c-ray
07-08-2008, 03:30 PM
I've seen this product at the hydro shops for years and there is all sorts of claims on the internet about how it can be used to grow better plants
so I was curious and I found a patent with some info on how to make it:
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=3,893,943.PN.&OS=PN/3,893,943&RS=PN/3,893,943
EXAMPLE I
This example illustrates one presently preferred process for preparing the catalyst of the invention.
Anhydrous calcium chloride in an amount of 0.66 gram and magnesium sulfate heptahydrate in an amount of 1.32 grams were dissolved in 2 liters of deionized water with stirring and warming until solution was complete. Then 95 grams of sodium silicate pentahydrate having a molecular ratio of sodium oxide to silicon dioxide of 1:1 was added to the solution with stirring and continued warming to produce a white suspension of finely divided particles of the reaction product. Most of the reaction product appeared to be present in the form of a colloidal suspension.
After setting for 10 minutes, the suspension of the reaction product was heated to 80.degree.C. and 201 grams of sulfated castor oil was added with stirring. The average molecular weight of the sulfated castor oil was 400 and it contained 50% of water. The turbidity lessened somewhat as the suspension was heated at 80.degree.-90.degree.C. for 1 hour with vigorous stirring to produce catalyst micelles. The concentrated aqueous suspension of catalyst micelles thus prepared had a viscosity similar to that of water and it was used in Examples II and III appearing thereinafter.
The aqueous concentrate was useful as a catalyst in treating carbonaceous materials in general which have active sites. Catalyst costs were reduced by adding 2-1,000 parts of water before use. The diluted catalyst suspension was catalytically active and give satisfactory results.
A dry or solid catalyst concentrate was prepared in a further run by evaporating water from the aqueous catalyst suspension. The resulting catalyst concentrate was resuspended in water and there was no substantial loss of catalytic activity. In still other runs, the catalytic activity of the concentrated aqueous suspension of catalyst, the diluted aqueous suspension of catalyst, and the reconstituted aqueous catalyst suspension was enhanced by freezing and thawing.
another patent here with info on making catalyst altered lignite and making lignite soluble in water
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=4,237,101.PN.&OS=PN/4,237,101&RS=PN/4,237,101
EXAMPLE VII
This Example illustrates the preparation of the fossil fuel solutions of the invention from lignite.
Lignite from the Havelock Mine, New England, North Dakota was ground to minus 60 mesh (Tyler Screen) and 200 grams thereof was admixed with 250 ml of a catalyst suspension prepared in accordance with Example I and diluted with 1000 volumes of water. The admixture was treated for 2 hours at room temperature (72.degree. F.) in a 1 quart Abbe Ball Mill using 3/4" ceramic balls. Following the treatment, the reaction mixture was filtered to obtain a glassy black pitch-like solid residue of treated lignite particles and a yellow liquid treating solution having a pH of 6.7.
The treated lignite particles were extracted with acetone to produce a dark red solution and a residue of acetone extracted particles. The acetone extracted particles were further extracted with 3 M hydrochloric acid to obtain a yellow-orange acidic extract solution and an acid extracted residue.
The acid extracted char was further treated with 1 M sodium hydroxide solution and the mixture set to a jet-black pitchlike substance. The solution was filtered with difficulty to yield a black thick liquid and a sodium hydroxide treated residue. When the residue was washed with water, the solid material peptized and passed through the filter. Thus, substantially all of the lignite was solubilized.
EXAMPLE VIII
This Example illustrates the preparation of an aqueous solution of catalyst treated lignite.
Weathered lignite having a particle size of minus 80 mesh (Tyler Screen) was admixed in an amount of 50 pounds with 2.50 ml of the catalyst suspension prepared in accordance with Example I and 8 gallons of hot soft water having a temperature of 150.degree. F. The admixture was heated and stirred and after five minutes, the pH value was approximately 5. The admixture was allowed to set without heating for 12 hours and then 2 pounds of flake caustic (78% sodium hydroxide) was added. The admixture was stirred for approximately 5 minutes and the pH was 5-6. The wet catalyst treated lignite was air dried and stored in a plastic container.
