Mineral suspending agent, method of making, and use thereof

1. A method of transporting solid particulates in an aqueous suspension of the solid particulates, comprising dispersing solid particulates in an aqueous liquid in the presence of at least one mineral suspending agent, and transporting the solid particulates in the aqueous suspension of solid particulates a distance greater than or equal to 200 m,

wherein the aqueous suspension of solid particulates comprises:

an aqueous liquid, comprising water and optionally at least one other liquid, wherein the water is present in an amount greater than 50% v/v relative to the total volume of the water plus the volume of the at least one other liquid;

solid particulates present in an amount ranging from 5% to 95% solids; and

at least one mineral suspending agent present in an amount ranging from 0.05% to 0.15% by weight of the solid particulates, wherein the at least one mineral suspending agent is purified attapulgite substantially free of non-attapulgite minerals.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dispersing comprises agitating solid particulates in an aqueous liquid in the presence of the at least one mineral suspending agent.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the aqueous suspension of solid particulates further comprises at least one additive.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one additive is chosen from:

at least one wetting/dispersing agent for the solid particulates present in an amount ranging from 0.01% to 5% by weight of solid particulates;

at least one dispersing agent for the at least one mineral suspending agent; and

at least one neutralizer.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transporting comprises flowing the aqueous suspension of the solid particulates in a conduit such that the solid particulates are transported the distance.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein, during transporting and during the time the solid particulates are transported the distance, the flowing has a Renyolds number below 4,000.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein, during transporting, the flow changes in rate by 50%.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein, during transporting, the flowing is interrupted for a period of time greater than 8 hours and thereafter the flowing is resumed.

9. The method of claim 5 , further comprising, after transporting, collecting the aqueous suspension of the solid particulates in a shipping container and thereafter hauling the container containing the aqueous suspension of the solid particulates a second distance greater than or equal to 100 km.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein hauling is achieved using a vehicle chosen from trains, trucks, planes, and ships.

11. The method of claim 9 , thereafter further comprising thereafter transporting the solid particulates a third distance greater than or equal to 200 m by flowing the aqueous suspension of the solid particulates in a second conduit.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid particulates are chosen from rocks, mineral colloids, organic colloids, mineraloids, and minerals.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous suspension is a homogeneous aqueous suspension.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous suspension is an inhomogeneous aqueous suspension.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous suspension is a non-settling slurry.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mineral suspending agent is present in an amount ranging from 0.05% to 0.1% by weight of the solid particulates.

17. A method of transporting solid particulates in an aqueous suspension of the solid particulates, comprising dispersing, in a container, solid particulates in an aqueous liquid in the presence of at least one mineral suspending agent, and thereafter hauling the container a distance greater than or equal to 100 km,

wherein the aqueous suspension of solid particulates comprises:

an aqueous liquid, comprising water and optionally at least one other liquid, wherein the water is present in an amount greater than 50% v/v relative to the total volume of the water plus the volume of the at least one other liquid;

solid particulates present in an amount ranging from 5% to 95% solids; and

at least one mineral suspending agent present in an amount ranging from 0.05% to 0.15% by weight of the solid particulates, wherein the at least one mineral suspending agent is purified attapulgite substantially free of non-attapulgite minerals.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one mineral suspending agent is present in an amount ranging from 0.05% to 0.1% by weight of the solid particulates.

19. A method of transporting solid particulates in an aqueous suspension of the solid particulates, comprising dispersing solid particulates in an aqueous liquid in the presence of at least one mineral suspending agent, and transporting the solid particulates in the aqueous suspension of solid particulates a distance greater than or equal to 200 m in a pipeline,

wherein the aqueous suspension of solid particulates comprises:

an aqueous liquid, comprising water and optionally at least one other liquid, wherein the water is present in an amount greater than 50% v/v relative to the total volume of the water plus the volume of the at least one other liquid;

solid particulates present in an amount ranging from 5% to 95% solids; and

at least one mineral suspending agent present in an amount ranging from 0.05% to 0.15% by weight of the solid particulates, wherein the at least one mineral suspending agent is purified attapulgite substantially free of non-attapulgite minerals.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the at least one mineral suspending agent is present in an amount ranging from 0.05% to 0.1% by weight of the solid particulates.