Title of Invention

BINDER COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR TREATING PARTICULATE MATERIAL

Abstract In accordance with this invention a binder composition for treating particulate material to form a solid aggregate matrix is prepared by providing a urea formaldehyde precondensate a polar solvent additional urea an acid or salt thereof, the acid or salt thereof being selected such as to render the pH of the binder composition to a value from 2.0 to 5.3 providing a sugar providing a binding promoter for enhancing the binding between the binder composition and the particulate material and mixing the above so as to form a binder composition. The binder composition is mixed with particulate material and allowed to set into a solid aggregate matrix over a period of longer than 30 minutes from being mixed with the said particulate material.
Full Text



We claim:
1. A method of preparing a binder composition for treating particulate material such
as herein described to form a solid aggregate matrix including the steps of:
-mixing a urea formaldehyde precondensate; a polar solvent such as herein described; additional urea; fulvic acid or salt thereof; to form a binder composition;
-mixing the binder composition with soil;
-allowing the binder composition to set over a period of at least 30 minutes from being mixed with the said particulate material, the fulvic acid or salt thereof being selected such as to render the pH of the binder composition to a value from 2.0 to 5.3.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the polar solvent is selected from the group
consisting of water, alcohol, and mixtures thereof.
3. A method as claimed in claims 1 or claim 2 which includes the further step of
adding a sugar prior to the step of setting.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the sugar is selected from the group
consisting of sucrose, glucose and fructose and mixtures thereof.
5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 which includes the further step of
adding a binding promoter for enhancing the binding between the binder composition and the particulate material.
6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the binding promoter is a complex fatty
acid derived from the complete oxidation of vegetable sugars.
7. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the binding promoter is bitumen.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the bitumen is in the form of an anionic
bitumen emulsion.
9. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the binding promoter is in the form of a
surfactant.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the surfactant is in the form of sodium dodecyl bensene.
11. A method as claimed in any one of preceding claims which includes the further step of adding any one or more agents selected from the group consisting of silicones, silanes, silanoles, oils, anti-corrosion agents, ultra violet light blocking agents, biocides, pH buffers, cement, ammonia, ammonium salts, plasticisers, ligna sulphinates and oxides thereof, phenols and mixtures thereof.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the plasticisers are selected from the group consisting of phthalates, hydrocarbons, acetates, latex and glycols.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11 or 12 wherein the ultra violet light blocking agents are selected from the group consisting of organic phenols, phosphates and inorganic oxides.
14. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the particulate material is selected from the group consisting of sand, soil, gravel, natural or synthetic fibres including glass-, steel-, carbon-and polymeric fibres, clay, silicas, particulate ore, rubber, stones, pebbles, partly bound cementitious masses, grass, slag, waste dump material, coal particles, ash, and mixtures thereof.
15. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the
formaldehyde: urea ratio in the binder composition is between 1.5 and 2.5 :1.
16. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the formaldehyde: urea ratio in the binder composition is 1.83 :1.
17. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the acid is a weak organic acid.
18. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the weak organic acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid and acetic acid and mixtures thereof.
19. A settable binder composition for mixing with a particulate material and setting to form a solid aggregate matrix, the binder composition comprising a mixture of a urea formaldehyde precondensate; a polar solvent; additional urea; and fulvic acid or salt thereof selected such as to render the pH of the binder composition to a
value from 2.0 to 5.3 so that the binder composition sets into a solid over a period of time longer than 30 minutes from being mixed with the particulate material.
20. A binder composition as claimed in claim 19 wherein the polar solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, alcohol, and mixtures thereof.
21. A binder composition as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20 which further includes a sugar.
22. A binder composition as claimed in claim 21 wherein the sugar is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, glucose and fructose and mixtures thereof.
23. A binder composition as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 22 which includes a binding promoter for enhancing the binding between the binder composition and the particulate material.
24. A binder composition as claimed in claim 23 wherein the binding promoter is a complex fatty acid derived from the complete oxidation of vegetable sugars.
25. A binder composition as claimed in claim 23 wherein the binding promoter is bitumen.
26. A binder composition as claimed in claim 25 wherein the bitumen is in the form of an anionic bitumen emulsion.
27. A binder composition as claimed in claim 23 wherein the binding promoter is in the form of a surfactant.

28. A binder composition as claimed in claim 27 wherein the surfactant is in the form of sodium dodecyl bensene.
29. A binder composition as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 28 which includes any one or more agents selected from the group consisting of silicones, silanes, silanoles, oils, anti-corrosion agents, ultra violet light blocking agents, biocides, pH buffers, cement, ammonia, ammonium salts, plasticisers, ligna sulphinates and oxides thereof, phenols and mixtures thereof.
30. A binder composition as claimed in claim 29 wherein the plasticisers are selected from the group consisting of phthalates, hydrocarbons, acetates, latex and glycols.
31. A binder composition as claimed in claim 29 or 30 wherein the ultra violet light blocking agents are selected from the group consisting of organic phenols, phosphates and inorganic oxides.
32. A binder composition as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 31 wherein the formaldehyde: urea ratio is between 1.5 and 2.5 :1.
33. A binder composition as claimed in claim 32 wherein the formaldehyde : urea ratio is 1.83:1.
34. A binder composition as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 33 wherein the acid is a weak organic acid.
35. A binder composition as claimed in claim 34 wherein the weak organic acid is
selected from the group consisting of citric acid and acetic acid and mixtures
thereof.
36. A solid aggregate matrix or an artfact as and when formed by treating a body of particulate material with a binder composition as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 35.

Documents:


Patent Number 255968
Indian Patent Application Number 2155/DELNP/2004
PG Journal Number 15/2013
Publication Date 12-Apr-2013
Grant Date 09-Apr-2013
Date of Filing 26-Jul-2004
Name of Patentee DE BRUYN HENRI ARNOLD
Applicant Address 31 JACK BENNETT STREET, STERREWAG, 0181 PRETORIA, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 DE BRUYN HENRI ARNOLD 31 JACK BENNETT STREET, STERREWAG, 0181 PRETORIA, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
2 FOCKE WALTER WILTELM UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA, CACULTY CHEMISTRY, LYNNNWOOD ROAD, HILLCREST, 0083 PRETORIA, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
PCT International Classification Number C09K 17/28
PCT International Application Number PCT/ZA03/00005
PCT International Filing date 2003-01-14
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 2002/0291 2002-01-14 South Africa
2 2002/2582 2002-04-03 South Africa