Imerys Pigments, Inc.

Imerys Minerals Limited

David Skuse

Jonathan Stuart Phipps

Anthony V Lyons

John Anthony Purdey

Deborah Susan Thrale

Stacey Johnson

Mark Daniel Mortimer

The present invention relates to a high surface area product and its production from solid-containing material, such as waste effluent from a paper-treating plant. The high surface area product comprises calcium carbonate, and is useful as a coefficient of friction control filler for newsprint.

High surface area incineration product

A method of producing a rheologically stable concentrated aqueous suspension of a particulate alkaline earth metal carbonate which method comprises the following steps: (a) preparing a dilute aqueous suspension of the carbonate having a solids content of not more than 40% by weight; (b) dewatering the dilute aqueous suspension to form a carbonate suspension having a solids content in the range of from 45% to 65% by weight; (c) optionally mixing with the dewatered suspension formed in step (b) a dispersing agent for the carbonate to form a fluid suspension; (d) further dewatering the fluid suspension formed in step (b) by thermal evaporation under reduced pressure to raise the solids content of the suspension by a further differential amount of at least 5% by weight; and (e) after at least some of the dewatering in step (c) treating the suspension by a mechanical working process in which at least 1 kW.hr per tonne of carbonate on a dry weight basis is dissipated to refluidise the suspension.

Production of concentrated carbonate suspensions

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Sandersville, GA, United States of America

David Skuse