Abstract: A method of treating clay with acid to beneficiate the clay for increased capacity of filtration of oil-soluble colorant compounds from oil. The clay is ground to a particle size distribution such that more than 50% by weight of the clay, on a dry basis, passes through a 200 mesh screen and less than 5% by weight of the clay, on a dry basis, is finer than 5 microns. After grinding, the ground clay is directly contacted with an acid solution to form an acid slurry of the clay. The clay acid slurry 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 to a liquid content less than about 60% by weight and thereafter dried to a liquid content less than about 20% by weight.

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 for preparing a solid, water absorbing, cross-linked polyacrylate resin including combining potassium acrylate and a polyvinyl monomer, such as N,N-methylene bisacrylamide, with water in an amount of 55 to 80 combined weight percent of potassium acrylate and polyvinyl monomer based on the total weight of potassium acrylate, polyvinyl monomer and water to form a monomer mixture, and adding a polymerization initiator to the monomer mixture to initiate polymerization of the monomer mixture. The monomer mixture then is polymerized without external heating by utilizing the exothermic heat of reaction as substantially the only non-ambient energy source to drive water away from said polyacrylate resin to form the cross-linked polyacrylate resin having a water content sufficiently low (i.e. 15% or less) to be powdered, such as by pulverization, without an intermediate drying step.

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 fly ash; a water soluble silicate; a source of multivalent metal cations; and a gelling agent for the water-swellable clay, particularly an inorganic gelling agent such as magnesium oxide or sodium carbonate (soda ash). 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 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; a water soluble silicate; a source of multivalent metal cations; and a gelling agent for the water-swellable clay, particularly an inorganic gelling agent such as magnesium oxide or sodium carbonate (soda ash). 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: Water absorbing, cross-linked acrylate resin copolymers 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) styrene and/or methyl methacrylate in an amount of 1% to 25% based on the weight of acrylic acid or acrylate, and (C) acrylamide in a mole ratio of 70 to 100 mole percent (A) to 30:0 mole percent (C); and (D) a water miscible or a water soluble polyvinyl monomer in an amount of 0.001 to 0.3 weight percent based on the total weight of (A), (B), (C) and (D).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-hydrated bentonite intimately contacted with a polypropene, polybutene, or mixtures thereof to provide a formable and shapable non-aqueous bentonite composition particularly useful as a water barrier. The bentonite composition can be extruded in the form of a rope, rod, sheet or the like and is sufficiently tacky for adherence to a wall or conduit, floor or roof in areas of potential water flow to prevent the seepage of water through the bentonite composition. In one embodiment, the bentonite composition includes a polypropene and a polybutene and an elastomer, such as butyl rubber, having sufficient resilience to stretch or expand with the expanding bentonite upon hydration and to aid in maintaining the structural integrity and cohesiveness of the composition. In another embodiment, the composition comprises bentonite, an elastomer, and any plasticizer compatible with the elastomer.

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 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 process is disclosed for preparing a solid, water absorbing, cross-linked polyacrylate resin including combining potassium acrylate and a polyvinyl monomer, such as N,N-methylene bisacrylamide, with water in an amount of 55 to 80 combined weight percent of potassium acrylate and polyvinyl monomer based on the total weight of potassium acrylate, polyvinyl monomer and water to form a monomer mixture, and adding a polymerization initiator to the monomer mixture to initiate polymerization of the monomer mixture. The monomer mixture then is polymerized without external heating by utilizing the exothermic heat of reaction as substantially the only non-ambient energy source to drive water away from said polyacrylate resin to form the cross-linked polyacrylate resin having a water content sufficiently low (i.e. 15% or less) to be powdered, such as by pulverization, without an intermediate drying step.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition including a water swellable clay, and particularly a montmorillonite clay, such as bentonite; xanthan gum; and one or more additional water-soluble gums, for example, guar dextran, acacia or locust bean. The xanthan gum together with one or more additional water-soluble gums prevents montmorillonite clay composition from substantial coagulation or flocculation upon contact with salt contaminated water even in high concentrations of, for example, 15-40% by weight salt. It has been found that xanthan gum in an amount of 0.1-20% based on the weight of the water-swellable clay, i.e. bentonite, in the composition together with one other water soluble gum, for example guar gum, dextran gum, acacia gum and/or locust bean gum in an amount of 1.0-10% based on the weight of bentonite in the composition will provide a clay composition capable of excellent stability without component separation in salt contaminated water.

Abstract: A method of temporarily inhibiting the swelling capacity of a water-swellable clay composition in contact with water includes mixing with a water-swellable clay a water soluble anionic polymer having a weight average molecular weight of about 2,000 to about 150,000 and water. The water soluble anionic polymers temporarily inhibit the swelling capacity of the water-swellable clays to decrease the viscosity of the clay slurry for transport, such as by pumping to a further treatment station such as a drier station. Also disclosed are the clay-water-anionic polymer compositions. The water soluble anionic polymers having a weight average molecular weight in the range of 2,000 to 150,000 temporarily will inhibit the swelling of a water-swellable clay so that the clay solids content of the slurry can be approximately doubled for treatment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing water absorbing, cross-linked acrylate resins by aqueous polymerization of (A) acrylic acid neutarlized 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 an amount of 0.001 to 0.3 weight percent based on the total weight of (A) and (B). In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the concentration of monomers (A) plus (B) should be at least 70 percent by weight of the polymerization mixture of (A) plus (B) plus (C) to achieve a substantially dry polymer (less than 15 weight percent water) when polymerization is completed by utilizing the exothermic heat of polymerization and cross-linking to drive off water without the need for additional heating to obtain a dry solid.

