Clay Or Claylike Patents (Class 588/9)
  • Publication number: 20150011816
    Abstract: A solidification method of radioactive waste is provided, including kneading a binder and an inorganic adsorbent to obtain a kneaded object, the in organic adsorbent included radionuclides; extruding the kneaded object to obtain an extruded material object; cutting the extruded material object to obtain at least one extruded material block; and firing the at least one extruded material block to solidify the at least one extruded material block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Akio SAYANO, Shohei KAWANO, Yoshiyuki KAWAHARADA, Masamichi OBATA, Hirotada HAYASHI, Yusuke NOHARA
  • Patent number: 8772566
    Abstract: A waste form for and a method of rendering hazardous materials less dangerous is disclosed that includes fixing the hazardous material in nanopores of a nanoporous material, reacting the trapped hazardous material to render it less volatile/soluble, and vitrifying the nanoporous material containing the less volatile/soluble hazardous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Huizhen Gao, Yifeng Wang, Mark A. Rodriguez, Denise N. Bencoe
  • Patent number: 8063265
    Abstract: A hydrogel having a floatability where from 40% to 90% of a solution and/or suspension to be thickened are thickened starting from the surface of the liquid and the rest of the solution and/or suspension to be thickened is thickened starting from the bottom of the container, a process for preparing the hydrogel and also its use for absorbing blood and/or body fluids, especially in hygiene articles, or for thickening aqueous solutions and/or suspensions, especially for thickening medical wastes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Beck, Volker Frenz, Anna Kowalski, Elisabeth Selzer, Ernst Jürgen Bauer, Harald Keller, Bernhard Steinmetz
  • Patent number: 7994379
    Abstract: A radioactive containment composition may be created for containing radionuclides from a radioactive material by mixing a clay mineral with water. This mixture may form an aqueous clay suspension. The mixture can be refined by filtering to remove coarse material. The aqueous clay suspension may be applied to a radioactive material, allowing the radionuclides to be exchanged with cations in the aqueous clay suspension. The resulting aqueous slurry, a silver-based solution may be added to produce a suspension. The suspension may be collected, heated and analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: George Mason Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Elmore, Mark P. S. Krekeler, Danielle Stoll, Cynthia M. Tselepis
  • Patent number: 7915473
    Abstract: A radioactive containment composition may be created for containing radionuclides from a radioactive material by mixing a clay mineral with water. This mixture may form an aqueous clay suspension, which in turn can be refined by filtering to remove coarse material. The aqueous clay suspension may be applied to a radioactive material, allowing the radionuclides to be exchanged with cations in the aqueous clay suspension. The resulting aqueous slurry may be collected, heated and analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: George Mason Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark P. S. Krekeler, Stephen C. Elmore
  • Patent number: 7915472
    Abstract: Clay-based compositions capable of absorbing contaminants from surfaces or objects having surface faces may be applied to a surface and later removed, the removed clay-based compositions absorbing at least a portion of the contaminant from the surface or object to which it was applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Karen E. Wright, David C. Cooper, Dean R. Peterman, Ricky L. Demmer, Julia L. Tripp, Laurence C. Hull
  • Patent number: 7799143
    Abstract: A radioactive material sequestration system may include a radionuclide containment composition dispenser and a sorption based media container. The radionuclide containment composition dispenser may be configured for holding a radionuclide containment composition and be capable of dispensing the radionuclide containment composition to remove radionuclides from a radioactive material. The radionuclide containment composition is a mixture of a clay mineral and water. The sorption based media container may be configured for holding a sorption based media; receiving dispensed radionuclide containment composition; and sequestering the radionuclides. The radioactive material sequestration system may also include a probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: George Mason Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Elmore, Mark Krekeler, Cynthia Tselepis
  • Publication number: 20100217061
    Abstract: A radioactive containment composition may be created for containing radionuclides from a radioactive material by mixing a clay mineral with water. This mixture may form an aqueous clay suspension, which in turn can be refined by filtering to remove coarse material. The aqueous clay suspension may be applied to a radioactive material, allowing the radionuclides to be exchanged with cations in the aqueous clay suspension. The resulting aqueous slurry may be collected, heated and analyzed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Mark P.S. Krekeler, Stephen C. Elmore
  • Publication number: 20100099937
    Abstract: A radioactive containment composition may be created for containing radionuclides from a radioactive material by mixing a clay mineral with water. This mixture may form an aqueous clay suspension. The mixture can be refined by filtering to remove coarse material. The aqueous clay suspension may be applied to a radioactive material, allowing the radionuclides to be exchanged with cations in the aqueous clay suspension. The resulting aqueous slurry, a silver-based solution may be added to produce a suspension. The suspension may be collected, heated and analyzed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Mark P.S. Krekeler, Stephen C. Elmore, Cynthia M. Tselepis, Danielle Stoll
