water-soluble or water-dispersible.
- Representative proteinaceous materials that are present in the water-bearing explosive composition include simple proteins, that is proteins that yield, on complete hydrolysis, chiefly a-amino acids; conjugated proteins, that is, compounds of a protein with some other molecule or molecules referred to as a prosthetic group; and protein derivatives, that is, products formed by the action of heat or other physical forces, or by hydrolytic agents, such as denatured proteins or peptides.
- the presence of proteinaceous material in the blasting agent promotes the occlusion of the fine gas bubbles that sensitize the blasting agent.
- the product which is pumped through a flexible hose into a borehole, will retain its useful explosive properties for long periods, without segregation, even when the explosive remains in the borehole for many days before being detonated.
- the compositions also show a surprising resistance to the latching effects frequently encountered in wet boreholes.
- the amount of proteinaceous material in the blasting agent to be formed can be varied within a rather wide range, generally it contains about 0.01 percent to 10 percent, usually 0.] to 3 percent, by weight, proteinaceous material. Details of typical compositions that may be foamed in the process of this invention are given in U.S. Pat. No. 3,400,026 and such disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.
- the blasting agents of this invention generally contain 5 to 20 percent water and are thickened by incorporating any of the conventional thickeners used in water-bearing explosive compositions.
- thickened as used herein refers to compositions in which the viscosity of the aqueous phase has been materially increased, e.g., to 20,000 cps. or more, as well as gelled products including those gels which are crosslinked.
- Representative thickening agents used in amounts ranging from, by weight of the compositions, 0.1 to 10 percent, preferably from 0.2 to 5 percent, and most preferably 0.2 to 2 percent, include gum arabic; seaweed colloids such as agaragar; seed extracts such as locust bean; starches and modified starches such as dextrins and hydroxyethyl starch; waterdispersible derivatives of cellulose such as methyl cellulose and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and high molecular weight polyethylene oxides as well as mixtures of two or more of the above thickening agents. Of these, guar gum is preferred.
- any gas that is inert toward the thickened protein-containing water-bearing explosive composition can be incorporated therein.
- the gas can be introduced in the product stream by injection or, preferably, by means of an aperture in the product stream line, such as a suction leg, which serves to draw gas into the system.
- gases that can be used in the process include nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, oxygen, or air.
- the gas can be incorporated in the blasting agent by the application of pressure on the gas.
- atmospheric gas is used as the foaming agent and it is drawn into the suction leg for incorporation in the blasting agent without the application of pressure due to the creation of a vacuum in the area where the blasting agent exits from the orifices.
- the velocity of the blasting agent issuing out of the orifices of, for example, an eductor, is reduced in order to further enhance the mixture of blasting agent and gas, e.g. air.
- the velocity of the stream can be conveniently reduced by merely passing it through an enlarged opening, for example, through a diffuser of the Venturi type.
- FIG. 1 in the drawing illustrates schematically one apparatus arrangement for carrying out the process of this invention
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the eductor showing the nozzle
- FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the nozzle of the eductor.
- FIG. 4 is an end view of the nozzle shown in FIG. 3 showing the location of the orifices.
- Gas e.g., atmospheric air
- suction leg 11 due to the suction created by the explosive issuing out of the orifices under pressure and the gas is incorporated in the turbulent explosive in suction chamber 13.
- the velocity of the explosive composition is reduced by passing it through diffuser 14.
- the foamed explosive is collected in receiver 8.
- the orifices 12 in nozzle 10 may be drilled at an angle 15 with the center line of the nozzle to insure turbulent impingement of the slurry streams, as shown in FIG. 3.
- Different nozzles having two or more orifices may be used to vary the eductor capacity and to better control the density of the product.
- the water-bearing agents contain, in addition to the proteinaceous material and thickener, an inorganic oxidizing salt and fuel.
- the inorganic oxidizing salt usually comprises at least about percent by weight of the total composition and it can be any of the soluble salts conventionally used in waterbearing explosive compositions such as alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, and ammonium nitrates, chromates, dichromates, chlorates, and perchlorates, as well as mixtures of two or more such salts.
- the inorganic oxidizing salt component contains ammonium nitrate, either alone or in combination with sodium nitrate.
- the composition contains about 20 to 70 percent ammonium nitrate and 5 to 25 percent sodium nitrate by weight based on the weight of the total composition.
- the explosive contains a fuel.
- Representative fuels include certain nitro aromatic hydrocarbons suchas monoand dinitrobenzenes and monoand dinitrotoluenes; sulfurous fuels including sulfur; and carbonaceous fuels such as finely divided coal, wood, or sugar.
- the explosive composition contains up to about 25 percent and preferably from 2 to 20 percent, by weight fuel.
- proteinaceous materials that are soluble to the extent indicated in the water-bearing explosive are used.
