FUGITIVE EMISSION-SUPPRESSANT AND NON-CORROSIVE AGENT, FUGITIVE EMISSION REDUCTION PROCESS, COMPOSITION, AGENT USE AND PARTICULATE PRODUCT

Abstract

The present invention concerns a composition for suppressing formation and transmission of dust particles. Such de-dusting of particulate products has benefits in health and safety as well as preventing corrosive effects of dust particles. The composition comprises high quality glycerin substantially free of chloride and sulfate salts. Further uses for the compositions described herein are also provided.

Claims

1. Fugitive emission-suppressant and non-corrosive agent for dust-issuing particulate products, characterized by the fact that it comprises glycerin which is substantially free of chloride and sulphate and water and/or vegetable oils and/or derivatives thereof.

2. Fugitive emission-suppressant and non-corrosive agent according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the content of chlorides and/or sulfates in the glycerin is less than 200 ppm.

3. Fugitive emission-suppressant and non-corrosive agent according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the glycerin employed to prepare said aqueous glycerin agent is at least 85% pure.

4. Fugitive emission-suppressant and non-corrosive agent according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the glycerin employed in said aqueous glycerin agent is obtained via acid catalytic transesterification of triglycerides with methanol or ethanol.

5. Fugitive emission-suppressant and non-corrosive agent according to claim 1, characterized by a content of water in the range of 10% to 90% in weight with respect to the total weight of the glycerin and water mixture.

6. Fugitive emission-suppressant and non-corrosive agent according to claim 5, characterized by a content of water in the range of 20% to 30% in weight with respect to the total weight of the glycerin and water mixture.

7. A process of reducing the formation of fugitive emission in dust-issuing particulate products characterized by the fact that comprises applying to said particulate product, an effective amount of aqueous chloride- and sulfate-free glycerin agent according to claim 1.

8. The process according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the amount of said aqueous agent range from 0.2 to 2.0% in weight with respect to the total weight of the dust issuing particulate product.

9. A composition characterized by the fact that it comprises the aqueous chloride- and sulfate-free glycerin agent according to claim 1, and further active ingredients and vehicles.

10. The use of the agent described in claim 1, characterized by the fact that is a fugitive emission-suppressant and non-corrosive agent.

11. A dust-issuing particulate product with reduced fugitive emission characterized by the fact that it comprises the aqueous glycerin agent according to claim 1 as fugitive emission-suppressant and non-corrosive agent.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Suppressant, as in the expression fugitive emission-suppressant, according to the meaning employed in the context of this invention also connotes decreasing, diminishing, controlling, reducing, preventing or inhibiting dust formation.

[0020] With respect to this invention, the use of an aqueous glycerin chloride- and sulfate-free agent in the control of emission of fugitive emissions during manufacturing, handling, storage or transportation of particulate products like grains and derivatives (bran) of soybean, corn, wheat, malt, barley, and other cereals and/or other bulk transported, proved to overcome the inconveniences related to both the emissions of fugitive emission as well as the corrosion.

[0021] Chloride- and sulfate-free glycerin according to the present invention means substantially chloride- and sulfate-free glycerin, with contents up to 200 ppm of either one or both salts.

[0022] Some processes of alkaline catalytic transesterification of triglycerides with methanol or ethanol produces glycerin with about 7% of salts, mostly chloride and sulfate salts. Accordingly, glycerin from this source is not advantageous for the present invention.

[0023] On the other hand the manufacturing process through acid catalytic transesterification of triglycerides with methanol/ethanol produces glycerin from very low to almost no chloride and sulfate content. Non-limiting examples of processes of this nature are those associated to the biodiesel production. Accordingly, the glycerin from that source is advantageous to the present invention since the presence of other components, such as chloride and sulfate salts, does not affect its fugitive emissions-suppressant activity, nor cause substantial corrosion to equipment and pipes in contact with particulate products.

[0024] Also suitable for the present invention are glycerins from scission (oilchemistry) or saponification (soaps).

[0025] The preferred raw material for the production of biodiesel that will have glycerin as a possible by-product employed in this invention is vegetable oil, particularly soybean oil.

[0026] According to one aspect of the invention, a process for reducing the formation of a fugitive emission in particulate products, during handling of such products comprises applying to the particulate product an effective amount of an aqueous chloride- and sulfate-free glycerin agent.

[0027] A particular content of water in the aqueous chloride- and sulfate-free glycerin agent of the invention ranges from 10% to about 90%, preferably from 20% to about 30% in weight with respect to the total weight of the glycerin/water mixture.

[0028] Another aspect of the invention concerns a fugitive emissions-suppressant and non-corrosive agent for dust-issuing particulate products, characterized by the fact that it comprises an aqueous glycerin, substantially chloride- and sulfate-free. Typically, substantially chloride- and sulfate-free glycerin is diluted with water to prepare the agent of the invention. Dilution of the glycerin is useful for adjusting its viscosity. The appropriate viscosity range according to the present invention ranges from about 10 cP to about 1000 cP, preferably about 100 cP (centipoise).

[0029] A particulate material having reduced emissions of fugitive emission comprises inorganic or organic particles coated with an effective amount of the fugitive emission-suppressant and non-corrosive agent of the invention which cost effective in reducing dust formation in the handling of particulate materials, overcoming the drawbacks of previous oil-, petroleum-, wax-based or high salt content anti-dust agents. The aqueous glycerin agent of the invention is environmentally safe.

[0030] As herein used, dust or fugitive emission refers to airborne particles, most of which are about 10 microns or less, created during the production, handling, storage and transportation of particulate products that, under those circumstances, promote the formation of organic or inorganic fine materials. In addition, it may comprise soil residues, cereal fragments, fibers, barks, fertilizers, microorganisms, animal feces, among others.

[0031] The glycerin employed to make the aqueous glycerin agent of the invention is at least 85% pure, with less than 200 ppm of chlorides and/or sulfates.

[0032] The amount of fugitive emission-suppressant and non-corrosive agent of the invention, applied to particulate products must be at least a minimum amount that provides a relevant reduction in the dust formation, with no particular maximum amountthe practical limiting factor would be cost. Of course, the fugitive emission-suppressant and non-corrosive agent preferably should not be present in excessive concentrations that might adversely affect the desired physical and/or chemical properties of the treated particulate product.

[0033] A particular amount direct to the fugitive emissions suppressing of the aqueous glycerin agent of the invention, without exclusion of any other ranges from 0.2 to 2.0% in weight with respect to the total weight of the emitting particulate product of fugitive emission.

[0034] The fugitive emission-suppressant and non-corrosive agent of the invention may be composed with other ingredients, as necessary, as a person skilled in the art will know. This is also a further aspect of the invention, a composition comprising the aqueous glycerin agent described previously and containing further active ingredients and vehicles.

[0035] In still other aspects, the present invention also encompasses: [0036] the use of an aqueous glycerin agent described previously as fugitive emission-suppressant and non-corrosive agent, and [0037] a dust-issuing particulate product with reduced fugitive emission comprising the aqueous glycerin agent describe previously as fugitive emission-suppressant and non-corrosive agent.

[0038] A person skilled in the art with the aid of the information and examples contained herein will be able to execute the invention in an equivalent manner, that is, although performing in a different manner from the ones disclosed, but performing the same or substantially the same function to achieve the same or substantially the same result. Such equivalent embodiments are within the scope of protection of the invention defined in the attached claims.