The above prepared catalyst treated lignite was admixed in an amount of 298 grams with 307 grams of the catalyst suspension prepared in accordance with Example I. The resultant moist solid was stored in an airtight container while awaiting the preparation of a solution. Thereafter, 5 grams of this admixture was added to one gallon of soft water. Substantially all of the treated lignite dissolved forming a dark opaque blue-black solution. The solution contained the catalyst in a concentration equivalent to diluting the catalyst suspension of Example I with 1000 volumes of water and it also contained 700 parts per million of the dissolved catalyst treated lignite. The pH value was 7.
The above prepared lignite solution was tested on cultures of Staphylococcus Aures (gram positive) and Escherichia Coli (gram negative). The solution completely inhibited the growth of both Staphylococcus Aures and Escherichia Coli.
EXAMPLE XI
This Example illustrates the treatment of Havelock Mine lignite having a particle size such that 85% passed through a minus 85 mesh Tyler Screen.
An admixture of 70 pounds of the lignite, 300 ml of the catalyst suspension prepared in accordance with Example I and 8 gallons of soft water having a temperature of 150.degree. F. was prepared. After 5 minutes of heating and stirring, the pH was 5 and 2.2 pounds of flake caustic soda (78% sodium hydroxide) was added. The pH of the resultant solution was 12 and after one-half hour of heating the pH was 11. The admixture was allowed to set for 12 hours.
Thereafter 1/2 of the treated lignite was air dried. A white encrustation appeared on the surface after drying. A second 1/2 portion of the treated lignite was kept moist with water for 2 days to determine if air oxidation continues provided the treated lignite is kept moist and basic. Upon testing, it was found that the air oxidation did continue. A white encrustation formed on the surface of the treated lignite when dry. The remaining 1/3 portion of the treated lignite was admixed with 2 gallons of hot soft water and thereafter 100 grams of sodium perborate was added. The temperature was 76.degree. C. Thereafter, the treated lignite was air dried in the sun and no white encrustation developed on the surface.
so I was curious and I found a patent with some info on how to make it:
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=3,893,943.PN.&OS=PN/3,893,943&RS=PN/3,893,943
EXAMPLE I
This example illustrates one presently preferred process for preparing the catalyst of the invention.
Anhydrous calcium chloride in an amount of 0.66 gram and magnesium sulfate heptahydrate in an amount of 1.32 grams were dissolved in 2 liters of deionized water with stirring and warming until solution was complete. Then 95 grams of sodium silicate pentahydrate having a molecular ratio of sodium oxide to silicon dioxide of 1:1 was added to the solution with stirring and continued warming to produce a white suspension of finely divided particles of the reaction product. Most of the reaction product appeared to be present in the form of a colloidal suspension.
After setting for 10 minutes, the suspension of the reaction product was heated to 80.degree.C. and 201 grams of sulfated castor oil was added with stirring. The average molecular weight of the sulfated castor oil was 400 and it contained 50% of water. The turbidity lessened somewhat as the suspension was heated at 80.degree.-90.degree.C. for 1 hour with vigorous stirring to produce catalyst micelles. The concentrated aqueous suspension of catalyst micelles thus prepared had a viscosity similar to that of water and it was used in Examples II and III appearing thereinafter.
The aqueous concentrate was useful as a catalyst in treating carbonaceous materials in general which have active sites. Catalyst costs were reduced by adding 2-1,000 parts of water before use. The diluted catalyst suspension was catalytically active and give satisfactory results.
A dry or solid catalyst concentrate was prepared in a further run by evaporating water from the aqueous catalyst suspension. The resulting catalyst concentrate was resuspended in water and there was no substantial loss of catalytic activity. In still other runs, the catalytic activity of the concentrated aqueous suspension of catalyst, the diluted aqueous suspension of catalyst, and the reconstituted aqueous catalyst suspension was enhanced by freezing and thawing.
another patent here with info on making catalyst altered lignite and making lignite soluble in water
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=4,237,101.PN.&OS=PN/4,237,101&RS=PN/4,237,101
EXAMPLE VII
This Example illustrates the preparation of the fossil fuel solutions of the invention from lignite.