- Representative simple proteins include albumins such as ovalbumin and lactalbumin occurring, respectively, in egg white and milk, globulins such as ovoglobulin and lactoglobulin and conjugated proteins such as the glycoprotein mucin.
- Protein derivatives used in the explosive composition include partially hydrolyzed milk protein and extracted collagen derivatives. Of these, egg albumin is especially preferred because of its high solubility and its exceptional ability in producing and maintaining a foamed structure.
- the water-bearing composition can also contain conventional crosslinking agents that thicken the explosive such as potassium antimony tartrate, chromium salts, acrylamides, and the like.
- a water-bearing blasting agent was prepared by mixing the following ingredients:
- EXAMPLE 2 The procedure described in Example 1 was repeated except the blasting agent was pumped at psi through an eductor having three three-sixteenth inch diameter holes in the nozzle. One pass through the eductor resulted in the explosive having a density of 1.10 g/cc at a pumping rate of 20 gal/min.
- EXAMPLE 3 The procedure described in Example 1 was repeated except the blasting agent was pumped at psi through an eductor with three five-sixteenth inch diameter orifices in the nozzle. One pass of the product through the system resulted in the blasting agent having a density of 1.12 g/cc at a pumping rate of 103 gal/min. of the foamed product.
- Example 4 To demonstrate on-site production of a water-bearing explosive foamed by passage through an eductor for a full scale commercial blast, a 15,000 pound mix of the composition shown in Example 1 was manufactured by the following steps:
- a slurry was made of the ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, water, monomethylamine nitrate, sugar, coal, sulfur and egg albumin in the mix tank.
- the slurry was pumped by a Waukesha pump at 100-125 psi through an eductor having three three-sixteenth inch diameter orifices in the nozzle and recirculated until the density of the total mix ranged between 1.05 and 1.08 g/cc, while at 130F; then the remaining guar glycol solution was added before the explosive slurry was pumped to its destination.
- the product was stored for 3 months and samples after storage showed no increase in density or evidence of other change. Samples after storage were detonated with a primer in air at 40F in 6 inch diameters at 4,500 m/sec.
- EXAMPLE 5 The procedure described above in Example 1 was repeated except nitrogen gas was forced under pressure through the suction leg of the eductor into the suction chamber. The density of the slurry explosive was lowered from 1.43 to 1.21 g/cc. Samples of the product were stored and after 6 months had not increased in density or showed other evidence of change. Samples after storage were detonated with a primer.
- a process for foaming blasting agents which comprises:
- a thickened proteinaceous-containing water bearing blasting agent passing a thickened proteinaceous-containing water bearing blasting agent through a plurality of orifices at a pressure of about 40 to 160 pounds per square inch into a suction chamber in order to form a plurality of streams of thickened explosive and create a vacuum in the area where the blasting agent exits therefrom;
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Abstract
Description
Claims (5)
- 2. A process of claim 1 where the gas is air.
- 3. A process of claim 2 wherein the water-bearing explosive contains an inorganic oxidizing salt and egg albumin.
- 4. A process of claim 3 whereiN the pressure is from about 125 to 140 pounds per square inch.
- 5. A process of claim 3 wherein the water-bearing explosive contains from about 0.1 to 10 percent thickening agent.
- 6. A process of claim 5 wherein the thickening agent is guar gum.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US88177169A | 1969-12-03 | 1969-12-03 |
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US3678140A true US3678140A (en) | 1972-07-18 |
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US881771A Expired - Lifetime US3678140A (en) | 1969-12-03 | 1969-12-03 | Process for foaming aqueous protein-containing blasting agents |
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Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3800012A (en) * | 1973-02-13 | 1974-03-26 | Dyno Industrier As | Method and apparatus for semi-continuous preparation of an explosive composition |
US3983781A (en) * | 1974-04-09 | 1976-10-05 | Dr. Ing. Mario Biazzi Soc. An. | Ejector for transport of an explosive |
US4008108A (en) * | 1975-04-22 | 1977-02-15 | E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Formation of foamed emulsion-type blasting agents |
EP0194774A1 (en) * | 1985-03-11 | 1986-09-17 | Eti Explosives | Method of producing high-density slurry/prill explosives in boreholes |
DE4140619A1 (en) * | 1990-12-10 | 1992-06-11 | Dantex Explosives | EXPLOSIVE COMPOSITION |
US6537399B2 (en) | 1997-06-26 | 2003-03-25 | Union Espanola De Explosivos, S.A. | Process and mechanism for in situ sensitization of aqueous explosives |
