Abstract: A new composite material which is useful as a pigment in paper making or paper coating is produced by precipitating a white insoluble pigment compound, eg calcium carbonate, in an aqueous suspension containing a mixture of fine particulate material eg titanium dioxide particles and fibers, eg cellulosic fibers. These suspended solids in the mixture are derived from separate stocks and added together to produce the composite pigment material. The new material is a bonded matrix of the fibers and the white pigment compound having particles of the fine particulate material, eg TiO2, dispersed and bonded within the matrix. The new material may exist in the form of particles in dry or wet form which may be further treated in a known way prior to use in paper making or paper coating.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method of treating reject from a plant for de-inking waste paper which reject comprises in an aqueous medium a mixture of suspended solids comprising at least ink particles, inorganic particles and fibers, which method includes the steps of (i) chemically treating an aqueous suspension comprising said reject by adding to the aqueous suspension a source of alkaline earth metal ions and a source of carbonate ions to react with the alkaline earth metal ions to form therein a composite particulate material comprising a substantially white insoluble alkaline earth metal carbonate compound precipitated by the said reaction which compound bonds to and entrains material comprising ink particles, inorganic particles and fibers contained in said reject, whereby the darkness of the reject is reduced by formation of the precipitate of the carbonate compound; and (ii) recovering the composite particulate material and delivering the composite particulate material for r

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for improving one or more properties of kaolin comprising:(a) providing an aqueous suspension of particulate kaolin clay;(b) introducing into the aqueous suspension a first reagent comprising a source of alkaline earth metal ions and a second reagent comprising a source of carbonate ions to precipitate an alkaline earth metal carbonate in the said aqueous suspension of the said particulate kaolin clay whereby the said particulate kaolin clay present at the start of the process becomes entrained by and bonded to the alkaline earth metal carbonate to form a composite particulate product which may be used in paper making or paper coating or as a filler or extender in compositions for other applications. The alkaline earth metal ions may be calcium ions provided by calcium hydroxide obtained by slaking lime either in the aqueous suspension or separately. The carbonate ions may be provided by carbon dioxide.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for the preparation of a precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) for use as a pigment in paper coating compositions, the method comprising the steps of (a) carbonating an aqueous lime-containing medium to produce an aqueous suspension of a PCC predominantly in a selected crystal form, (b) at least partially dewatering the PCC-containing suspension; and (c) subjecting the PCC-containing suspension to comminution by high shear attrition grinding with an attrition grinding medium. Steps (b) and (c) may be applied in either order, ie. (b) followed by (c) or alternatively (c) followed by (b). The dewatering step (b) is preferably carried out using a pressure filter device operating at a pressure of at least 5 MPa, preferably at least 10 MPa. A pH reduction step may be applied after steps (b) and (c). Also disclosed are pigments produced by the method and pigment and paper coating compositions including such pigments.

Abstract: A method for recovery and use of a particulate waste material, i.e. inorganic and/or organic solid fines, present in an aqueous suspension, comprising the steps of:a) treating the aqueous suspension so as to precipitate, in the presence of the solid fines, crystals of an alkaline earth metal carbonate whereby the solid fines become entrained by and bonded to the crystals, thereby forming in the aqueous suspension a mixed aggregated particulate solid comprising the crystals and the fines; andb) recovering the mixed aggregated particulate solid and supplying such solid for use as a filler or pigment in a filler- or pigment-containing composition.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for separating fine solids from water in the used water recovery system of a sheet forming mill, wherein the used water recovery system includes at least one stage in which an alkaline earth metal carbonate is precipitated in the aqueous suspension constituting the used water whereby the particulate material present in the used water becomes entrained in the alkaline earth metal carbonate precipitate. By the invention it is possible to recover the water and the fine solid materials which pass through the wire mesh belt of a paper or board forming machine, and optionally recycle those recovered materials.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for the preparation of a precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) for use as a pigment in paper coating compositions, the method comprising the steps of (a) carbonating an aqueous lime-containing medium to produce an aqueous suspension of a PCC predominantly in a selected crystal form, (b) at least partially dewatering the PCC-containing suspension; and (c) subjecting the PCC-containing suspension to comminution by high shear attrition grinding with an attrition grinding medium. Steps (b) and (c) may be applied in either order, ie. (b) followed by (c) or alternatively (c) followed by (b). The dewatering step (b) is preferably carried out using a pressure filter device operating at a pressure of at least 5 MPa, preferably at least 10 MPa. A pH reduction step may be applied after steps (b) and (c). Also disclosed are pigments produced by the method and pigment and paper coating compositions including such pigments.