Method for manufacturing an agglomerate

• US 6,194,065 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1999
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Andersons, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Green Top Wood Recycling Ltd.
• Inventors: Golan, Asher
• Primary Examiner(s): WEISBERGER, RICHARD C
• Application Number:
  US09/453,520
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 264/117, 264/211.12, 264/211.21, 428/359, 428/360, 428/361, 119/171
• US Class Current: 428/359
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2/00 Processes or devices for granulating materials , e.g. fertilisers in general; Rendering particulate materials free flowing in general, e.g. making them hydrophobic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2/14 in rotating dishes or pans
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/87 Re-use of by-products of food processing for fodder production
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2904 Staple length fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2905 Plural and with bonded intersections only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2907 with coating or impregnation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2978 Surface characteristic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/298 Physical dimension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]

Abstract

An agglomerate and a process for its manufacture by providing a dry particulated fibrous organic material, mixing it with a powdered mineral to obtain a first mixture, adding a binding agent to the first mixture to obtain a second mixture, agglomerating the second mixture in an agglomeration dish and drying the agglomerate to a desired dried state.

Claims

1. An agglomerate manufactured according to a process comprising:

(a) providing a substantially dry and particulate, loose fibrous organic material processed in a thermo screw press, said fibrous material having a particle size smaller than about 1 mm and containing less than about 15% moisture, whereby said fibrous material has an essentially low bulk weight;

(b) mixing the fibrous material with powdered mineral, so as to obtain a first mixture containing less than about 8% moisture;

(c) adding a binding agent to the first mixture to obtain a second mixture, said second mixture being in an essentially dry state;

(d) agglomerating the second mixture in an inclined agglomeration dish and applying to said second mixture one or more aqueous liquid additives; and

(e) drying the agglomerate to a desired state, wherein said agglomerate has a specific weight of about 0.15-1.2 kg/l and a liquid absorbing capability of about 2.5-0.6 liters of liquid per 1 kg of agglomerate.

2. An agglomerate of fibrous organic material and powdered mineral material, having a specific weight of about 0.15-1.2 kg/l, and having a liquid absorbing capability of about 2.5-0.6 liter of liquid per 1 kg. of agglomerate, respectively.

3. An agglomerate according to claim 2, wherein the agglomerated granules are of a substantially uniform size.

4. An agglomerate according to claim 2, wherein said fibrous material is derived from wood waste and the binding agent is paper pulp waste.