Abstract: Combustible fuel slurry compositions and methods for producing such compositions. The compositions comprise mixtures of particulate coal, water, wetting/dispersing agents for the coal and suspending agents for stabilizing the slurries. The suspending agents include clays such as attapulgite, sepiolite, bentonite and montmorillonite. The wetting/dispersing agents include anionic and non-ionic surface active agents.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel fuel slurry comprising a mixture of finely ground coal constituting 65 to 70 percent of the fuel, water, a wetting/dispersing agent for the coal constituting 0.5 to 5 percent of the fuel and a suspending agent for stabilizing the fuel slurry which agent constitutes a clay such as attapulgite clay in the dry, pregelled or predispersed form. Other clays can be employed as a stabilizer, as a predispersed non-gelling montmorillonate clay. If the coal slurry is to be used immediately the clay or other gelling agent is not necessary to maintain suspension stability.

Abstract: Normally nongelling montmorillonite clay is treated to have gelling characteristics by drying the clay to 10 to 15 percent free moisture and grinding the clay to at least 100 percent finer than 45 microns. To thicken an aqueous solution, the clay is dispersed in water with a chemical dispersant and the predispersion is agitated in the aqueous liquid with a flocculent. To thicken an organic liquid, the dried and ground clay is stirred into the liquid with a surfactant.

Abstract: Unslaked lime, calcium oxide (CaO) or calcium magnesium oxide, CaO.MgO is post added to a ground, colloidal clay product to obtain a resultant product which exhibits greater stability and yield factors than currently available products. The resultant product exhibits a more uniform viscosity-imparting characteristic to a solution to which it is added, while providing greater stability and hence, longer shelf life.

Abstract: Suspensions of coal dust powder in fuel oil are stabilized against sedimentation by an additive that makes them viscous under conditions of low shear in order to keep the coal in suspension under static conditions while exhibiting relatively low viscosity under high shear conditions to facilitate pumping through long range pipelines by the combination of a suitable surfactant with a gelling grade clay suspending agent.

Abstract: Dispersions with lowered freezing points are provided by dissolving a dispersing agent in water, adding urea, adding a particulate inorganic solid, and then adding alcohol as a freezing point depressant. Dispersions formed in this manner can contain 20 to 75% inorganic solids in suspension without flocculating in the presence of the alcohol. Alternatively, the dispersant can be dissolved in an aqueous urea solution and the fine, particulate inorganic solid can be dispersed in the solution after which the alcohol may be added. These compositions exhibit depressed freezing points and can still be transported as a liquid at lower temperatures.

Abstract: Suspensions of coal dust powder in fuel oil are stabilized against sedimentation by an additive that makes them viscous under conditions of low shear in order to keep the coal in suspension under static conditions while exhibiting relatively low viscosity under high shear conditions to facilitate pumping through long range pipelines by the combination of a suitable surfactant with a gelling grade clay suspending agent.

Abstract: Treating water with various grades of attapulgite clay and sepiolite using contacting or percolation techniques removes substances not removable by standard water purification methods under may conditions. Substances such as pesticides, toxins, hormones, heavy metal cations and viruses are removed from water by adsorption upon the clay surface. When contacting is employed, the clay containing the adsorbed substances is subsequently removed by sedimentation or filtration. The clays can be regenerated by appropriate chemical or thermal techniques.

Abstract: Treating water with various grades of attapulgite clay and sepiolite using contacting or percolation techniques removes substances not removable by standard water purification methods under many conditions. Substances such as pesticides, toxins, hormones, heavy metal cations and viruses are removed from water by adsorption upon the clay surface. When contacting is employed, the clay containing the adsorbed substances is subsequently removed by sedimentation or filtration. The clays can be regenerated by appropriate chemical or thermal techniques.

Abstract: Treating water with various grades of attapulgite clay and sepiolite using contacting or percolation techniques removes substances not removable by standard water purification methods under many conditions. Substances such as pesticides, toxins, hormones, heavy metal cations and viruses are removed from water by adsorption upon the clay surface. When contacting is employed, the clay containing the adsorbed substances is subsequently removed by sedimentation or filtration. The clays can be regenerated by appropriate chemical or thermal techniques.

Abstract: Treating water with various grades of attapulgite clay and sepiolite using contacting or percolation techniques removes substances not removable by standard water purification methods under many conditions. Substances such as pesticides, toxins, hormones, heavy metal cations and viruses are removed from water by adsorption upon the clay surface. When contacting is employed, the clay containing the adsorbed substances is subsequently removed by sedimentation or filtration. The clays can be regenerated by appropriate chemical or thermal techniques.

Abstract: A stable, homogeneous, and flowable soil neutralizing slurry of particulate material such as calcium carbonate or dolomitic lime as provided using a suspending agent and a dispersant. A polyanionic dispersant is used in limited quantities to increase the concentration of particulate material and a gelling grade clay mineral is used as a suspending agent to prevent settling of the dispersed particulate material. A partial dispersion technique is used whereby the amount of dispersant used is limited so that the particulate material is dispersed but not the clay mineral.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing homogeneous liquid suspensions of materials that are not readily wet by the liquid. Sulfonate based dispersants in combination with a gelling grade clay mineral provide stable and homogeneous suspensions of materials such as sulfur and coal dust in water. When attapulgite clay is used as a suspending agent for coal dust in flammable liquid hydrocarbons the fly ash combination by-products remain similarly suspended in the effluent flue gases to facilitate the removal of the fly ash within the flue assembly.

Abstract: Treating water with various grades of attapulgite clay and sepiolite using contacting or percolation techniques removes substances not removable by standard water purification methods under many conditions. Substances such as pesticides, toxins, hormones, heavy metal cations and viruses are removed from water by adsorption upon the clay surface. When contacting is employed, the clay containing the adsorbed substances is subsequently removed by sedimentation or filtration. The clays can be regenerated by appropriate chemical or thermal techniques.