  • Publication number: 20100069697
    Abstract: A radioactive material sequestration system may include a radionuclide containment composition dispenser and a sorption based media container. The radionuclide containment composition dispenser may be configured for holding a radionuclide containment composition and be capable of dispensing the radionuclide containment composition to remove radionuclides from a radioactive material. The radionuclide containment composition is a mixture of a clay mineral and water. The sorption based media container may be configured for holding a sorption based media; receiving dispensed radionuclide containment composition; and sequestering the radionuclides. The radioactive material sequestration system may also include a probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen C. Elmore, Mark P.S. Krekeler, Cynthia Tselepis
  • Patent number: 7663014
    Abstract: A radioactive containment composition may be created for containing radionuclides from a radioactive material by mixing a clay mineral with water. This mixture may form an aqueous clay suspension. The mixture can be refined by filtering to remove coarse material. The aqueous clay suspension may be applied to a radioactive material, allowing the radionuclides to be exchanged with cations in the aqueous clay suspension. The resulting aqueous slurry, a silver-based solution may be added to produce a suspension. The suspension may be collected, heated and analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: George Mason Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark P. S. Krekeler, Stephen C. Elmore, Cynthia M. Tselepis, Danielle Stoll
  • Patent number: 7662738
    Abstract: A radioactive containment composition may be created for containing radionuclides from a radioactive material by mixing a clay mineral with water. This mixture may form an aqueous clay suspension, which in turn can be refined by filtering to remove coarse material. The aqueous clay suspension may be applied to a radioactive material, allowing the radionuclides to be exchanged with cations in the aqueous clay suspension. The resulting aqueous slurry may be collected, heated and analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: George Mason Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark P. S. Krekeler, Stephen C. Elmore
  • Patent number: 7091393
    Abstract: The present invention utilizes one or more processes to immobilize a waste that contains one or more of radionuclides, hazardous elements, hazardous compounds, and/or other compounds present in the waste. Each of the processes create a barrier against leaching and diffusion of the wastes. The first barrier is created by integrating the waste with an immobilizing mineral. The second barrier is a layer of non-radioactive or non-hazardous material that covers the first barrier. The second barrier may be created using an overgrowth procedure or by sintering. The third barrier is created by a rock or glass matrix that surrounds the first and/or second barriers. The fourth barrier is created by ensuring that the rock or glass has the same or similar composition as the indigenous rock at the disposal site. The resultant rock or glass matrix is in equilibrium with the groundwater or local hydrothermal solutions that are saturated with components of the indigenous rock of the disposal area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Geomatrix Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Anatoly Chekhmir, Arthur Gribetz
  • Patent number: 6440884
    Abstract: Building bricks and tiles are made by mixing 60% to 75% clay, 20% to 40% sludge and 1% to 10% sand, all percentages being by weight of the total composition. This process utilizes industrial waste products to provide building materials which are lighter and stronger than conventional materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Inventor: Theophilis A. Devagnanam
  • Patent number: 6342461
    Abstract: A ceramic composition made from waste materials and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The ceramic composition comprises between 5 and 75 by weight part of a solid stated waste material including heavy metals, between 15 and 45 by weight part of a fly ash and between 5 and 55 by weight part of a clay. The ceramic composition is manufactured by compositely stabilizing various waste materials and is available for a building material or an engineering material. Therefore, the waste materials are effectively recycled without causing environmental pollution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Inventors: Ki-Gang Lee, Jung-Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 6231767
    Abstract: A process for treating thickened phosphatic clay suspensions, waste clay and phosphogypsum produced in the processing of phosphate ore by water beneficiation and chemical processing, the thickened phosphatic clay suspension having a solid content of from about 4 to about 40 percent by weight, includes mixing a sufficient amount of deflocculating agent with a thickened phosphatic clay suspension to cause deflocculation of the suspension to an extent sufficient to reduce the viscosity thereof to a value enabling the deflocculated suspension to be readily pumped from one location to another, the deflocculating agent comprising an alkali compound of a phosphorus oxide. The deflocculated suspension of reduced viscosity is pumped from one location to another and separated into a clay suspension and a phosphatic mineral and sand suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Claytech Enviromental Services Inc.