Abstract: A method of impregnating a water-penetrable article with a clay slurry includes temporarily inhibiting the swellability of the clay to unexpectedly increase the clay content and decrease the viscosity of the slurry to achieve a higher clay content in a clay-impregnated, water-penetrable article. The swelling capacity of a water-swellable clay composition in contact with water is temporarily inhibited for greater impregnation of the clay into the fibrous article by mixing with a water-swellable clay a water soluble anionic polymer having a weight average molecular weight of about 2,000 to about 150,000 and water. The water soluble anionic polymers temporarily inhibit the swelling capacity of the water-swellable clays to decrease the viscosity of the clay slurry to achieve a higher clay content or more efficient and faster clay impregnation into a water-penetrable, e.g. fibrous, article.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing water absorbing, cross-linked acrylate resins 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 an amount of 0.001 to 0.3 weight percent based on the total weight of (A) and (B). In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the concentration of monomers (A) plus (B) should be at least 70 percent by weight of the polymerization mixture of (A) plus (B) plus (C) to achieve a substantially dry polymer (less than 15 weight percent water) when polymerization is completed by utilizing the exothermic heat of polymerization and cross-linking to drive off water without the need for additional heating to obtain a dry solid.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing a solid, water absorbing, cross-linked polyacrylate resin including combining potassium acrylate and a polyvinyl monomer, such as N,N-methylene bisacrylamide, with water in an amount of 55 to 80 combined weight percent of potassium acrylate and polyvinyl monomer based on the total weight of potassium acrylate, polyvinyl monomer and water to form a monomer mixture, and adding a polymerization initiator to the monomer mixture to initiate polymerization of the monomer mixture. The monomer mixture then is polymerized without external heating by utilizing the exothermic heat of reaction as substantially the only non-ambient energy source to drive water away from said polyacrylate resin to form the cross-linked polyacrylate resin having a water content sufficiently low (i.e. 15% or less) to be powdered, such as by pulverization, without an intermediate drying step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-hydrated bentonite intimately contacted with a polypropene, polybutene, or mixtures thereof to provide a formable and shapable non-aqueous bentonite composition particularly useful as a water barrier. The bentonite composition can be extruded in the form of a rope, rod, sheet or the like and is sufficiently tacky for adherence to a wall or conduit, floor or roof in areas of potential water flow to prevent the seepage of water through the bentonite composition. In one embodiment, the bentonite composition includes a polypropene and a polybutene and an elastomer, such as butyl rubber, having sufficient resilience to stretch or expand with the expanding bentonite upon hydration and to aid in maintaining the structural integrity and cohesiveness of the composition. In another embodiment, the composition comprises bentonite, an elastomer, and any plasticizer compatible with the elastomer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nonhydrated bentonite intimately contacted with a polypropene, polybutene, or mixtures thereof to provide a formable and shapable non-aqueous bentonite composition particularly useful as a water barrier. The bentonite composition can be extruded in the form of a rope, rod, sheet or the like and is sufficiently tacky for adherence to a wall or conduit, floor or roof in areas of potential water flow to prevent the seepage of water through the bentonite composition. In one embodiment, the bentonite composition includes a polypropene and a polybutene and an elastomer, such as butyl rubber, having sufficient resilience to stretch or expand with the expanding bentonite upon hydration and to aid in maintaining the structural integrity and cohesiveness of the composition. In another embodiment, the composition comprises bentonite, an elastomer, and any plasticizer compatible with the elastomer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing water absorbing, cross-linked acrylate resins 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 an amount of 0.001 to 0.3 weight percent based on the total weight of (A) and (B). In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the concentration of monomers (A) plus (B) should be at least 70 percent by weight of the polymerization mixture of (A) plus (B) plus (C) to achieve a substantially dry polymer (less than 15 weight percent water) when polymerization is completed by utilizing the exothermic heat of polymerization and cross-linking to drive off water without the need for additional heating to obtain a dry solid.

Abstract: A water swellable clay i.e. bentonite, hectorite, saponite or mixtures thereof, is slurried in water and contacted with a hydrogen ion exchange resin to replace a portion of the exchangeable sodium and other exchangeable cations with hydrogen, resulting in a hydrogen enriched, water swellable clay. It has been found that even the very low grade water swellable clays can be treated with the hydrogen ion exchange resin to provide a hydrogen enriched clay having reduced acid demand. The resulting clays have reduced acid demand for mixture in forming Magnesium Aluminum Silicate meeting specifications. Further, the resulting hydrogen enriched clay will not substantially flocculate or settle out of suspension in suspensions having a pH below about 6.0 and generally are useful in a suspension having a pH of about 2.0 to about 5.0 or about 2.0 to about 5.5 so that the modified clay can be used effectively as a suspending agent and as a viscosity modifying agent in water containing suspensions having a low pH.

Abstract: The fluid loss and viscosity loss characteristics of a water expandable bentonite clay are substantially improved by extruding the clay through die openings while, at the same time, passing a wiper or scraping blade across the entrance of the die openings. In this manner, very inexpensive and low grade clays can be substantially improved and thus modified making such clays acceptable in fluid loss and viscosity for use in a drilling fluid or mud.