IP Library Granted Patent US 7,329,397
Granted Patent B2
US 7,329,397 · App. 11/218,379 · Granted Feb 12, 2008

Method of removing ammonia from fly ash and fly ash composition produced thereby

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,329,397
App. No.
11/218,379
Granted
Feb 12, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of treating fly ash and fly ash treated thereby, the method involving contacting ammonia-laden fly ash with an organic base-containing treatment composition, where the organic base causes the ammonia within the fly ash to evolve from the fly ash. The treatment composition preferably includes an effective amount of one or more amines. The treatment compound may be applied to the fly ash in any manner effective to disperse the treatment compound among the fly ash.

Claims (53)

1. A method for reducing the ammonia content of ammonia-laden fly ash, comprising the steps of

supplying an ammonia-laden fly ash;

supplying a treatment composition one or more amines; and

contacting the ammonia-laden fly ash with the treatment composition to reduce the ammonia content of the ammonia-laden fly ash.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment composition is a non-aqueous composition.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more amines are selected from the group consisting of amines with a pK b value of less than 4.75.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more amines include one or more amines selected from the group consisting of cycloamines, diamines, polyamines, and compounds represented by formula (I)

where R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 hydroxyalkyl, aryl, and hydroxyaryl, wherein the alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aryl and hydroxyaryl groups may be substituted or unsubstituted and branched or unbranched, and R 3 is selected from C 1 -C 18 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 hydroxyalkyl (including alkoxylated hydroxyalkyl), aryl, hydroxyaryl, and C 2 -C 4 alkenyl, wherein the alkyl, hydroxyaryl, aryl, hydroxyaryl and alkenyl groups may be substituted or unsubstituted and branched or unbranched.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more amines includes one or more amines selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by formula (I)

wherein R 1 is selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 8 alkyl wherein the alkyl groups may be substituted or unsubstituted and branched or unbranched; R 2 is selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 8 alkyl and C 1 -C 4 hydroxyalkyl, wherein the alkyl and hydroxyalkyl groups maybe substituted or unsubstituted and branched or unbranched, and R 3 is selected from C 1 -C 18 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 hydroxyalkyl (which may be alkoxylated with 1-3 oxyalkylene groups), aryl, and C 2 -C 4 alkenyl, wherein the alkyl, hydroxylalkyl, aryl and alkenyl groups may be substituted or unsubstituted and branched or unbranched.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more amines are selected from the group consisting of monoethanol amine, diethanol amine, triethanol amine, 1-amino-2-propanol, 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, 3-amino-1-propanol, 2-(methylamino)-ethanol, 2-(2-aminoethyoxy)ethanol, ethylenediamine, and diethylenetriamine.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more amines selected from the group consisting of cycloamines, diamines, polyamines, and amines represented by formula (I) includes one or more amines with a pK b value of less than 4.75.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more amines selected from the group consisting of cycloamines, diamines, polyamines, and amines represented by formula (I) includes two or more amines with a pK b value of less than 4.75.

9. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more amines selected from the group consisting of cycloamines, diamines, polyamines, and amines represented by formula (I) includes one or more amines with a pK b value of less than 4.75 and one or more amines with a pK b value of more than 4.75.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the water content in the treatment composition produces a treated fly ash having less than 1.5 wt % water, based on the total wt % of the fly ash.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment composition is supplied as a liquid spray.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment composition is supplied as a vapor.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of

agitating the combined fly ash and the treatment composition to facilitate commingling of the fly ash and the treatment composition.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of contacting the ammonia-laden fly ash with the treatment composition comprises the step of

determining the amount of the treatment composition to be applied to the ammonia-laden fly ash based on the flow rate of the fly ash.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of dispersing the treatment composition into the fly ash comprises the steps of

pressurizing the treatment composition prior to contacting the treatment composition with the fly ash.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of

contacting the fly ash with a treating fluid comprising an agent selected from the group consisting of sacrificial agents, surfactants, dispersants, chemical activators, coating compositions, and combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment composition further comprises at least one alkaline salt.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the treatment composition further comprises at least one alkaline salt selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium aluminate, and sodium silicate.

