METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A GRANULAR MINERAL COMPOSITION

Abstract

A method for forming mineral granules can be accomplished with a granulation reaction of edible acids and mineral bases to form mineral salts. The reaction is carried out in a manner that produces granules without requiring a binder or requiring the use of extrusion and milling techniques to control particle size. The granulation reaction can be performed by introducing a solvent into reaction vessel and dissolving an edible acid into the solvent before adding a first portion of a total amount of a mineral base into the reaction vessel to form a first mixture. The reaction components are then mixed and maintained at an elevated temperature below the boiling point. A final portion of the mineral base is then added into the reaction vessel, and mixed at a final temperature below the boiling point so as to induce agglutination to form granules having a dimension of at least 40 microns.

Description

Claims

1. A method for using a granulation reaction for forming a mineral granules the method comprising: introducing a solvent into a reaction vessel;dissolving at least one edible acid into the solvent;introducing a first portion of a total amount of a mineral base into the reaction vessel to form a first mixture;mixing the first mixture while at a first temperature below the boiling point of the solvent;introducing a last portion of the total amount of the mineral base into the reaction vessel to form a final mixture; andmixing the final mixture at a final temperature below the boiling point of the solvent so as to induce agglutination to form granules having a desired dimension.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the solvent is an aqueous solution.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the first portion is at least about 20% of the total amount.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the total amount of mineral base is less than 300 kg.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein the average dimension of the granules is at least about 40 microns.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the edible acid is selected from the group consisting of malic acid, fumaric acid, citric acid, lactic acid, benzoic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, acetic acid, phosphoric acid, propionic acid, sulfuric acid, and combinations thereof.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein the edible acid is an organic acid.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of malic acid, fumaric acid, citric acid, lactic acid, benzoic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, and combinations thereof.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the organic acid includes malic acid and citric acid.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein the first temperature is less than the final temperature.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the final temperature is less than about 100° C.

12. A method as in claim 10, wherein the first temperature is less than about 50° C.

13. A method as in claim 1, wherein the final temperature is sufficiently low to prevent a reactant from becoming baked or burnt onto the reaction vessel.

14. A method as in claim 1, wherein the mineral base is selected from a group consisting of a mineral hydroxide, mineral oxide, and mineral carbonate

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein the mineral base is selected from the group consisting of calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc, potassium, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, sodium, phosphorus, selenium, lithium, rubidium, cesium, francium, or combinations thereof.

16. A method as in claim 14, wherein the mineral hydroxide is at least one of an alkali hydroxide or an alkaline earth hydroxide.

17. A method as in claim 1, wherein the granules are characterized as being larger than about 325 mesh.

18. A method as in claim 1, wherein the first portion and/or final portion is added in a substantially continuous flow.

19. A method as in claim 1, wherein the first portion and/or final portion is added in bulk.

20. A method as in claim 1, further comprising: introducing a second portion of a total amount of a mineral base into the reaction vessel to form a second mixture; andmaintaining the second mixture at a second temperature below the boiling point of the solvent while mixing the second mixture.

21. A method as in claim 20, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature and lower than the final temperature.

22. A method as in claim 20, wherein the combined first and second portions are less than about 90% of the total amount.

23. A method as in claim 1, further comprising removing liquid from the final mixture.

24. A method as in claim 1, wherein the mineral forms a salt with the edible acid.

25. A method for using a granulation reaction for forming mineral granules the method comprising: introducing water into reaction vessel;dissolving at least one organic acid into the water;introducing a first portion of a total amount of a mineral base into the reaction vessel to form a first mixture, wherein the mineral base is selected from the group consisting of a mineral hydroxide, mineral oxide, mineral carbonate, and combinations thereof;mixing the first mixture at a first temperature below about 100° C.;introducing a last portion of the total amount of the mineral base into the reaction vessel to form a final mixture; andmixing the final mixture at a final temperature below about 100° C. so as to induce agglutination to form granules having a dimension of at least about 40 microns, and to remove liquid water from the granules.

26. A method for using a granulation reaction for forming mineral granules the method comprising: introducing water into reaction vessel;dissolving malic acid and citric acid into the water;introducing a first portion of a total amount of a mineral base into the reaction vessel to form a first mixture, the mineral base being at least one of potassium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, potassium oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, potassium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, or calcium carbonate;mixing the first mixture at a first temperature;introducing a second portion of a total amount of the mineral base into the reaction vessel to form a second mixture;mixing the second mixture at a second temperature above the first temperature;introducing a last portion of the total amount of the mineral base into the reaction vessel by bulk addition to form a final mixture; andmixing the final mixture at a final temperature so as to induce agglutination to form granules having a desired dimension and to remove free liquid water from the granules.