Biomass-derived grinding aids

Abstract

Compositions and methods for increasing grinding efficiency of cement, cement clinker, raw materials for cement, and other inorganic particles. Use of biomass-derived polyols such as diols, triols, or mixtures thereof, optionally with a conventional grinding aid, cement quality improver, and/or hexavalent chromium reducer, are believed to provide less risk of sludging when compared to glycerides obtained from fossil fuel sources.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A cement grinding aid composition, comprising: (A) at least one biomass-derived polyol and at least one additive or mixture of additives comprising (B) a conventional cement additive; (C) a water-reducing additive, (D) a hexavalent chromium reducing additive; or mixture thereof. 
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 32  wherein said at least one biomass-derived polyol is combined with a conventional cement additive. 
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 33  wherein said conventional cement additive comprises triethanolamine, triisopropanolamine, or mixture thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 34  wherein said at least one biomass-derived polyol is combined with a water-reducing additive. 
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 35  wherein said water-reducing additive comprises a lignosulfonate, a naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensate, a melamine sulfonate formaldehyde condensate, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         37 . The composition of  claim 32  wherein said at least one biomass-derived polyol is combined with a hexavalent chromium reducer. 
     
     
         38 . The composition of  claim 32  wherein said hexavalent chromium reducer comprises iron sulfate, tin sulfate, sodium sulfide, sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, hydroxylamine sulfate, sodium dithionate, manganese sulfate, an aldehyde, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The composition of  claim 32  wherein said at least one biomass-derived polyol is combined with at least two components selected from components B through D. 
     
     
         40 . The composition of  claim 32  wherein said biomass-derived polyol is biofuel-derived glycerin. 
     
     
         41 . The composition of  claim 32  wherein said biomass-derived polyol is modified by reacting said polyol with a monobasic carboxylic acid. 
     
     
         42 . The composition of  claim 32  wherein said biomass-derived polyol has one or more substituted OH groups. 
     
     
         43 . The composition of  claim 32  wherein said biomass-derived polyol comprises both a diol and a triol. 
     
     
         44 . A cement composition comprising cement and the composition of  claim 32 . 
     
     
         45 . A cement composition comprising:
 a plurality of particles to be ground to finer particle size, said particles comprising cement particles, cement clinker particles, calcite particles, limestone particles, aragonite particles, sea shells particles, marl particles, limonite particles, clay particles, shale particles, sand particles, bauxite particles, blast furnace slag particles, or mixture of said particles;   a grinding additive composition in an amount of 0.001% to 1.0% by weight based on weight of said plurality of particles to be ground, and said grinding additive composition comprising Component A and Component B wherein
 (A) Component A comprises a diol, triol, or mixture thereof, said Component A being derived from a plant or animal biomass material and having an average molecular weight of 50-200, said biomass-derived Component A comprising:
 (i) a glycerol derived from biofuel production, said glycerol being present in an amount of at least 50-95% based on weight of said grinding additive composition A, and further comprising, where Component A comprises said glycerol, at least 0.005%-50% by weight based on weight of said grinding additive composition of a non-glycerin organic material derived from a plant or animal biomass material; or 
 (ii) a glycol derived from a carbohydrate or sugar; or 
 (iii) a mixture of (i) and (ii); and 
 
  said Component A further comprising a nonglycerol organic matter (hereinafter “MONG”) derived from said plant or animal biomass material, said MONG being present in an amount not exceeding 15% by weight of said grinding additive composition; and 
 (B) Component B comprises a cement additive selected from the group consisting of a glycol where Component A is a biomass-derived glycerol, triethanolamine, acetic acid or salt thereof, triisopropanolamine, sodium acetate, diethanol-isopropanolamine, tetrahydroxyethylethylene diamine, a carbohydrate, a polycarboxylate ether, an air entraining agent, a chloride, a nitrite, a nitrate, or a hexavalent chromium reducer.