Enhanced materials for treatment of contamination

Abstract

An enhanced material formed from a carrier material having a high porosity. The carrier material is treated with a mixture of hydrocarbons to increase the adherence of the carrier material particles to one another to minimize atmospheric contamination of the carrier materials in use. The material has particular applicable to environments where such contamination would create problems, such as food processing and preparation environments, computer operations, electronic component manufacturing and other environments. The material meets the requirements of FDA regulations for Indirect Food Contact.

1 . A material for cleaning up liquid spills, said material comprises: 
 carrier particles having a characteristic of high saturability;    a solution for treating said carrier particles to increase the adherence of said carrier particles to one another.    
     
     
         2 . The material of  claim 1  wherein said carrier particles include: expanded perlite particles.  
     
     
         3 . The material of  claim 1  wherein said carrier particles include: expanded perlite particles having a size ranging from about 297 μ to about 1019 μ.  
     
     
         4 . The material of  claim 1  wherein said carrier particles includes: 
 expanded perlite particles having characteristics of saturability ranging from about 4.5 liters/Kg to about 1 0.3 liters/Kg.  
 
     
     
         5 .The material of  claim 1  wherein said carrier particle includes: expanded perlite particles having a size ranging from about 297 μ to about 1019μ and having characteristics of saturability ranging from about 4.5 liters/Kg to about 10.3 liters/Kg.  
     
     
         6 . The material of  claim 1  wherein said solution includes a mixture of non-combustible liquid petroleum hydrocarbons.  
     
     
         7 . The material of  claim 1  wherein said solution includes: 
 a mixture of predominantly saturated hydrocarbons with at least some branched, straight chained or saturated cyclic structures.  
 
     
     
         9 . A method for preparing a composition for treating contaminated liquids, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing selected carrier particles having a high porosity of a desired size and saturability;    providing a solution;    treating said selected carrier particles with said solution to increase the adherence of said selected carrier particles to one another.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said step of providing carrier particles of a desired size and saturability includes: 
 providing expanded perlite particles.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said step of providing selected carrier particles includes: 
 providing expanded perlite particles having a size of between about 297 μ to about 1019 μ.  
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said step of providing selected carrier particles includes: 
 providing expanded perlite particles having a saturability between about 4.5 liters/Kg to about 10.3 liters/Kg.  
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said step of providing selected carrier particles includes: 
 providing expanded perlite particles having a size of between about 297 μ to about 1019 μ and a saturability between about 4.5 liters/Kg to about 10.3 liters/Kg.  
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said step of providing a solution includes: 
 providing a mixture of liquid petroleum hydrocarbons.  
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said step of treating said carrier particles with said solution includes: 
 collecting said carrier particles in a vessel;  
 mixing said carrier particles in said vessel;  
 adding said solution to said carrier particles in said vessel at a rate of about five liters per minute until the mixture is about 3.0% to 6.2% weight per volume of said solution; and  
 allowing said mixture to stand for about one hour.