Treatment of sludges and flocculants using insoluble mineral colloidal suspensions

Abstract

A method of separating sludges which involves adding an insoluble mineral colloidal suspension into an industrial sludge to destabilize the industrial sludge and separating destabilized components of the industrial sludge. The insoluble mineral colloidal suspension can be adding into the industrial sludge or formed in situ therein by components into the industrial sludge that react together therein to form the insoluble mineral colloidal suspension.

1 . A method of separating sludges which comprises:
 obtaining an industrial sludge, wherein the industrial sludge comprises wastewater sludge, refinery sludge, sludge from DNF processes, sludge from DAF processes, sludge from API separators, or tank clean-out sludge;   adding an insoluble mineral colloidal suspension into the industrial sludge to destabilize the industrial sludge; and   separating destabilized components of the industrial sludge.   
     
     
         2 . A method of separating sludges according to  claim 1 , wherein a flocculant and/or coagulant is added to the industrial sludge to aid in the separation of the destabilized components of the industrial sludge. 
     
     
         3 . A method of separating sludges according to  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble mineral colloidal suspension is added into the industrial sludge by forming the insoluble mineral colloidal in situ in the industrial sludge. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A method of separating sludges according to  claim 1 , wherein the industrial sludge is a combined bottom sludge and top float. 
     
     
         7 . A method of separating sludges according to  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble mineral colloidal suspension is formed in situ in the industrial sludge by adding components into the industrial sludge that react together therein to form the insoluble mineral colloidal suspension. 
     
     
         8 . A method of separating sludges according to  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble mineral colloidal suspension has a solids percent by weight of at least 25%. 
     
     
         9 . A method of separating sludges according to  claim 8 , wherein the insoluble mineral colloidal suspension has a solids percent of up to 65%. 
     
     
         10 . A method of separating sludges according to  claim 9 , wherein the insoluble mineral colloidal suspension has a solids percent by weight that ranges from 25% to 65%. 
     
     
         11 . A method of separating sludges according to  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble mineral colloidal suspension comprises an alkaline earth salt. 
     
     
         12 . A method of separating sludges according to  claim 11 , wherein the insoluble mineral colloidal suspension comprises a calcium salt. 
     
     
         13 . A method of separating sludges according to  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble mineral colloidal suspension comprises an iron hydroxide. 
     
     
         14 . A method of separating sludges according to  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble mineral colloidal suspension comprises insoluble precipitates from a lime softening water treatment process. 
     
     
         15 . A process for physically separating components of a sludge wherein the sludge comprises wastewater sludge, refinery sludge, sludge from DNF processes, sludge from DAF processes, sludge from API separators, or tank clean-out sludge, the improvement comprising adding insoluble mineral colloidal suspension into the sludge prior to physically separating components of the sludge. 
     
     
         16 . A process for physically separating components of a sludge according to  claim 15 , wherein the process for physically separating the components of the sludge includes at least one of gas-assisted flotation, gravity separation and centrifugal separation. 
     
     
         17 . A process for physically separating components of a sludge according to  claim 16 , wherein the process for physically separating the components of the sludge comprises one of dissolved nitrogen floatation and dissolved air flotation. 
     
     
         18 . A process for physically separating components of a sludge according to  claim 16 , wherein the process for physically separating the components of the sludge comprises the use of an American Petroleum Institute Separator. 
     
     
         19 . A process for physically separating components of a sludge according to  claim 9 , wherein the insoluble mineral colloidal suspension has a solids percent by weight of at least 25%. 
     
     
         20 . A process for physically separating components of a sludge according to  claim 9 , wherein the insoluble mineral colloidal suspension has a solids percent of up to 65%. 
     
     
         21 . A method of separating sludges according to  claim 1 , the method further comprising heating the industrial sludge and insoluble mineral colloidal suspension to 170° F. 
     
     
         22 . The method of separating sludges according to  claim 21 , wherein the industrial sludge and insoluble mineral colloidal suspension are heated from ambient temperature to 170° F. 
     
     
         23 . A method of separating sludges according to  claim 1 , the method further comprising addition of sulfuric acid to the industrial sludge and insoluble mineral colloidal suspension to adjust pH to 7-11. 
     
     
         24 . A method of separating sludges according to  claim 1 , the method further comprising adjusting the pH of the insoluble mineral colloidal suspension to 7-11 prior to adding the insoluble mineral colloidal suspension into the industrial sludge.