Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing discrete solid particles of hydrocarbonaceous material, such as asphaltenes, in relatively dustless form includes heating the hydrocarbonaceous material, solid at standard conditions of temperature and pressure, to maintain the hydrocarbonaceous material in liquid form, and flowing the liquid hydrocarbonaceous material by gravity as an elongated annular stream into a reservoir of cooling liquid, such as cooling water, to solidify and shatter the annular stream into discrete solid particles in relatively dustless form. The apparatus includes a hopper for collecting a mass of heated liquid hydrocarbonaceous material; a heating source for heating the hydrocarbonaceous material to maintain it in liquid form; and flow channels operatively connected to the hopper at an upper level of the liquid hydrocarbonaceous material for flowing the liquid hydrocarbonaceous material in an elongated annular stream through the flow channel and into the reservoir of cooling water.

Abstract: A method of extruding clay and then treating the clay with acid to beneficiate the clay for increased capacity of filtration of oil-soluble colorant compounds from oil. The clay is first extruded through one or more die openings to align some of the clay platelets and to form the clay into cylindrical pellets. The extruded clay pellets then are acid treated, either before or after grinding, in an aqueous acid solution to form an acid slurry of the clay. The acid slurry of the clay is agitated for a time sufficient and at a temperature sufficient so that the acid reacts with a portion of the clay and, thereafter, the acid treated clay is separated from the acid solution; the clay then is washed to remove most of the acid solution from the clay; filtered and thereafter dried.

Abstract: An article for sealing boreholes in the earth and particularly around well casings extending into boreholes in the earth comprises the placement of a plurality of discrete, liquid-absorbing annular sealing elements or disks formed of relatively dry, solid, particulate or granular liquid-swellable clay meterial, such as bentonite, or bentonite clay which swells in size upon contact with and absorption of liquid encountered in the borehole. The elements are characterized by a disk-like planar shape having parallel, flat opposing faces and a central hole slightly larger in diameter than the cross-section of a well casing when present in a borehole. The disks are placed successively on the well casing and move down into the borehole until a stack of disks of the desired height is formed to substantially fill the space or void between the well casing and the borehole wall.

Abstract: A method of improving the crop yield of transplanted crops and of extending the useful life of freshly cut plants utilizing an aqueous gel including a highly absorbent, crosslinked, mixed salt of homopolymerized or copolymerized acrylic acid. The aqueous gels utilized in the present invention not only show improved crop yield and extended plant life in the absence of plant nutrients, but also exhibit sufficient gel strength and rigidity to support the plants in the absence of inert solid aggregates.

Abstract: A land fill and method of containing solid wastes and/or waste fluids comprises placing the waste and/or waste fluids, either enclosed in a container, free flowing, solidified or treated, in a preformed cavity or pit that is excavated in a naturally occurring deposit of bentonite clay located adjacent or beneath the surface of the earth. The waste and/or waste fluid is of a type that will not pass through a bentonite layer that is left in its natural place after excavation thereby forming a natural liner or bottom wall of the excavated cavity. After the cavity or pit has been substantially filled with waste material, an overlayer of water-swellable bentonite may be provided on top of the mass of waste material and joining the liner wall around the outer peripheral edge to permanently enclose and seal-off the waste material, or the upper surface of the waste filled pit may be left uncovered.

Abstract: A flexible grout composition is used to cement a conduit within a bore hole to prevent fluid loss, for sealing and grouting well casings, plugging abandoned wells, and waterproofing earthen structures. The flexible grout composition consists essentially of water, a water-swellable clay, such as bentonite; optionally a particulate filler; and a dispersing agent for the water-swellable clay, such as sodium acid pyrophosphate (SAPP). The grout composition is mixed with water to form a slurry and the slurry is pumped into its intended location, for example, within the annulus defined between an outer surface of a conduit or casing disposed within a bore hole, and the surrounding earthen formation formed, for example, by drilling.

