A system for preparing a polymeric mixture includes: a containment device configured to distribute dry polymeric materials; a receiving chamber in fluid communication with the containment device; a wetting bowl; a dispersing channel; and a mixing chamber connected to the dispersing channel. A method of preparing a polymeric mixture includes distributing water and dry polymeric materials through the various components of the system and mixing the materials with the mechanical mixing device.

An in-situ foam generation apparatus includes a dissolution chamber that houses a polymer stick cavity or canister, a mixing chamber that houses a static mixer, and a foaming chamber that houses a mechanical agitator in fluid communication with a compressed air inlet. The chambers are in fluid communication with one another by way of a respective chamber inlet and outlet, with the mixing chamber being located between the dissolution and foaming chambers. A pressure regulator can be used to control the incoming aqueous solution pressure to the dissolution chamber. A nozzle exhaust is in fluid communication with the outlet of the foaming chamber. One or more polymer sticks that include one or more cleaning agent can be loaded into the cavity or canister of the dissolution chamber. An end consistency of the polymer stick can be in a range of partially solidified to fully solidified.

An injecting machine includes an injection cylinder, a plunger, a plunger moving mechanism, and a mixing mechanism. The plunger is reciprocally received in the injection cylinder for moving between an advanced position and a retracted position, with the injecting a liquid mixture of two different liquid materials as the plunger moves to the advanced position. The plunger moving mechanism causes the plunger to move between the advanced position and the retracted position. The mixing mechanism is disposed on the injection cylinder for mixing the two different liquid materials together to feed the liquid mixture into the injection cylinder. The plunger includes a front portion having a helical groove formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof to allow the liquid mixture fed from the mixing mechanism to pass through the helical groove for collecting in a forward space formed forward of the front portion of the plunger.

Apparatus for injection of fluid into an extruder is provided, including a static mixer section with a pipe assembly coupled with the static mixer outlet and leading to the extruder barrel; the pipe assembly outlet and barrel injection opening have diameters less than the maximum internal diameter of the static mixer casing. The invention greatly simplifies the fluid injection apparatus used with extruders, while giving more efficient absorption of thermal energy with a minimum of environmental contamination, and the ability to inject multiple streams into the extruder.

Apparatus for injection of fluid into an extruder is provided, including a static mixer section with a pipe assembly coupled with the static mixer outlet and leading to the extruder barrel; the pipe assembly outlet and barrel injection opening have diameters less than the maximum internal diameter of the static mixer casing. The invention greatly simplifies the fluid injection apparatus used with extruders, while giving more efficient absorption of thermal energy with a minimum of environmental contamination, and the ability to inject multiple streams into the extruder.

A chemical treatment apparatus for diluting and activating a polymeric material can include a mixing chamber having a first end, a second end, a first baffle plate positioned between the first end and second end, a high shear mixing zone positioned between the first end of the mixing chamber and the first baffle plate, and a low shear mixing zone positioned downstream from the high shear agitation zone between the second end of the mixing chamber and the first baffle plate. The volume ratio of the high shear mixing zone to the low shear mixing zone can be in the range of 1:2 to 1:10. A method and system for diluting and activating polymeric materials are also disclosed.

Apparatus (20) for injection of fluid into extrusion system components such as a preconditioner (24) or extruder (100) is provided, preferably as a composite assembly including a fluid injection valve (52) and an interconnected static mixer section (54). Alternately, use may be made of the fluid injection valve (52) or static mixer section (54) alone. The invention greatly simplifies the fluid injection apparatus used in extrusion systems, while giving more efficient absorption of thermal energy with a minimum of environmental contamination, and the ability to inject multiple streams into the extrusion systems.

Disclosed herein are formulations and processes for the preparation of pigment and wax dual dispersions by (1) providing a solution comprising a water and at least one surfactant in a dispersion apparatus comprising a container, a rotor-stator homogenizer, and a piston homogenizer coupled via a recirculation device; (2) adding at least one pigment to the solution; (3) forming a pigment dispersion by flowing the at least one pigment and the solution to the rotor-stator homogenizer via the recirculation device; (4) adding at least one wax to the pigment dispersion; and (5) flowing the at least one wax and pigment dispersion to the piston homogenizer via the recirculation device until a pigment and wax dual dispersion is formed. Also disclosed herein are pigment and wax dual dispersions, as well as a dispersion apparatus for preparing pigment and wax dual dispersions. In certain embodiments, a dispersion apparatus for preparing a pigment and wax dual dispersion may comprise a container, a rotor-stator homogenizer, a piston homogenizer, and a recirculation device coupled to the container and the homogenizers that allows a dispersion to flow between the container and the homogenizers.

Disclosed herein is a water treatment system. The system comprises a mixing station in which coagulant is mixed into water for treatment in the system. The system comprises a floccule accumulation station in which the building of floccules in the water/coagulant mixture is promoted. The system comprises a settlement station in which the floccules are allowed to settle. The mixing station, floccule accumulation station and settlement station comprise one or more reservoirs, wherein at least one of the one or more reservoirs is an intermediate bulk container.

A chemical treatment apparatus for diluting and activating a polymeric material can include a mixing chamber having a first end, a second end, a first baffle plate positioned between the first end and second end, a high shear mixing zone positioned between the first end of the mixing chamber and the first baffle plate, and a low shear mixing zone positioned downstream from the high shear agitation zone between the second end of the mixing chamber and the first baffle plate. The volume ratio of the high shear mixing zone to the low shear mixing zone can be in the range of 1:2 to 1:10. A method and system for diluting and activating polymeric materials are also disclosed.