SYSTEM FOR CONTINUOUS TREATMENT OF CELLULOSE PULPS

Abstract

This system is intended for paper and cellulose manufacturing process, in order to enable partial or full talc replacement in controlling pitch and stickies, in addition to helping in retention and drainage in paper and cellulose manufacturing processes. The chemical methodology and processes employed herein primarily involve the mix of adsorbent clays such as bentonite and hydrotalcite in the form of a slurry mix, obtained through a thermodynamic equipment called continuous flow shearing chamber (502), which provides delamination in pressure and temperature conditions, able to enhance the exposure of adsorption sites.

Claims

1. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, wherein the system is based on a chemical method for partial or full talc replacement in paper and cellulose manufacturing processes, said paper manufacturing process comprising, sequentially, a pulper phase, followed by a phase in purifiers, followed by a storage tank phase, followed by a refiner phase, mixing and machine tanks, level box phase, mixing pump phase, purifiers phase and, finally, the inlet box phase; comprising an enzyme dosing phase between phases and; a dispersing agent dosing phase at phase; an adsorbent dosing phase in which the adsorbent may be bentonite on phase; a polymer dosing phase on phase; another polymer dosing phase on phase; whereas the cellulose manufacturing process sequentially consists of a phase in a continuous digester; followed by the purification phase, proceeding to a filter section phase and another filter section phase; a diffuser phase followed by the storage phase, the bleached purification phase and, finally, the drying machinery phase; a dispersing agent dosing phase is provided on phase; an adsorbent dosing phase , in which the adsorbent may be talc between phases and; an adsorbent dosing phase, in which the adsorbent may be talc at the press section; a polymer/biopolymer dosing phase between phases and; another polymer/biopolymer dosing phase between phases and; and an enzyme dosing phase between phases and; with said chemical method acting primarily on controlling pitch and stickies colloidal contaminants, with effects in sheet retention and draining; the method comprises chemical adsorption applied individually or associated to the use of dispersing agents, polymers or biopolymers; the system also includes a continuous flow shearing chamber, in addition to devices for automatic regulation of pre-dosage and post-dosage.

2. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps”, according to claim 1, wherein the dispersing agent is applied before adsorption and, afterwards, the polymer or biopolymer is added.

3. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, according to claim 1, wherein the action may be supplemented with hydrolytic lipase and esterase enzymes applied before or after the adsorption phase.

4. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, according to claim 1, wherein the application of associated dispersion methods, polymers or biopolymers may be alternated, before or after adsorbents.

5. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, according to claim 1, wherein the choice chemical methodology may comprise, in addition to chemical adsorption, one or more methods associated or supplementary with variable dosage points according to the manufacturing process.

6. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, according to claim 5, wherein the cellulose manufacturing process may have the adsorbent dosage fractioned after the filter section and at the press section, associated or not to the application of a dispersing agent in the filter section, a polymer or biopolymer after the press section, or after storage, in addition to supplementation with hydrolytic enzyme before the drying machine.

7. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, according to claim 5, wherein the paper manufacturing process features the adsorbent dosage on the refining phase with the polymer or biopolymer being dosed optionally within the mixing tanks, machine tanks or level boxes, the hydrolytic enzyme is between the pulper and the purifiers, in addition to the dispersing agent on the storage tank.

8. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, according to claim 1, wherein the chemical adsorption consists of a mix of clays through an application system that provides modulation of mixed adsorbents.

9. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, according to claim 8, wherein the application system comprises a thermodynamic equipment called continuous flow shearing chamber, in addition to devices for automatic regulation of pre-dosage and post-dosage of talc.

10. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, according to claim 9, wherein the continuous flow shearing chamber envelops the clay slurry mix, more specifically bentonite and hydrotalcite, in ratios among 1:1000 to 1000:1.

11. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, according to claim 9, wherein the clay slurry mix takes place.

12. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, according to claim 10, wherein the bentonite used is calcitic or sodium type, above 60% montmorillonite concentrations, and milled up to an average particle size of 100 μm.

13. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, according to claim 10, wherein hydrotalcite is natural or synthesized through conventional means, and may feature variations in interlamellar metals and anions, comprised of magnesium and aluminum as cations and the most common anions may be chloride, nitrate, carbonate and sulfate.

14. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, according to claim 10, wherein other clays may be used aside from bentonite and hydrotalcite, among which are quartz, diatomite, pyrite, mica, sepiolite, cristobalite, pyrophyllite, gypsum, limonite, perlite, vermiculite, dolomite, agalmatolite, among others.

15. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, according to claim 1, wherein the continuous flow shearing chamber is a homogenizing device formed by two pipe sections, with a lower and a higher section, through which inlet and outlet clay pipelines are connected.

16. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, according to claim 15, wherein the lower pipe section includes a top peripheral assembly flange, whereas the upper pipe section comprises a corresponding bottom peripheral assembly flange, in which both flanges may be joined by screws; the lower pipe section comprises an outlet pipeline, axial to the geometric axis of said pipe section, which includes a connecting flange, in addition to a radially positioned side inlet pipeline including a corresponding connecting flange; while the upper pipe section comprises a first radially placed side inlet pipeline including a corresponding connecting flange and a second radially placed side inlet pipeline including a connecting flange, whereas the first side inlet pipeline is diametrically opposed to the second side inlet pipeline; the upper pipe section also comprises a third side inlet pipeline, placed on the same level regarding the first and second side inlet pipelines and, in which said third side inlet pipeline includes a respective connecting flange; the upper pipe section features a top peripheral assembly flange against which a closure disc is assembled through screws; an electric drive motor is assembled at the center of the closure disc, which drives a vertical shaft which internally traverses both the lower pipe section and the upper pipe section; internally, the lower and upper pipe sections and respectively comprise internal chambers, respectively indicated as and; the internal chamber of the upper pipe section incorporates a tubular screen that hangs from the lower face of the closure disc; the vertical axis comprises three pairs of homogenizing blades along its full length, while the first of three sets of blades is provided inside the tubular screen and the second set of blades is positioned in the lower section of the chamber of the upper pipe section and, lastly, the third set of blades is placed at the very bottom of the vertical axis, while said third set of blades is placed in the middle of the internal chamber (502M) of the lower pipe section.

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, according to claim 16, wherein the side inlet pipeline has as a function allowing the intake of talc.

21. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, according to claim 16, wherein the material flows entering the continuous flow shearing chamber by its upper pipe section through its first, second and third side inlet pipelines, and are homogenized by the rotation of the vertical axis and, more specifically, by the rotation of the sets of homogenizing blades.

22. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, according to claim 16, wherein the talc flow entering the lower tubular chamber through its side pipe section is homogenized by the rotation of the vertical axis and, more specifically, by the rotation of the sets of homogenizing blades.

23. System for continuous treatment of cellulose pulps, according to claim 16, wherein the homogenized flow entering the continuous flow shearing chamber follows from said chamber through the outlet pipeline towards the processes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] This Invention Patent application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings listed below, in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows the chemical methodology to be employed in order to approach the talc replacement problem;

[0031] FIGS. 2A and 2B include charts showing the efficiency of removal of pitch and stickies by different methodologies for counting contaminants, while FIG. 2A is specific for adsorbents through turbidity measurement, and FIG. 2B is applicable to polymers and dispersing agents through microscopic counting of contaminants;

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a diagram illustrating the main adsorbent application points (e.g. Talc), associated and supplementary methods in a typical cellulose manufacturing process, such as the one proposed in this patent application;

[0033] FIG. 4 shows an illustrative diagram of a typical paper manufacturing process with adsorbent application points (e.g. bentonite), associated and supplementary methods, such as the one proposed in this patent application;

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a schematic flowchart of the new continuous treatment system for cellulose pulp;

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a three-dimensional representation of the continuous flow shearing chamber, an innovative piece of equipment that is also an object of this Invention Patent application;

[0036] FIG. 7 shows a schematic section view which is taken according to the indication by the “A”-“A” cut line of FIG. 6; and

[0037] FIG. 8 shows an upper view taken from FIG. 6 that shows the shearing chamber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] Considering that the core of this Invention Patent application is a continuous treatment system for cellulose pulp based on a chemical method and processes for clay mixing in special conditions, in order to remove dissolved and colloidal contaminants, in addition to improvements in retention and drainage, the main technological advancements are described below, which also characterizes this patent application.

[0039] Initially, through the schematic representation shown in FIG. 1, the chemical method 100 is presented, which may be comprised in this invention when approaching the problem of partial or full talc replacement in paper and cellulose manufacturing processes.

