Hydrotropic additive for process water used to condition and stabilize soils and other base materials used in construction

Abstract

Hydrotropic wetting agents enhance the activity of water for earthy materials by lowering surface tension to promote surface-to-surface contact, to neutralize the electric double layer, to destroy protective colloids, to neutralize other charged particles, and to bind water to the materials, thus, significantly reducing the evaporation rate and, concomitantly, reducing the amount of water that must be applied and the energy and time used to prepare the material. A wetting agent suitable for the present invention includes an alkylphenol ethoxylate (APE) and a polyglycol, such as, for example, glycerin or propylene glycol (when toxicity is not an issue), and an antifoaming agent, such as for example, a polysiloxane polymer. These chemicals combined in the concentration ranges of the present invention produce wetting agent/hydrotropic formulations that may be used to provide the advantages of the present invention.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A method for treating a surface in need of wetting comprising the step of: 
 applying an effective amount of a composition comprising an alkylphenol ethoxylate surfactant, a glycol-containing compound, a silicon-based anti-foaming agent and water with the surface, wherein the composition treats the surface in need of wetting.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the silicon-based anti-foaming agent is a siloxane polymer.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the glycol-containing compound is glycerin or propylene glycol or a mixture thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the concentration of the surfactant is between about 10% and about 50% by volume.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the concentration of glycol-containing compound is between about 0.1% and 10% by volume.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the concentration of silicon-based anti-foaming agent is between about 0.1% and 5% by volume.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the composition further comprises one or more adjuvants.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein applying is accomplished using a water truck, nozzle, hose or sprayer.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the method is repeated.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of compacting the surface mechanically.  
   
   
       22 . A method for treating water comprising the steps of: 
 adding an effective amount of a composition to water, the composition comprising an alkylphenol ethoxylate surfactant, a glycol-containing compound, and a silicon-based anti-foaming agent.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the silicon-based anti-foaming agent is a siloxane polymer.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the glycol-containing compound is glycerin or propylene glycol or a mixture thereof.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the treated water is applied to a roadbed.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the treated water is applied to a concrete base.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the treated water is applied to soil.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the composition further comprises one or more adjuvants.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the concentration of the surfactant is between about 10% and about 50% by volume.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the concentration of glycol-containing compound is between about 0.1% and 10% by volume.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the concentration of silicon-based anti-foaming agent is between about 0.1% and 5% by volume.