Patent ID: 8889068

Claim:
A process for disinfecting or preserving an aqueous suspension of mineral matter comprising calcium carbonate of or from microbial contamination, said process comprising: a) at least one stage to increase and maintain the OH − ion concentration of the aqueous suspension of the mineral matter comprising calcium carbonate, to a value greater than or equal to 1×10 −2 mole/l, by addition of an antimicrobial agent consisting of one or more OH − ion donors selected from alkali oxides and alkali hydroxides, for a sufficient time to disinfect or preserve the aqueous suspension of the mineral matter comprising calcium carbonate of or from microbial contamination, so that the aqueous suspension of the mineral matter comprising calcium carbonate has a microbe concentration of less than or equal to 100 microbes/gram, b) at least one stage of dispersion and/or grinding of the aqueous suspension of the mineral matter comprising calcium carbonate, occurring before, during or after stage a), and c) at least one stage to reduce the OH − ion concentration of the aqueous suspension of the mineral matter comprising calcium carbonate, occurring after stage a), to a value less than or equal to 1×10 −2 mole/l.