US6610158B2 (en) | 1999-07-09 | 2003-08-26 | Union Espanola De Explosivos, S.A. | Procedure and installation for on-site manufacturing of explosives made from a water based oxidizing product |
US20040016481A1 (en) * | 2002-06-26 | 2004-01-29 | Union Espanola De Explosivos, A Spanish Corporation | Process for the "in situ" manufacturing of explosive mixtures |
US20090047783A1 (en) * | 2007-08-13 | 2009-02-19 | Bchir Omar J | Method of removing unwanted plated or conductive material from a substrate, and method of enabling metallization of a substrate using same |
US20090261021A1 (en) * | 2008-04-16 | 2009-10-22 | Bower David J | Oil sands processing |
WO2011123777A1 (en) * | 2010-04-01 | 2011-10-06 | Proven Engineering And Technologies, Llc | Directed multiport eductor and method of use |
EP3556741A1 (en) | 2018-04-16 | 2019-10-23 | Maxamcorp Holding, S.L. | Procedure and installation for loading boreholes with bulk water-based suspension or watergel type explosives |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3400026A (en) * | 1967-01-16 | 1968-09-03 | Du Pont | Thickened aqueous inorganic oxidizer salt explosive composition containing dissolvedproteinaceous material |
-
1969
- 1969-12-03 US US881771A patent/US3678140A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3400026A (en) * | 1967-01-16 | 1968-09-03 | Du Pont | Thickened aqueous inorganic oxidizer salt explosive composition containing dissolvedproteinaceous material |
Cited By (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3800012A (en) * | 1973-02-13 | 1974-03-26 | Dyno Industrier As | Method and apparatus for semi-continuous preparation of an explosive composition |
US3983781A (en) * | 1974-04-09 | 1976-10-05 | Dr. Ing. Mario Biazzi Soc. An. | Ejector for transport of an explosive |
US4008108A (en) * | 1975-04-22 | 1977-02-15 | E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Formation of foamed emulsion-type blasting agents |
EP0194774A1 (en) * | 1985-03-11 | 1986-09-17 | Eti Explosives | Method of producing high-density slurry/prill explosives in boreholes |
DE4140619A1 (en) * | 1990-12-10 | 1992-06-11 | Dantex Explosives | EXPLOSIVE COMPOSITION |
FR2670203A1 (en) * | 1990-12-10 | 1992-06-12 | Dantex Explosives | AQUEOUS EXPLOSIVE COMPOSITION CONTAINING GAS BUBBLES STABILIZED WITH RESPECT TO MIGRATION AND AGGLOMERATION. |
AU644497B2 (en) * | 1990-12-10 | 1993-12-09 | Dantex Explosives (Proprietary) Limited | Explosive composition |
ES2051183A1 (en) * | 1990-12-10 | 1994-06-01 | Dantex Explosives | explosive composition |
US6537399B2 (en) | 1997-06-26 | 2003-03-25 | Union Espanola De Explosivos, S.A. | Process and mechanism for in situ sensitization of aqueous explosives |
US6610158B2 (en) | 1999-07-09 | 2003-08-26 | Union Espanola De Explosivos, S.A. | Procedure and installation for on-site manufacturing of explosives made from a water based oxidizing product |
US20040016481A1 (en) * | 2002-06-26 | 2004-01-29 | Union Espanola De Explosivos, A Spanish Corporation | Process for the "in situ" manufacturing of explosive mixtures |
US6949153B2 (en) | 2002-06-26 | 2005-09-27 | Union Espanola De Explosivos S.A. | Process for the “in situ” manufacturing of explosive mixtures |
US20090047783A1 (en) * | 2007-08-13 | 2009-02-19 | Bchir Omar J | Method of removing unwanted plated or conductive material from a substrate, and method of enabling metallization of a substrate using same |
US20090261021A1 (en) * | 2008-04-16 | 2009-10-22 | Bower David J | Oil sands processing |
WO2011123777A1 (en) * | 2010-04-01 | 2011-10-06 | Proven Engineering And Technologies, Llc | Directed multiport eductor and method of use |
US9242260B2 (en) | 2010-04-01 | 2016-01-26 | Proven Technologies, Llc | Directed multiport eductor and method of use |
EP3556741A1 (en) | 2018-04-16 | 2019-10-23 | Maxamcorp Holding, S.L. | Procedure and installation for loading boreholes with bulk water-based suspension or watergel type explosives |
WO2019201851A1 (en) | 2018-04-16 | 2019-10-24 | Maxamcorp Holding, S.L. | Procedure and installation for loading boreholes with bulk water-based suspension or watergel type explosives |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: ETI EXPLOSIVES TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL INC., RO Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:004834/0446 Effective date: 19880118 Owner name: ETI EXPLOSIVES TECHNOLOGIES INTE,STATELESS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:004834/0446 Effective date: 19880118 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TORONTO DOMINION BANK,STATELESS Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ETI EXPLOSIVES TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL INC.;REEL/FRAME:004829/0868 Effective date: 19871231 Owner name: TORONTO DOMINION BANK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ETI EXPLOSIVES TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL INC.;REEL/FRAME:004829/0868 Effective date: 19871231 |