Wet Sand Processing with Ethoxylated Alcohols
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Solution Overview
Problem
Impurities such as quartz, calcite, K-feldspar, and clay in mined sand resist removal during wet processing, affecting the quality of frac sand and making it difficult to achieve desired specifications, especially in low-grade mining areas.
Innovation Solution
The use of an aqueous treatment fluid comprising ethoxylated alcohols and sulfonic acid derivatives, which hydrate and migrate impurities into the water phase, allowing for their effective removal during wet processing without requiring specialized equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional wet processing methods are used, then processing simplicity is maintained, but impurity removal effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the processing system by introducing ethoxylated alcohols and sulfonic acid derivatives into the wash-water loop. These chemical additives modify the wet processing parameters to enable effective removal of impurities like quartz, calcite, and clay that resist conventional mechanical removal methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses ethoxylated alcohols and sulfonic acid derivatives as intermediary substances that facilitate the removal of impurities. These intermediaries act between the water and impurities, enabling effective separation without requiring complex specialized equipment or processes.
2Productivity
If sand from low-grade mining areas is processed, then resource utilization is improved, but product quality deteriorates due to high impurity content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies chemical parameter changes through the use of ethoxylated alcohols and sulfonic acid derivatives that specifically target and remove the high impurity content characteristic of low-grade sand. This enables the processing of sand from low-grade mining areas while maintaining product quality specifications.
3Manufacturing precision
If more rigorous impurity removal is implemented, then product quality is improved, but processing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs chemical intermediaries (ethoxylated alcohols and sulfonic acid derivatives) that can be integrated into the existing wash-water loop without requiring complex specialized equipment. This achieves rigorous impurity removal while avoiding significant increases in processing system complexity.
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 treatment fluid improves the turbidity of the sand, enabling successful processing of sand from low-grade areas by efficiently removing impurities without compromising sand quality and integrating seamlessly into existing wet processing systems.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the mined sand with an aqueous treatment fluid comprising an ethoxylated alcohol and a sulfonic acid derivative, wherein at least a portion of the impurity is removed from the dried mined sand after contact of the mined sand with the aqueous treatment fluid
Implementation Method 2
hydrate and migrate impurities into the water phase, allowing for their effective removal during wet processing
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for treating mined sand to remove an impurity in accordance with the disclosure. An example method mined sand provides mined sand containing the impurity, contacting the mined sand with an aqueous treatment fluid comprising an ethoxylated alcohol and a sulfonic acid derivative, and drying the mined sand; wherein at least a portion of the impurity is removed from the dried mined sand after contact of the mined sand with the aqueous treatment fluid.