Micronized Dry Water Soluble Polymer Particles for Sludge Dewatering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dry water soluble polymer (DWSP) particles face challenges in dispersion and dissolution due to their hygroscopic nature, leading to prolonged mixing times and undesirable viscosities, making them unsuitable for many applications.
Innovation Solution
Micronization of DWSP particles by reducing their size to a range of 1 to 300 microns, often using milling systems like air clarifying, hammer, or jet milling, and incorporating additives such as inorganic oxides, salts, or insoluble water-absorbing materials to enhance solubility and prevent agglomeration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If DWSP particles are used in conventional size, then they are cost-effective and easy to handle in dry form, but they agglomerate when water is added and require prolonged mixing times (30 minutes to over an hour) to dissolve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by reducing the particle size of DWSP from conventional large particles to micronized particles (1-300 microns). This division into smaller units increases the surface area-to-volume ratio, allowing water to penetrate and dissolve the polymer much faster (within minutes rather than hours), while maintaining the dry, easy-to-handle form for storage and transport.
2Loss of time
If DWSP particles are micronized to reduce dissolution time, then they dissolve in minutes, but they become more hydroscopic and prone to agglomeration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces hydrophobic additives as intermediaries that coat the surface of micronized DWSP particles. These additives form a protective barrier that repels water, preventing the hydrophilic polymer particles from agglomerating while still allowing rapid dissolution to occur within minutes of water addition.
3Loss of time
If liquid emulsion polyelectrolytes are used instead of conventional DWSP, then dissolution occurs in minutes, but the cost increases and the product includes oil and surfactants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of particle size from conventional large particles to micronized small particles (1-300 microns), and modifies the chemical composition by adding hydrophobic additives. This combination achieves rapid dissolution (within minutes) similar to liquid emulsions while maintaining the cost-effectiveness and simplicity of dry polymer products without oil or surfactant contaminants.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The micronized DWSP particles dissolve or disperse in water or brine within minutes, improving handling and cost-effectiveness, making them a competitive alternative to liquid emulsion polyelectrolytes for applications like sludge dewatering, fracturing, and turbidity removal.
Implementation Method 1
The micronized DWSP particles dissolve or disperse in water or brine within minutes
Implementation Method 2
dissolve or disperse in water or brine
Data Source
AI summary
A method of dewatering sludge is provided herein. In some embodiments, the method includes introducing micronized dry water soluble polymer (DWSP) particles into a sludge, wherein the sludge includes water and solids; separating water of the sludge from solids of the sludge using the micronized DWSP particles; and collecting a wet solid including water and solids of the sludge, wherein a concentration of solids in the wet solid is higher than a concentration of solids in the sludge, wherein the micronized DWSP particles comprise a DWSP wherein the DWSP is selected from the group consisting of a dry anionic water soluble polymer, a dry cationic water soluble polymer, a dry nonionic water soluble polymer, and mixtures thereof, and wherein a mean particle size of the micronized DWSP particles ranges from about 100 to about 300 microns.