Luzenac 20-pages - Rio Tinto

wastewater treatment
New solutions for biological
wastewater treatment plants
One of the principal problems facing
biological wastewater treatment plant
operators is how to deal with the huge
volumes of wet sludge left at the end of
the settling process.
At the Pollutec Exhibition held in Paris
in December 2003, Luzenac presented a
new application for its Aquatal® range
aimed to optimise the sludge dewatering
process.
Aquatal® is a natural, environmentally
friendly blend of talc and chlorite
with a specific mineral composition
and particle size distribution. It is a
structuring agent, which improves
water/sludge separation efficiency.
Aquatal® speeds up the separation of
the solid and liquid phases during
crop protection
Talc protects growing fruit…
naturally
There is nothing quite like biting into a
sweet, juicy Granny Smith apple on a
hot summer day, or baking them into a
homemade, deep-dish apple pie.
However, in order to get this highly
popular fruit to market, it first has to
survive the rigours of maturing in the
orchard—and dealing with the harsh,
burning UV-rays of the sun. Yes, just like
people, fruit can get sunburn. In fact, if
left unattended, sunburn and heat
stress can damage up to 45% of a
typical crop.
To combat this problem, Luzenac
has begun development of a new
draining and facilitates water
extraction during pressing. It also
improves flocculation, preventing
seepage, mesh clogging and sticking of
sludge cakes.
A low dosage of Aquatal® before the
dewatering process enables wastewater
treatment plant operators to reduce
volume and mass of wet sludge,
accelerate machine throughput and
optimise sludge preparation.
Aquatal® is already used in over 150
municipal and industrial wastewater
treatment plants in Europe to improve
sludge settleability in the case of
bulking and hydraulic or organic overload.
With the development of this new
application, Aquatal® now provides
wastewater treatment plant operators
with an all-round natural solution.
talc-based crop protectant product,
Invelop® SPF. Initial trials conducted
in 2003 evaluated sunburn protection
for apples. The data showed that when
Invelop® SPF was sprayed onto Granny
Smith apples it reduced the surface
temperature and lowered the incidence
of sunburn by up to 60%.
Invelop® SPF is a natural solution to a
natural problem, replacing the use of
synthetic chemicals and continuous
cooling water sprays. EPA registration
and approvals for use in organic
farming are expected for Invelop® SPF.
Further trials on grapes, pears, and
plums will be conducted in 2004.
sustainable construction materials
Talc for sustainable construction materials
One of our major innovations in 2003 was an
engineered talc product for the wood-plastic
composite market.
Wood-plastic composites are a mixture of
plastic, wood flour, sawdust or other natural
fibres and, in some cases, minerals. These
components are melt blended in extruders
or other processing devices to form a variety
of extruded profiles, thermoformed and
compression moulded parts used to construct
patio decking, window frames, doors, railings,
roofing, patio furniture, fencing, docks and
garden structures.
Wood-plastic composites present a range of
advantages from a sustainable development
point of view:
• They provide an outlet for scrap plastic,
recycled plastics, waste wood and side
products from the wood processing industry;
• They provide a viable alternative to impregnated
wood, which may contain toxic
substances, as well as valued hardwoods;
talc for the world 15
• They are easy to recycle and can be ultimately
burnt for the production of heat;
• They are highly durable and have low-maintenance
requirements;
• They eliminate paint, thus reducing VOC
emissions;
• They have extended functional service life
and enhanced weatherability.
For the time being, these composites are
primarily used for non-structural applications.
However, research performed by Luzenac
America and Washington State University
has shown that incorporating talc into woodplastic
composites considerably enhances
their performance in terms of stiffness,
dimensional stability and water resistance,
making talc-reinforced wood-plastic composites
suitable for use in structural applications
such as decking supports, piers and home
construction.
Talc-reinforced plastic composites may well
become a major material for the construction
market in years to come.
talc the mineral