[0040] The basis of the proposed strategy is the chemical adsorption method 102 which features the most significant results when applied individually (talc is classified as an adsorbent). In general, adsorbents in FIG. 1 are indicated as 102A. Other two associated methods 103 and 104 should ideally be observed, which provide the use of dispersing agents 103A (in method 103) prior to adsorption in order to maximize the amount of colloidal contaminants and, afterwards, the addition (in method 104) of a polymer or biopolymer (preferably cationic, with specific chemical functions and chain size), indicated as 104A to favor the fixing of dissolved and colloidal contaminants (pitch and stickies), loads and fiber fines.

[0041] Still regarding the diagram in FIG. 1, raw materials (cellulose) 107 are shown, as well as the representation of process 108 additives also comprised in the chemical methodology.

[0042] It should be understood that dispersing agents, polymers and biopolymers mentioned are the standard substances used in the State of the Art, considering the optimal dosages of applications easily recognized by area experts, but always associated to the mix of adsorbent clays proposed herein, in slurry form and applied via the system for continuous treatment of the cellulose pulp, which will be described in more detail below.

[0043] Another previously mentioned aspect which requires emphasis, considering the main focus of this invention as the full or partial talc replacement, refers to the challenge in obtaining an “alternative adsorbent system” with properties as unique as those of talc, whose layers feature an “organophilic” surface and the corners are “hydrophilic”, granting dispersibility in water medium associated to a dual action, both as a fixing agent and as a detackifier.

[0044] The fact is that direct replacement by other silicate-type adsorbent agents such as bentonite cannot fulfill the expected overall performance, thus preventing full process removal. In such cases, the use of associated methods (dispersing agents and polymers) is vital for mitigating the effects of its absence. The only way to attain this, as proposed in this invention Patent application, is through the use of a new clay mix, with a synergic and supplementary action, such as the adsorption system that involves the combined application of hydrotalcite and bentonite in an ideal ratio, in which the organophilic and hydrophilic properties are better balanced and closer to the action of talc alone, not to mention the adsorption capacity highlighted by the increase in surface areas due to forced delamination within a continuous treatment system that provides high shearing rates.

[0045] In a complementary approach to the methods above, a pre-enzymatic treatment 101A may also be deployed, capable of facilitating the release of synthetic fiber contaminants (e.g. esterase), associated or not to a post-enzymatic treatment 101B which provides the use of lipases for degrading glycerides commonly found in pitch. It should be noted that the application of associated dispersion methods through dispersing agents 103 (surfactants) and fixing polymers or biopolymers 104 may be alternated, before or after the main adsorbents 102. Another point of emphasis is that contaminants 105 are ultimately eliminated from the manufacturing process via the Effluent Treatment Station (ETE 1 Estacao de Tratamento de Efluentes) or carried along in the fiber with the product, are retained or, more specifically, “concealed” in the paper products 106.

[0046] In fact, it should be understood that pitch and stickies-type contaminants are retained (or concealed) on the surface of adsorbents which also end up acting as “inert charge”, granting a monetary advantage which is the “aggregate weight” to the sheet, neither affecting its physical or chemical properties, nor represent any type of risk to human health, except for recent problems likewise related to talc composition including asbestos, which is acknowledged as a carcinogenic material, thus reinforcing the current movement towards replacement. Alternatively, for fixation mechanisms, said contaminants may also bond in the cellulose fiber through cross bonds with polymers or biopolymers.

[0047] The chemical action of different methodological approaches may be observed in examples 1 and 2 detailed below, which measure the removal efficiency of dissolved and colloidal contaminants by adsorbents through reduction of turbidity in a simulated sticky sample (FIG. 2A) or, for polymers, biopolymers and dispersing agents, through microscopic counting of contaminants in an actual pitch sample (FIG. 2B). Specifically in this case, it should be noted that polymers and biopolymers reduce the amount of contaminants due to its fiber fixation properties, whereas dispersing agents have the opposite effect, increasing the amount of contaminants, but in reduced sizes.