Lignite from the Havelock Mine, New England, North Dakota was ground to minus 60 mesh (Tyler Screen) and 200 grams thereof was admixed with 250 ml of a catalyst suspension prepared in accordance with Example I and diluted with 1000 volumes of water. The admixture was treated for 2 hours at room temperature (72.degree. F.) in a 1 quart Abbe Ball Mill using 3/4" ceramic balls. Following the treatment, the reaction mixture was filtered to obtain a glassy black pitch-like solid residue of treated lignite particles and a yellow liquid treating solution having a pH of 6.7.
The treated lignite particles were extracted with acetone to produce a dark red solution and a residue of acetone extracted particles. The acetone extracted particles were further extracted with 3 M hydrochloric acid to obtain a yellow-orange acidic extract solution and an acid extracted residue.
The acid extracted char was further treated with 1 M sodium hydroxide solution and the mixture set to a jet-black pitchlike substance. The solution was filtered with difficulty to yield a black thick liquid and a sodium hydroxide treated residue. When the residue was washed with water, the solid material peptized and passed through the filter. Thus, substantially all of the lignite was solubilized.
EXAMPLE VIII
This Example illustrates the preparation of an aqueous solution of catalyst treated lignite.
Weathered lignite having a particle size of minus 80 mesh (Tyler Screen) was admixed in an amount of 50 pounds with 2.50 ml of the catalyst suspension prepared in accordance with Example I and 8 gallons of hot soft water having a temperature of 150.degree. F. The admixture was heated and stirred and after five minutes, the pH value was approximately 5. The admixture was allowed to set without heating for 12 hours and then 2 pounds of flake caustic (78% sodium hydroxide) was added. The admixture was stirred for approximately 5 minutes and the pH was 5-6. The wet catalyst treated lignite was air dried and stored in a plastic container.
The above prepared catalyst treated lignite was admixed in an amount of 298 grams with 307 grams of the catalyst suspension prepared in accordance with Example I. The resultant moist solid was stored in an airtight container while awaiting the preparation of a solution. Thereafter, 5 grams of this admixture was added to one gallon of soft water. Substantially all of the treated lignite dissolved forming a dark opaque blue-black solution. The solution contained the catalyst in a concentration equivalent to diluting the catalyst suspension of Example I with 1000 volumes of water and it also contained 700 parts per million of the dissolved catalyst treated lignite. The pH value was 7.
The above prepared lignite solution was tested on cultures of Staphylococcus Aures (gram positive) and Escherichia Coli (gram negative). The solution completely inhibited the growth of both Staphylococcus Aures and Escherichia Coli.
EXAMPLE XI
This Example illustrates the treatment of Havelock Mine lignite having a particle size such that 85% passed through a minus 85 mesh Tyler Screen.
An admixture of 70 pounds of the lignite, 300 ml of the catalyst suspension prepared in accordance with Example I and 8 gallons of soft water having a temperature of 150.degree. F. was prepared. After 5 minutes of heating and stirring, the pH was 5 and 2.2 pounds of flake caustic soda (78% sodium hydroxide) was added. The pH of the resultant solution was 12 and after one-half hour of heating the pH was 11. The admixture was allowed to set for 12 hours.
Thereafter 1/2 of the treated lignite was air dried. A white encrustation appeared on the surface after drying. A second 1/2 portion of the treated lignite was kept moist with water for 2 days to determine if air oxidation continues provided the treated lignite is kept moist and basic. Upon testing, it was found that the air oxidation did continue. A white encrustation formed on the surface of the treated lignite when dry. The remaining 1/3 portion of the treated lignite was admixed with 2 gallons of hot soft water and thereafter 100 grams of sodium perborate was added. The temperature was 76.degree. C. Thereafter, the treated lignite was air dried in the sun and no white encrustation developed on the surface.