Abstract: A method of extruding clay and then treating the clay with acid to beneficiate the clay for increased capacity of filtration of oil-soluble colorant compounds from oil. The clay is first extruded through one or more die openings to align some of the clay platelets and to form the clay into cylindrical pellets. The extruded clay pellets are then acid treated, either before or after grinding, in an aqueous acid solution to form an acid slurry of the clay. The acid slurry of the clay is agitated for a time sufficient and at a temperature sufficient so that the acid reacts with a portion of the clay and, thereafter, the acid treated clay is separated from the acid solution; the clay then is washed to remove most of the acid solution from the clay; filtered and thereafter dried.

Abstract: A method and composition for controlling the lost circulation of drilling mud in a wellbore during a drilling operation comprising the introduction of a pelletized composition, comprising a water-insoluble, water-absorbent polymer and bentonite, in a weight ratio of water-absorbent polymer to bentonite in the range of from about 9:1 to about 1:9, and preferably in the range of from about 3:1 to about 1:3, into the wellbore to reduce or eliminate drilling mud loss by sealing porous subterranean formations. The pellets essentially maintain their original size as the pellets pass through the wellbore to the site of lost circulation. At the site of lost circulation, the pellets accumulate, absorb water and swell to form an essentially fluid-tight plug. The porous subterranean formation is thereby sealed and further loss of drilling mud is prevented.

Abstract: A method of extruding clay and then treating the clay with acid to beneficiate the clay for increased color development potential when included in carbonless copy paper. The clay is first extruded through one or more die openings to align some of the clay platelets and to form the clay into cylindrical pellets. The extruded clay pellets then are acid treated, either before or after grinding, in an aqueous acid solution to form an acid slurry of the clay. The acid slurry of the clay is agitated for a time sufficient and at a temperature sufficient so that the acid reacts with a portion of the clay and, thereafter, the acid treated clay is separated from the acid solution; the clay then is washed to remove most of the acid solution from the clay; filtered and thereafter dried.

Abstract: Surface treating water-absorbent resins with a polyquaternary amine substantially increases both the rate of water absorption and the quantity of water absorbed and retained by the resin. In addition to improved water absorbing properties, the surface-treated resins maintain the necessary "dry feel" required for most applications.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously manufacturing water absorbing resin. A mixed monomer solution is stored in a storage vessel and a polymerization initiator stored in an initiator storage vessel. The monomer solution is fed by gravity or otherwise through a conduit to a lower position (below the liquid surface) of a reaction chamber of a reaction vessel at a rate of, for example, 4 gallons per minute. Simultaneously, the polymerization initiator is fed at a rate of, for example, 0.2 gallons per minute by gravity or otherwise through a conduit to an opposite side of the reaction chamber, again at a lower portion (below a continuously maintained liquid level) to begin polymerization. The reaction product forms from an upper surface of the reactant mixture (mixed monomer solution plus initiator) and travels upwardly through a truncated frustoconical cone shaped upper portion of the reaction chamber as a solid resin.

Abstract: Improved water-absorbing, crosslinked acrylate resins are prepared by aqueous polymerization of (A) acrylic acid neutralized 70 to 100 mole percent for example with ammonia and/or caustic alkali and/or an amine; with (B) acrylamide in a mole ratio of 70 to 100 mole percent (A) to 30:0 mole percent (B); and (C) a water miscible or a water soluble polyvinyl monomer in the presence of (D) a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, neutralized 70 to 100 mole percent for example with ammonia, and/or caustic alkali and/or an amine, in an amount of 1% to 25% based on the weight of acrylic acid or acrylate, such that the amount of (C) is 0.001 to 0.6 weight percent based on the total weight of (A), (B), (C) and (D). In addition, surface treating the water-absorbing crosslinked acrylate resins with a polyquaternary amine substantially further increases both the rate of water absorption and the quantity of water absorbed and retained by the resin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a layered water sealing article of manufacture including a layer of a flexible sheet material adhered to a layer of a composition comprising a non-hydrated water-swellable clay intimately contacted with a polypropene, polybutene, or mixtures thereof particularly useful as a water barrier. The water swellable clay composition can be adhered to the flexible sheet material in any manner, such as by extruding the composition in sheet form onto a layer of sheet material. The clay composition layer is sufficiently tacky to adhere to the sheet material on one major surface, and is sufficiently tacky for adherence to a wall, conduit, floor, roof, or other structure to be protected from water contact, on an exposed major surface in areas of potential water flow to prevent the seepage of water through the bentonite clay composition layer.

