U.S. patent application number 11/300787 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-04 for hydrotropic additive for process water used to condition and stabilize soils and other base materials used in construction.
This patent application is currently assigned to EnviroSpecialists, Inc.. Invention is credited to Morris D. Key, James W. Smith.
Application Number | 20060093439 11/300787 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32994090 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060093439 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smith; James W. ; et
al. |
May 4, 2006 |
Hydrotropic additive for process water used to condition and
stabilize soils and other base materials used in construction
Abstract
Hydrotropic wetting agents enhance the activity of water for
earthy materials by lowering surface tension to promote
surface-to-surface contact, to neutralize the electric double
layer, to destroy protective colloids, to neutralize other charged
particles, and to bind water to the materials, thus, significantly
reducing the evaporation rate and, concomitantly, reducing the
amount of water that must be applied and the energy and time used
to prepare the material. A wetting agent suitable for the present
invention includes an alkylphenol ethoxylate (APE) and a
polyglycol, such as, for example, glycerin or propylene glycol
(when toxicity is not an issue), and an antifoaming agent, such as
for example, a polysiloxane polymer. These chemicals combined in
the concentration ranges of the present invention produce wetting
agent/hydrotropic formulations that may be used to provide the
advantages of the present invention.
Inventors: |
Smith; James W.; (Pantego,
TX) ; Key; Morris D.; (Sherman, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GARDERE WYNNE SEWELL LLP;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECTION
3000 THANKSGIVING TOWER
1601 ELM ST
DALLAS
TX
75201-4761
US
|
Assignee: |
EnviroSpecialists, Inc.
Fort Worth
TX
|
Family ID: |
32994090 |
Appl. No.: |
11/300787 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10744941 |
Dec 22, 2003 |
7004687 |
|
|
11300787 |
Dec 15, 2005 |
|
|
|
60435854 |
Dec 20, 2002 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
405/263 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02D 31/06 20130101;
C09K 17/36 20130101; C09K 17/14 20130101; E02D 3/126 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/263 |
International
Class: |
E02D 3/12 20060101
E02D003/12 |
Claims
1-11. (canceled)
12. A method for treating a surface in need of wetting comprising
the step of: applying an effective amount of a composition
comprising an alkylphenol ethoxylate surfactant, a
glycol-containing compound, a silicon-based anti-foaming agent and
water with the surface, wherein the composition treats the surface
in need of wetting.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the silicon-based anti-foaming
agent is a siloxane polymer.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the glycol-containing compound
is glycerin or propylene glycol or a mixture thereof.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the concentration of the
surfactant is between about 10% and about 50% by volume.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the concentration of
glycol-containing compound is between about 0.1% and 10% by
volume.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein the concentration of
silicon-based anti-foaming agent is between about 0.1% and 5% by
volume.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein the composition further
comprises one or more adjuvants.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein applying is accomplished using
a water truck, nozzle, hose or sprayer.
20. The method of claim 12, wherein the method is repeated.
21. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of
compacting the surface mechanically.
22. A method for treating water comprising the steps of: adding an
effective amount of a composition to water, the composition
comprising an alkylphenol ethoxylate surfactant, a
glycol-containing compound, and a silicon-based anti-foaming
agent.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the silicon-based anti-foaming
agent is a siloxane polymer.
24. The method of claim 22, wherein the glycol-containing compound
is glycerin or propylene glycol or a mixture thereof.
25. The method of claim 22, wherein the treated water is applied to
a roadbed.
26. The method of claim 22, wherein the treated water is applied to
a concrete base.
27. The method of claim 22, wherein the treated water is applied to
soil.
28. The method of claim 22, wherein the composition further
comprises one or more adjuvants.
29. The method of claim 22, wherein the concentration of the
surfactant is between about 10% and about 50% by volume.
30. The method of claim 22, wherein the concentration of
glycol-containing compound is between about 0.1% and 10% by
volume.
31. The method of claim 22, wherein the concentration of
silicon-based anti-foaming agent is between about 0.1% and 5% by
volume.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/435,854, filed Dec. 20, 2002, titled
WETTING AGENT/MOISTURE CONTROL FORMULATION, which is hereby
incorporated by reference
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is known in the construction arts that water must be
applied to base materials and/or soils when preparing foundations
for buildings, roads, and similar construction projects. Often,
especially during hot, dry weather, materials require substantial
amounts of water to adsorb and absorb sufficient moisture for
compaction to specified densities. Sorbed moisture levels specified
for a given project depend upon the nature of the base material and
the degree of compaction needed to make a stable base, whereas the
amount of water applied to achieve the required amount sorbed
depends on the rate at which liquid migrates through pore spaces
among particles, the rate at which water penetrates into particles,
and the evaporation rate.
[0003] Water is normally distributed by a water truck, being
sprayed on the material from a trailer pulled by a tractor rig.
Base materials and soils must be kept at appropriate moisture
levels for periods as long as several days, until the base material
is thoroughly wetted and settled and/or in condition for
compaction. Costs of water, as well as the equipment and labor
costs for distributing the water are significant.