    Inventors: David Krofchak, Roberto Berardi
  • Patent number: 6046374
    Abstract: A method for forming a radiation-absorbing barrier around a radioactive component by flowing a radiation-absorbing cement grout into a container which encloses the component. The radiation-absorbing cement grout comprises a cement slurry, a finished foam material, a bentonite gel, and a radiation-absorbing metal constituent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Inventor: Patrick J. Stephens
  • Patent number: 5998690
    Abstract: A unique method for solidification of solutions containing boric acid and/or borates is disclosed in this invention. The boron species in the solutions are polymerized to form polyborates, and the solutions are then solidified by mixing with solidification agents which are prepared completely from inorganic materials. Therefore, the solid form produced by this method has no aging problem. The boron species in the solution are not merely wastes to be encapsulated or embedded, they take part in the solidification reaction and share a major portion of total reactants. Thus, the total volume of solid forms produced in this invention is less than 1/10 of that produced in conventional cementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Institute of Nuclear Energy Research
    Inventors: Ching-Tsven Huang, Wen-Yi Yang
  • Patent number: 5898010
    Abstract: A red brick comprising waste foundry sand of 30.about.50 wt %, dusts of 5.about.10 wt %, and a remainder of clay. The waste foundry sand and dusts can be efficiently recycled, and the quantity of the sand used, the supply of which sand which is nearly exhausted, can be reduced. The heating temperature in the red brick manufacturing process is remarkably lowered, and the economical efficiency of the manufacturing process is improved greatly by using iron oxide included in dusts, instead of a chemical compound to obtain desired color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Inventor: Chang-woo Kang
  • Patent number: 5880060
    Abstract: Treatment compositions and a method are provided for the removal of a plurality of heavy metals and radioactive isotopes from wastewater. The treatment compositions comprise an alkali; adsorbents, such as montmorillonite and illite clays; catalysts, such as polyelectrolytes and sodium carbonate; one or more flocculants, such as a metal salt and calcium hydroxide; zirconium as a chelating and complexing agent; and boron as a neutron absorbent. The selected composition is introduced into and mixed with the wastewater, which is then filtered to produce a sludge containing the contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventors: Barbara Blake, Alexander Blake, William John Lacy
  • Patent number: 5819186
    Abstract: A method for forming a radiation-absorbing barrier around a radioactive component by flowing a radiation-absorbing cement grout into a container which encloses the component. The radiation-absorbing cement grout comprises a cement slurry, a finished foam material, a bentonite gel, and a radiation-absorbing metal constituent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Inventor: Patrick J. Stephens
  • Patent number: 5678235
    Abstract: A safely encapsulated hazardous waste product free of unwanted leaching of contaminated metal constitutents and process therefor wherein a quantity of hazardous waste and a quantity of shale material characterized by having an aluminosilicate content containing at least 9.35% by weight of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, wherein the shale is reduced to a fine mesh before mixing, and defines a brick-like form as fired at about 1,150.degree. C. for a period of time to change the shale material into a semi-molten state and thereafter cooled to safely encapsulate the waste within the shale as a unit-handled product. The product of the invention satisfies and exceeds RCRA and LDR (EPA) requirements as shown by Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventor: General D. Crowe