Abstract: A flexible grout composition is used to cement a conduit within a bore hole to prevent fluid loss, for sealing and grouting well casings, plugging abandoned wells, and waterproofing earthen structures. The flexible grout composition includes a water-swellable clay, such as bentonite; a particulate filler, such as calcium bentonite; and a water soluble silicate. The grout composition is mixed with water to form a slurry and the slurry is pumped into its intended location, for example, within the annulus defined between an outer surface of a conduit or casing disposed within a bore hole, and the surrounding earthen formation formed, for example, by drilling.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing relatively low molecular weight, water absorbing, acrylic polymers for use as drilling fluid additives by aqueous polymerization of (A) an acrylic monomer, such as acrylic acid neutralized 0 to 100 mole percent with, for example, ammonia, and/or an alkali such as Na.sub.2 O.sub.3, and/or an amine; with (B) acrylamide in a mole ratio of 70 to 100 mole percent (A) to 30:0 mole percent (B). The molecular weight is limited to 1,000 to 50,000, such as by adding a chain transfer agent to the polymerization mixture, to achieve excellent results as a drilling fluid additive. The monomer, such as partially neutralized acrylic acid, is polymerized in aqueous solution in the presence of a polymerization initiator without external heating while allowing water to evaporate off.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for treating any fluidizable solid material having an organic contaminant or recoverable material absorbed or adsorbed thereon, particularly a sludge contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyl or other toxic chemicals having a boiling point of at least 110.degree. C. The method and apparatus includes heating the fluidizable solids, using hot turbulent gas at a temperature in the range of 850.degree. to 2,500.degree. F. to vaporize and thereby separate the organic material, for example, the toxic chemicals from the fluidizable solids and to fluidize at least a portion of the solids. The recoverable or contaminant liquid, for example the toxic chemicals, are then further treated to recover or dispose of the separated liquid, such as by condensing the liquid and filtering or decanting it from the condensed water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of waterproofing using a layered water sealing article of manufacture including a layer of a flexible sheet material adhered to a layer of a composition comprising a non-hydrated water-swellable clay intimately contacted with a polypropene, polybutene, or mixtures thereof. The water swellable clay composition can be adhered to the flexible sheet material in any manner, such as by extruding the composition in sheet form onto a layer of sheet material. The clay composition layer is sufficiently tacky to adhere to the sheet material on one major surface, and is sufficiently tacky for adherence to a wall or conduit, floor or roof on an exposed major surface in areas of potential water flow to prevent the seepage of water through the bentonite clay composition layer.

Abstract: A composition, including a mixture of high-yield bentonite and low-yield bentonite, in a ratio of high-yield bentonite to low-yield bentonite in the range of about 10:1 to about 1:1, and preferably in the range of 5:1 to 3:1, together with a water-in-soluble form of leonardite, that is particularly useful in a water-based drilling mud and exhibits unexpected stability and rheological functionality at the high temperatures and high pressures encountered in deep wells.

Abstract: Surface treating water-absorbent resins with a polyquaternary amine substantially increases both the rate of water absorption and the quantity of water absorbed and retained by the resin. In addition to improved water absorbing properties, the surface-treated resins maintain the necessary "dry feel" required for most applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a layered water sealing article of manufacture including a layer of a flexible sheet material adhered to a layer of a composition comprising a non-hydrated water-swellable clay intimately contacted with a polypropene, polybutene, or mixtures thereof particularly useful as a water barrier. The water swellable clay composition can be adhered to the flexible sheet material in any manner, such as by extruding the composition in sheet form onto a layer of sheet material. The clay composition layer is sufficiently tacky to adhere to the sheet material on one major surface, and is sufficiently tacky for adherence to a wall, conduit, floor, roof, or other structure to be protected from water contact, on an exposed major surface in areas of potential water flow to prevent the seepage of water through the bentonite clay composition layer.