[0004] It is useful to provide a method of treatment that reduces
the amount of water and time required for conditioning roadbeds and
foundation materials and for stabilizing soils. It is further
desirable that such product and method decrease the frequency of
applications in order to decrease the rate of fugitive water loss
by the application process itself.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with the present invention, water used to
prepare a roadbed, building or other foundation, or for soil
stabilization is mixed with a hydrotropic wetting agent having
desired properties. The hydrotropic wetting agent enhances the
activity of water for earthy materials by lowering surface tension
to promote surface-to-surface contact, to neutralize the electric
double layer, to destroy protective colloids, to neutralize other
charged particles, and to bind water to the materials, thus,
significantly reducing the evaporation rate and, concomitantly,
reducing the amount of water that must be applied and the energy
and time used to prepare the material. A wetting agent suitable for
the present invention includes an alkylphenol ethoxylate (APE),
such as, for example Tergitol, and a polyglycol, such as, for
example, glycerin or propylene glycol (when toxicity is not an
issue), and an antifoaming agent, such as for example, a
polysiloxane polymer. These chemicals combined in the concentration
ranges of the present invention produce wetting agent/hydrotropic
formulations that may be used to provide the advantages of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Many factors affect the water-demand of foundation base
materials and/or soils. This water demand is due in large part to
the rate of particle hydration and, once hydrated, the ability of
base particles to retain moisture and agglomerate. The mineralogy,
particle-size-distribution, degree of hydration prior to delivery
to the site, and ambient weather conditions are among the important
factors involved in water demand for base preparation.
[0007] One form of the present invention uses a combination of
surfactants and hygroscopic compounds mixed with water to stabilize
and prepare a roadbed, building foundation, or soil to be settled
for whatever purpose. Use of this "hydrotrope", or hydrotropic
wetting agent, allows for significantly less water to be used in
the preparation process, less time required to condition the
material, thus saving costs for the water itself, the labor,
energy, environmental control and equipment costs required to apply
it.
[0008] Methods of the present invention may increase the sorption
rates and holding capacities of earthy materials for water and thus
decrease the amount of water that must be applied, and the time
required to achieve a given level of sorbed moisture, when compared
with treatment by water alone.
[0009] The use of a hydrotropic wetting agent as described by the
present application typically includes an APE surfactant combined
with other agents, such as glycerin or propylene glycol, and an
antifoaming agent that induce rapid migration of the
water/hydrotrope by virtue of the combined effect of lowered
surface tension and hygroscopicity. A specific surfactant suitable
for use in the present invention is Tergitol.TM. TMN-10. The
surfactant concentration range is typically from about 10% to about
50% by volume in deionized water containing, a glycol, such as, for
example, glycerin in the range from about 0.1% to about 10% by
volume, and an anti-foaming agent, such as for example, a
polysiloxane polymer, in the range of about 0.5 to about 5% by
volume.
[0010] This formulation results in a hydrotropic concentrate that
when added to water in a wide range of use dilutions, provides the
water for conditioning the roadbed or foundation. The resultant
hydrotrope may be mixed with water in a ratio of between
approximately 10-1000 ppm to give a product that can be applied
directly to the roadbed, foundation, or soil. The water is applied
in the same manner as is presently done in the art, but the
difference in effect is that the bed attains its desired
conditioning faster than normal and retains its adsorbed and
absorbed water longer. Thereby, less water must be applied to
achieve moisture levels sought faster, and remaining moist longer.
Thus, water is applied less often. Field tests indicate that
approximately half as much water is required in tight, clayey soils
as is usually applied without the hydrotrope. As little as
one-third the water is required using the present invention in
water applied to a crushed concrete flexible base.
[0011] A formulation useful with the present invention uses a
non-toxic polyglycol or glycerin in addition to the Tergitol. The
active components of this invention in its concentrated form are
(1) Tergitol.TM. TMN-10, 10-40% v/v (2) glycerin (or polyglycols),
10-40%, (3) water, 17-77% v/v, and a silicone-based anti-foaming
agent, 0.1-3%. This concentrate is mixed at a ratio of between
10-1000 ppm with the water sprayed on the roadbed, foundation, or
soil bed in order to provide the benefits described. A ratio in
this range can be achieved, for example, by mixing the described
formulation, as available from EnviroSpecialists as the product
EWO, in the ratio of between 1.5 fl ozs and 10 gals of concentrate
to 10,000 gals water, dependent on the type of roadbed material,
temperature, and humidity. A typical hydrotrope--water formulation
for most roadbed materials is 1.5 gals of EnviroSpecialists' Enviro
RoadMoisture.TM. per 3400 gallons of water in a tank truck.
[0012] This formulation may be provided in a concentrate that can
be conveniently transported to a site where a road or foundation
bed is to be prepared, then diluted with large amounts of water,
often by adding the concentrate to a water tank truck, to provide
the described properties, which are far superior to those of water
alone.
[0013] The present invention utilizes a combination of wetting
agents, surfactants and anti-foaming agent, and a hygroscopic agent
carried in water to produce a hydrotropic agent that activates
water and small particles by interfering with water-to-water
hydrogen bonding and neutralizing electric double-layers, thus
destroying protective colloids, and spreading over particles,
increasing their ability to agglomerate.
[0014] In use, treated water is spread on a roadbed, foundation
bed, or the like using the same techniques currently used with
plain water. Additional water will not need to be added as often as
is currently the case, so the operator will need to check on the
moisture content remaining in the soil from time to time, or modify
application schedules used for plain water application. Treated
water can be applied using water trucks, various types of sprayers,
or hoses as desired. Typically, the same application technique is
used with the present invention as with untreated water, except
that lesser amounts of water are required over the course of the
bed preparation stage.
[0015] Once the treated water has been applied, the bed can be
allowed to settle naturally, or be compacted mechanically, as
desired. Often, both techniques will be employed. Treated water can
continue to be applied during and after mechanical compaction as
known in the art, with the difference that less water is required.
In general, the operator should monitor the moisture levels in the
soil of the bed being prepared so as to avoid over wetting, with
its attendant additional costs and delays.
[0016] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to the above-described example, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention.
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