[0048] EXAMPLE 1. For simulating stickies, a standard label (PIMACO brand) was cut in 0.5×0.5 cm pieces, up to 30 g of weight, and 970 g of tap water was added, letting it soak for 4 hours. Afterwards, the pieces were initially shredded in a blender for 90 seconds, and transferred to the fiber pulper at 10,000 RPM. The sample was filtered in a black band filter paper (7.5 μm pore) to remove the fibers. 50 g of the filtered solution was collected, adding 4 Kg/t of adsorbent products (e.g. Talc, bentonite and hydrotalcite), initially at a 1% solution. It was then stirred for 15 minutes, transferred to a tube, and centrifuged at 500 G for 5 minutes. Afterwards, the supernatant was transferred carefully to a beaker and turbidity readings were carried out. Lastly, the sample was acidified to a pH near 4.00 using a 0.5% H2SO4 solution, and a final turbidity reading was carried out.

[0049] EXAMPLE 2. A 50 g mass of the pitch-rich cellulose pulp sample was collected, adding 4 Kg/T of products to be tested (e.g. Polymers, biopolymers, and dispersing agents), from a 1% solution. The sample was stirred for 15 minutes and filtered in a 32 MESH sieve for retention of the “coarse” of the cellulose mass, subsequently filtered in black band filter paper for retention of fines. The sample was mechanically stirred (240-280 RPM) for 15 minutes. Afterwards, the sample was filtered with a black band filter, and the filtered product was diluted at a proportion of 100 μL of sample to 900 μL of distilled water. For contaminant counting, a maximum of 100 μL was deposited in the interstices formed between the slide and the Neubauer chamber as to avoid overflowing. The counting was carried out in an optical microscope with 1000× final amplification lenses, focusing the 0.050 mm long grades placed at the center of the mirrored part and counting the characteristic pitch points, scanning the entire height between the bottom of the Neubauer chamber (focused grade) and the glass slide, for a total of 2.5×10−7 cm.sup.3 in volume.

[0050] After the best chemical methodology is determined, alternatively comprising one or more associated methods, and supplementary to the adsorption, dosage points must be chosen while considering talc replacement. As for the typical case of the cellulose manufacturing process 300 (diagram shown in FIG. 3), starting at the continuous digester 301, followed by pulp purification 302, the fractioned dosage of talc (or substitute adsorbent system) is seen immediately after the filter section 303 and press section 304. However, the association of other methods may also be provided, such as dispersing agents also at the filter section 303, fixation polymers or biopolymers after the press section 304 or after storage 306, avoiding the diffusers 305 and purifiers 307 where application is made difficult. There is also the complementary method that involves hydrolytic enzymes prior to reaching the drying machine 308.

[0051] At first, this invention, which provides a mix of clays from the hydrotalcite and bentonite types, applied in slurry form through a continuous treatment system of the cellulose pulp with high shearing rates, should be enough to address the problem of dissolved and colloidal contaminants in the fiber line in talc replacement; however, depending on the level of contaminants and specific retention and drainage goals, associated and complementary methods involving surfactant dispersing agents, polymers, biopolymers and enzymes may be used in combination, and are familiar to those skilled in the art.

[0052] Specifically as show in FIG. 3, the typical cellulose manufacturing process 300 comprises, in sequence, a phase in a continuous digester 301; a purification phase 302; a filter section phase 303, and another filter section phase 304; a diffuser section 305 followed by the storage phase 306, sequentially followed by the bleached purification phase 307 and, lastly, the drying machine phase 308; a dispersing agent dosing phase is provided on phase 303; an adsorbent dosing phase (e.g. talc) between phases 303 and 304; an adsorbent dosing phase (e.g. talc) at the press section 304; a polymer/biopolymer dosing phase between phases 304 and 305; another polymer/biopolymer dosing phase between phases 306 and 307; and an enzyme dosing phase between phases 307 and 308.

[0053] As for the paper manufacturing process 400, in reference to FIG. 4, usually the adsorbent used in the refining phase 404 is already bentonite (replacing talc), due to its beneficial retention and drainage properties, in addition to control of pitch and stickies, in a typical dual system (microparticle+coagulant), which fixing polymers or biopolymers dosed at the mixing and machine tanks 405 or at the level box 406, mainly following the technological concept previously mentioned in WO 03/085199. As previously seen, instead of isolated bentonite, an alternative adsorbent system such as the hydrotalcite+bentonite mix proposed herein may provide beneficial synergic effects to the process. However, this chemical methodology also comprises the alternative use of hydrolytic enzymes between the pulper 401 and purifiers 402, in addition to supplementary dispersing agents at the storage tank 403. Dosage in points further ahead in the machine circuit, more specifically in the inlet box 409, or even in purifiers 408 and mixing pump 407 may be risky, as it does not allow proper residence time for better chemical action prior to sheet formation.

