Stabilizing Contaminated Sediment with Bentonite and Urea
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Solution Overview
Problem
Contaminated mineral water sediments and soils from dredging operations are not suitable for use as building materials due to pollution and lack of stability and durability, posing environmental risks and unsuitability for construction purposes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of organophilic bentonite and urea to bind pollutants and stabilize the sediments, combined with kaolinitic clay powder and a hydraulic binder, to create a permanently workable building material with enhanced strength and long-term stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If contaminated mineral water sediment or soil material is used as building material, then resource utilization is improved, but pollution and lack of stability occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts harmful contaminants (heavy metals, organic substances) into beneficial bound forms through chemical reactions with additives. The contaminants are not merely contained but chemically transformed into stable compounds that lose their harmful properties while contributing to the building material's strength and durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary substances (chemical additives, binders, stabilizers) that mediate between the contaminated sediment and the desired building material properties. These intermediaries facilitate the transformation of harmful contaminants into beneficial components through chemical reactions.
2Loss of time
If contaminated mineral water sediment is drained by evaporation, then temporary storage is improved, but stability and durability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the chemical and physical parameters of the sediment by adding chemical additives that alter its composition. This transforms the sediment from an unstable, temporary storage material into a stable, durable building material with long-term reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite materials by combining contaminated sediment with chemical additives, binders, and stabilizers. This composite structure provides both the immediate stability needed for construction and the long-term durability required for permanent building materials.
3Productivity
If contaminated soil or water sediments are processed into building material, then continuous production is improved, but strength properties are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous production through automated mixing processes that continuously combine sediment with chemical additives and binders. The chemical reactions occur continuously, producing stable building material without interruption, thus maintaining high productivity while achieving sufficient strength properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts chemical parameters by controlling the concentration and type of additives used in the mixing process. This allows optimization of both production efficiency and final strength properties, ensuring that continuous processing yields material with adequate mechanical strength for construction applications.
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 treated material achieves long-term stability and strength, allowing it to be used in construction for over 10 to 80 years without significant hardening, making it suitable for load-bearing and non-load-bearing applications while minimizing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
The addition of organophilic bentonite binds hydrocarbon impurities in particular
Implementation Method 2
Urea binds heavy metals such as copper and zinc in particular
Implementation Method 3
this natural property giving the fine-grained kaolinite crystal-chemical stability and geochemical resistance
Implementation Method 4
The products resulting from precipitation reactions solidify in the amorphous state and are also deposited in the fine pores
Data Source
AI summary
The method for producing a sustainably processable building component from contaminated mineral water sediment (3) or soil material, comprises dehydrating and homogeneously cutting the material on a water content of maximally 130% related to its dry weight, and homogeneously mixing the cut up material with powered clay (8%), organophilic bentonite (0.2%) and/or urea (2%), and hydraulical bonding agent (4%), related to its dry weight. The material having ground materials is brought to water content of 5-40 wt.% related to the dry weight. The water sediments are processed with 50 wt.% of sand. The method for producing a sustainably processable building component from contaminated mineral water sediment (3) or soil material, comprises dehydrating and homogeneously cutting the material on a water content of maximally 130% related to its dry weight, and homogeneously mixing the cut up material with powered clay (8%), organophilic bentonite (0.2%) and/or urea (2%), and hydraulical bonding agent (4%), related to its dry weight. The material having ground material is brought to water content of 5-40 wt.% related to the dry weight. The waters sediments are processed with a portion of maximally 50 wt.% of sand. The material is aerated and ventilated before and after mixing process. The powered clay has kaolinite (10-75%) and quartzite (5-25%). The powered clay has a grinding fineness of 1.5 mm. The powered clay (70%) has grain portion of 0.002 mm. The mixture is put into interim storage as building material before a depositing or a subsequent treatment. The bonding agent has Portland cement clinker (10 wt.%), ground granulated blast furnace slag (70 wt.%) and white fine lime (20 wt.%). The urea has an amide-nitrogen content of 46% and a biuret content of maximally 1.2%.