Stable suspension of hydrocolloids

• US 6,117,226 A
• Filed: 05/31/1996
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monsanto Company (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Pharmacia Corporation (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Rakitsky, Walter Gregory, Dial, Harold Dean, Skaggs, Crawford Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): BRUNSMAN, DAVID M
• Application Number:
  US08/656,375
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 524/35, 106/162.8, 106/162.9, 106/202.1
• US Class Current: 106/162.8
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/104 Bentonite, e.g. montmorillonite
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/106 Kaolin
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 20/026 Comminuting, e.g. by grinding or breaking; Defibrillating fibres other than asbestos
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/32 Superplasticisers
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/18 Lignin sulfonic acid or derivatives thereof, e.g. sulfite lye
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/22 Condensation or polymerisation products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/26 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds C04B24/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/38 Polysaccharides or derivatives thereof C04B24/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 28/02 containing hydraulic cements other than calcium sulfates
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0035 Processes characterised by the absence of a mechanical mixing step, e.g. "no-mix" processes
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0039 Premixtures of ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/04 Aqueous well-drilling compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/206 Derivatives of other natural products, e.g. cellulose, starch, sugars
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/22 Synthetic organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/46 containing inorganic binders, e.g. Portland cement

Abstract

The present invention comprises a stable hydrocolloid composition in which a hydrocolloid, preferably welan gum, is uniformly dispersed in a superplasticizer such as sulfonated naphthalene, sulfonated melamine, modified lignosulfate, their derivatives and mixtures thereof. This is then dispersed in a rheological control agent which is a microbially-produced cellulose fiber composition. The welan gum is rapidly hydratable and useful as a stabilizing additive in many cement and drilling fluid applications, insulation fluids and de-icer compositions.

Claims

1. A uniform suspension of a water soluble polymer and a superplasticizer stabilized by a rheological control agent comprising water insoluble microbially derived cellulose fibers.

2. The uniform suspension of claim 1 wherein said water soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of welan gum, xanthan gum, rhamsan gum, heteropolysaccharide S-567, methylcellulose, carboxymethylhexyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol and mixtures thereof.

3. The uniform suspension of claim 2 wherein said superplasticizer is selected from the group consisting of organic salts, organic esters and mixtures thereof.

4. The uniform suspension of claim 3 wherein said organic salt or ester is selected from the group consisting of lignosulfonate, sulfonated melamine formaldehyde condensates, sulfonated naphthalene-formaldehyde condensates, sulfonic acid esters, carbohydrate esters and mixtures thereof.

5. The uniform suspension of claim 4 wherein said water soluble polymer comprises from about 0.5 wt. % to about 25.0 wt. % of the total weight of the uniform suspension.

6. The uniform suspension of claim 5 wherein said superplasticizer comprises from about 25.0 wt. % to about 60.0 wt. % based on the total weight of the suspension.

7. The uniform suspension of claim 6 wherein said rheological control agent comprises from about 0.01 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. % based on the total weight of the uniform suspension.

8. The uniform suspension of claim 7 further comprising a biocide.

9. The uniform suspension of claim 8 wherein said cellulose fiber is produced by the microorganism Acetobacter.

10. The uniform suspension of claim 9 wherein said organic salt is selected from the group consisting of sulfonated melamine-formaldehyde condensate, sulfonated formaldehyde condensate and mixtures thereof.

11. The uniform suspension of claim 1, wherein said cellulose fibers form a highly reticulated, three dimensional structure.