[0054] Specifically as shown in FIG. 4, the typical paper manufacturing process 400 comprises, in sequence, a pulper phase 401, followed by a phase in purifiers 402, followed by a storage tank phase 403, followed by a refiner phase 404, mixing and machine tanks 405, level box phase 406, mixing pump phase 407, purifiers phase 408 and, finally, the inlet box phase 409; an enzyme dosing phase between phases 401 and 402 is provided; a dispersing agent dosing phase at phase 403; an adsorbent dosing phase (e.g. bentonite) on phase 404; a polymer dosing phase on phase 405; another polymer dosing phase on phase 406.

[0055] It is therefore evident that, in a first aspect of the Invention Patent application, in addition to the special clay mix to be detailed afterwards, that the methodological strategy 100 presented herein is multifaceted and synergic in terms of chemical action, covering the peculiarities of the cellulose 300 and paper 400 manufacturing processes, although it should be noted that variations in the order of application methods and points are possible.

[0056] The embodiments provided in this invention Patent application are only possible if, by the main adsorption method 102, a mix of special clays is provided through an application system 500 (flowchart in FIG. 5), more precisely bentonite (clay 1), hydrotalcite (clay 2) and, optionally, a complementary clay 3 or any other chemical provided in the aforementioned methodology which may be a dispersing agent, a polymer, a biopolymer and/or an enzyme. This system essentially comprises a thermodynamic equipment herein called continuous flow shearing chamber 502, in addition to devices for automatic regulation of talc pre-dosing 501 or post-dosage 503, thus providing ideal efficiency modulation of mixed adsorbents, with partial or full talc replacement, depending on the level of dissolved and colloidal contaminants (pitch and stickies) of processes considered and specific retention and drainage goals.

[0057] Therefore, the mix of talc and substitute clays in the continuous flow shearing chamber 502 may be observed in 3 dimensions on FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 and involves, more particularly, the slurry mix (suspensions above 5%) of bentonite (clay 1) and hydrotalcite (clay 2), with mass ratios that may vary from 1000:1 to 1:1000, ideally between 10:1 to 1:10, in variable pressure conditions by the viscosity of slurries between 10 and 5000 mPa.Math.s, preferably between 200 and 500 mPa.Math.s, and temperature between 40 and 100° C., ideally between 50 and 80° C., reached by high precision pumping with large-sized pumps through which clays are rubbed against each other, favoring delamination and subsequent increase in surface area and exposure of adsorption sites. The talc, which may also enter the continuous flow shearing chamber 502, must uphold the mass relation with the total clay mix at a 1:1000, ratio up to a maximum 1:1 ratio, ideally as low as possible, or even null, which would be the best possible scenario in this invention.

[0058] Regarding the continuous flow shearing chamber 502, this is essentially a homogenizing device formed by two pipe sections, a lower section 502A and an upper section 502B, the first comprising a top peripheral assembly flange 502A′, whereas the second comprises a corresponding bottom peripheral assembly flange 502B′, as both flanges may be joined by screws 502C.

[0059] The lower pipe section 502A features an outlet pipeline 502D, axial to the geometric axis of said pipe section, which includes a connecting flange 502D′, in addition to a radially positioned side inlet pipeline 502E including a corresponding connecting flange 502E′.

[0060] Whereas the upper pipe section 502B comprises a first radially placed side inlet pipeline 502F including a corresponding connecting flange 502F″ and a second radially placed side inlet pipeline 502G including a connecting flange 502G″, in which the first side inlet pipeline 502F is diametrically opposed to the second side inlet pipeline 502G.

[0061] The upper pipe section 502B also comprises a third side inlet pipeline 502H, placed on the same level regarding the first and second side inlet pipelines 502F and 502G, in which said third side inlet pipeline 502H includes a respective connecting flange 502H′.

[0062] The upper pipe section 502B features a top peripheral assembly flange 502B″ against which a closure disc 502J is assembled through screws 5021.

[0063] An electric drive motor 502K is assembled at the center of the closure disc 502J, which drives a vertical shaft 502L which internally traverses both the lower pipe section 502A and the upper pipe section 502B.

[0064] Internally, the lower and upper pipe sections 502A and 502B respectively comprise internal chambers, respectively indicated as 502M and 502N.