  • Patent number: 5539140
    Abstract: The method of the invention provides a geopolymeric binder in powder, used for the ultra rapid treatment of materials, soils or mining tailings, containing toxic wastes. Said geopolymeric binder has a setting time equal to or greater than 30 minutes at a temperature of 20.degree. C. and a hardening rate such as to provide compression strengths (Sc) equal to or greater than 15 MPa, after only 4 hours at 20.degree. C., when tested in accordance with the standards applied to hydraulic binder mortars having a binder/sand ratio equal to 0.38 and a water/binder ratio between 0.22 and 0.27. The preparation method includes the following three reactive constituents:a) an alumino-silicate oxide (Si.sub.2 O.sub.5, Al.sub.2 O.sub.2) in which the Al cation is in (IV-V) coordination as determined by MAS-NMR analytical spectroscopy for .sup.27 Al;b) a disilicate of sodium and/or potassium (Na.sub.2.K.sub.2)(H.sub.3 SiO.sub.4).sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Inventor: Joseph Davidovits
  • Patent number: 5489735
    Abstract: A decontamination composition comprises 40 to 60 percent of a compound selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid, alkali metal and ammonium salts of oxalic acid and mixtures thereof; 5 to 20 percent of a compound selected from the group consisting of citric acid, alkali metal and ammonium salts of citric acid and mixtures thereof; 20 to 40 percent of a compound selected from the group consisting of polyaminocarboxylic acid, alkali metal and ammonium salts of polyaminocarboxylic acid and the combination of a polyaminocarboxylic acid and a neutralizing compound, and mixtures thereof; 0 to 2 percent of a nonionic surfactant; about 0 to 2 percent of a dispersant; and about 0 to 2 percent of a corrosion inhibitor. The present invention also relates to a method of decontaminating a surface whereby contaminants in the form of NORMs are removed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Inventors: Thomas F. D'Muhala, William H. Wadlin
  • Patent number: 5434333
    Abstract: A method for treating materials such as wastes for solidification to form a solid, substantially nonleachable product. Addition of reactive silica rather than ordinary silica to the material when bringing the initial molar ratio of its silica constituent to a desired ratio within a preselected range increases the solubility and retention of the materials in the solidified matrix. Materials include hazardous, radioactive, mixed, and heavy metal species. Amounts of other constituents of the material, in addition to its silica content are also added so that the molar ratio of each of these constituents is within the preselected ranges for the final solidified product. The mixture is then solidified by cement solidification or vitrification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Carol M. Jantzen, John B. Pickett, Hollis L. Martin
  • Patent number: 5405509
    Abstract: Remediation of soil, concrete and groundwater using electropotential gradient induced migration of a target ion and immobilization and/or confinement of the target ion by a host receptor matrix (HRM). In addition to immobilizing and/or confining the target ion, the HRM can comprise a buffer or an ionizable species which releases an exchange ion during application of the electropotential gradient. The exchange ion, when less mobile than a (H.sup.+) ion or hydroxyl (OH.sup.-) ion, increases the efficiency of energy usage during decontamination. The exchange ion can also perform other tasks in the vicinity of the electrodes which improve the decontamination process. The host receptor matrix can comprise a material which is water impermeable and which has a low surface energy, such as a layer of polytetrafluoroethylene film. When such a material is used, the host receptor matrix can comprise a receptacle in which there is a liquid and/or solid composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Ionex
    Inventors: Henry L. Lomasney, Richard A. Graves, James L. McIntyre