19. A method for reducing the ammonia content of ammonia-laden fly ash, comprising the steps of

supplying an ammonia-laden fly ash;

supplying a treatment composition comprising one or more organic bases having a pK b value of less than 4.75; and

contacting the ammonia-laden fly ash with the treatment composition to reduce the ammonia content of the ammonia-laden fly ash.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the treatment composition is a non-aqueous composition.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the treatment composition comprises one or more amines.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the one or more amines include one or more amines selected from the group consisting of cycloamines, diamines, polyamines, and compounds represented by formula (I)

where R1 and R2 are independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C8 alkyl, C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl, aryl, and hydroxyaryl, wherein the alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aryl and hydroxyaryl groups may be substituted or unsubstituted and branched or unbranched, and R3 is selected from C1-C18 alkyl, C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl (including alkoxylated hydroxyalkyl), aryl, hydroxyaryl, and C2-C4 alkenyl, wherein the alkyl, hydroxyaryl, aryl, hydroxyaryl and alkenyl groups may be substituted or unsubstituted and branched or unbranched.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the one or more amines includes one or more amines selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by formula (I)

wherein R 1 selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 8 alkyl wherein the alkyl groups may be substituted or unsubstituted and branched or unbranched; R2 is selected from hydrogen, C1-C8 alkyl and C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl, wherein the alkyl and hydroxyalkyl groups maybe substituted or unsubstituted and branched or unbranched, and R3 is selected from C1-C18 alkyl, C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl (which may be alkoxylated with 1-3 oxyalkylene groups), aryl, and C2-C4 alkenyl, wherein the alkyl, hydroxylalkyl, aryl and alkenyl groups may be substituted or unsubstituted and branched or unbranched.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the one or more amines are selected from the group consisting of monoethanol amine, diethanol amine, triethanol amine, 1-amino-2-propanol, 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, 3-amino-1-propanol, 2-(methylamino)-ethanol, 2-(2-aminoethyoxy)ethanol, ethylenediamine, and diethylenetriamine.

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the one or more amines selected from the group consisting of cycloamines, diamines, polyamines, and amines represented by formula (I) includes two or more amines with a pK b value of less than 4.75.

26. The method of claim 22 , wherein the one or more amines selected from the group consisting of cycloamines, diamines, polyamines, and amines represented by formula (I) includes one or more amines with a pK b value of less than 4.75 and one or more amines with a pK b value of more than 4.75.

27. The method of claim 19 , wherein the water content in the treatment composition produces a treated fly ash having less than 1.5 wt % water, based on the total wt % of the fly ash.

28. The method of claim 19 , wherein the treatment composition is supplied as a liquid spray.

29. The method of claim 19 , wherein the treatment composition is supplied as a vapor.

30. The method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of

agitating the combined fly ash and the treatment composition to facilitate commingling of the fly ash and the treatment composition.

31. The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of contacting the ammonia-laden fly ash with the treatment composition comprises the step of

determining the amount of the treatment composition to be applied to the ammonia-laden fly ash based on the flow rate of the fly ash.

32. The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of dispersing the treatment composition into the fly ash comprises the steps of

pressurizing the treatment composition prior to contacting the treatment composition with the fly ash.

33. The method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of

contacting the fly ash with a treating fluid comprising an agent selected from the group consisting of sacrificial agents, surfactants, dispersants, chemical activators, coating compositions, and combinations thereof.

34. The method of claim 19 , wherein the treatment composition further comprises at least one alkaline salt.

35. The method of claim 34 , wherein the treatment composition further comprises at least one alkaline salt selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium aluminate, and sodium silicate.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL/FRAME NO. 67963/0364 Recorded Sep 16, 2025
From: MIZUHO BANK, LTD., AS AGENT
To: EM RESOURCES LLC
Reel/Frame 072872/0638 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL/FRAME NO. 70696/0397 Recorded Sep 15, 2025
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EM RESOURCES LLC
Reel/Frame 072910/0155 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2025
From: EM RESOURCES LLC
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070696/0397 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT R/F 059002/0270 Recorded Feb 12, 2025
From: UMB BANK, N.A.
To: EM RESOURCES LLC (F/K/A BORAL RESOURCES LLC)
Reel/Frame 070191/0325 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 28, 2024
From: EM RESOURCES LLC
To: MIZUHO BANK, LTD.
Reel/Frame 067963/0364 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2024
From: MUFG BANK, LTD
To: EM RESOURCES LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS BORAL RESOURCES LLC)
Reel/Frame 067799/0395 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 25, 2022
From: BORAL RESOURCES LLC
To: EM RESOURCES LLC
Reel/Frame 059510/0851 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2022
From: BORAL RESOURCES LLC
To: UMB BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059002/0270 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2022
From: BORAL RESOURCES LLC
To: MUFG BANK, LTD.
Reel/Frame 059003/0211 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 14, 2021
From: BORAL MATERIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: BORAL RESOURCES LLC
Reel/Frame 056526/0480 →
CONVERSION Recorded Jun 11, 2021
From: BORAL MATERIAL TECHNOLOGIES INC.
To: BORAL MATERIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 056556/0239 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 2, 2005
From: HILL, RUSSELL; JOLICOEUR, CARMEL; TO, THI CONG
To: BORAL MATERIAL TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 016959/0203 →