[0065] The internal chamber 502N of the upper pipe section 502B comprises a pipe screen 5020 which hangs from the lower face of the closure disc 502J.

[0066] The vertical axis 502L comprises three pairs of homogenizing blades 502P along its full length, while the first of three sets of blades 502P is provided inside the tubular screen 5020, and the second set of blades 502N is positioned in the lower section of the chamber 502N of the upper pipe section 502B and, lastly, the third set of blades 502P is placed at the very bottom 502L′ of the vertical axis 502L, while said third set of blades 502P is placed in the middle of the internal chamber 502M of the lower pipe section 502A.

[0067] Regarding the upper pipe section 502B, the first side inlet pipeline 502F serves as an inlet for “clay 1” (bentonite), while the second side inlet pipeline 502G serves as an inlet for “clay 2” (hydrotalcite), while the third side inlet pipeline 502H serves as an alternate inlet for “clay 3” or other chemicals.

[0068] Regarding the lower pipe section 502, its side inlet pipeline 502E aims at allowing the intake of talc.

[0069] The material flows entering the continuous flow shearing chamber 502 through its upper pipe section 502B through its first, second and third side inlet pipelines 502F, 502G and 502H, are homogenized by the rotation of the vertical axis 502L and, more specifically, by the rotation of the sets of homogenizing blades 502P, which similarly occurs with the talc flow entering the lower tubular chamber 502A through its side pipe section 502E.

[0070] The homogenized flow entering the continuous flow shearing chamber 502 follows thereof through the outlet pipeline 502D towards the processes 300/400, as schematically shown in Figure

[0071] It should be noted, as previously stated in the technical background, that the clays must be in stabilized slurry form that facilitate pumping for application. Patent PI 0401695 (deriving from Chilean patent CL 2002002155) applies bentonite slurries focused on retention and drainage, but does not explore its mixing with other clays such as hydrotalcite. Similarly, the Chinese patent (CN 101333787) provides the isolated action of hydrotalcite over pitch (no mixing with other clays), as well as any gains in retention and drainage.

[0072] It is also known that raw bentonite is often not the most efficient, due to, among other reasons, composition variations inherent to the region from where they are extracted (e.g.: Brazil, Mexico, Greece, Germany, and Morocco). In this sense, this Invention Patent application prioritizes calcitics ones above 60% montmorillonite concentration, ideally between 85 and 95%, as well as those that have undergone a milling process to reach an average particle size lower than 100 μm. This does not mean that sodium bentonites, in natura, or even activated bentonites (e.g. Organophilized) and/or stabilized with various dispersing agents cannot be employed with satisfactory results.

[0073] On the other hand, a recent Chinese patent (CN 109331774) has shown that a modified bentonite may be produced by reacting with hydrotalcite in certain temperature and pressure conditions, however, the application of the material obtained herein is limited to removal of heavy materials and dyes, leaving the way open for other applications such as paper machines proposed herein for controlling pitch and stickies, as well as retention and drainage.

[0074] In addition to hydrotalcite, which are dual lamellar hydroxides belonging to the anionic clay family, featuring a structural formula comprised of bivalent and trivalent metallic cations, as well as an interleaved anion, other clays may also be used in the continuous flow shearing chamber (clay 3), such as quartz, diatomite, pyrite, mica, sepiolite, cristobalite, pyrophyllite, gypsum, limonite, perlite, vermiculite, dolomite, agalmatolite, among others.

[0075] Hydrotalcite employed in the mixes of this invention Patent application may be natural or synthesized through conventional means, such as the co-precipitation method, salt oxide, induced hydrolysis, hydrothermal, among others. The hydrotalcite may feature variations in interlamellar metals and anions, preferably comprising magnesium and aluminum such as cations, and the most common anions are chloride, nitrate, carbonate, and sulfate.

[0076] According to what proposed in this Invention Patent application, the mix of clay slurries, more specifically bentonite and hydrotalcite, may fall into proportions that ideally vary between 1:9 and 9:1, considering that the mix of clay slurries takes place preferably under pressure and temperature obtained through pumping conditions.

[0077] Lastly, in face of the foregoing advancements, in addition to the particular embodiments described and detailed herein, this Invention Patent application should not be considered limited to such descriptions. Moreover, it should be clear to those skilled in the several arts involved herein that any modifications, whether apparent or not, may be incorporated as an integral part of this invention and yet remain in agreement with the scope of the following claims.