IP Library Granted Patent US 7,407,546
Granted Patent B2
US 7,407,546 · App. 11/970,431 · Granted Aug 5, 2008

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

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,407,546
App. No.
11/970,431
Granted
Aug 5, 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 (28)

1. A process for the production of cementitious material comprising the steps of

supplying an ammonia-laden fly ash;

supplying a treatment composition comprising one or more organic bases;

contacting the ammonia-laden fly ash with the treatment composition to produce a treated fly ash having an ammonia content of less than about 150 ppm per total weight of the treated fly ash; and

mixing the treated fly ash with a hydraulic cement.

2. The process of claim 1 , further comprising mixture of the formed cementitious material with an aggregate material to form concrete.

3. The process of claim 1 , further comprising the step of agitating the fly ash and the treatment composition prior to mixing the treated fly ash and the hydraulic cement.

4. The process of claim 1 , further comprising the step of heating the fly ash and the treatment composition prior to mixing the treated fly ash and the hydraulic cement.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the treatment composition is a non-aqueous composition.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the one or more organic bases have a pK b value of less than 4.75.

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the treatment composition comprises one or more amines.

8. The process of claim 7 , wherein the one or more amines are selected from the group consisting of amines with a pK b value of less than 4.75.

9. The process of claim 7 , 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.

10. The process of claim 9 , 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 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 (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.

11. The process of claim 9 , 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 diethyenetriaminee.

12. The process of claim 9 , 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.

13. The process of claim 9 , 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.

14. The process of claim 9 , 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.

15. The process 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.

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

17. The process of claim 1 , wherein the treatment composition is supplied as a vapor.

18. The process 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.

19. The process of claim 1 , wherein the step of contacting the ammonia-laden fly ash with the treatment composition comprises the step of pressurizing the treatment composition prior to contacting the treatment composition with the fly ash.

20. The process 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.

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

22. The process of claim 21 , 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 Jan 10, 2008
From: HILL, RUSSELL L.; JOLICOEUR, CARMEL; TO, THI CONG
To: BORAL MATERIAL TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 020346/0982 →