Method of reducing water content of emulsions, suspensions, and dispersions with highly absorbent starch-containing polymeric compositions
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
InventorsMary Ollidene Weaver, Edward B. Bagley, George F. Fanta, William M. Doane
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Starch-containing polymer compositions are prepared which absorb amounts of water equaling up to more than 1000 times their own weight. The compositions find many applications including their incorporation into products such as disposable diapers, surgical pads and sheets, and paper towels.
Claims9
A method of reducing the water content of emulsions, comprising:
- a. providing an aqueous-fluid absorbing composition comprising water-insoluble alkali salts of aqueous alkali saponified gelatinized-starch-polyacrylonitrile graft polymers which contain gelatinized starch (GS) and saponified polyacrylonitrile (HPAN) in molar ratios of from about 1:1.5 to 1:9 GS:HPAN, said water-insoluble alkali salts of aqueous alkali saponified gelatinized-starch-polyacrylonitrile graft polymers being further characterized as water-insoluble solids capable of absorbing in excess of 300 parts of water by weight per part of said water-insoluble solids,
- b. mixing an emulsion with the aqueous fluid-absorbing composition, and
- c. separating the resuling water-soaked aqueous-fluid absorbing composition from the resulting water-reduced emulsion.
A method of reducing the water content of aqueous suspensions or dispersions, comprising:
- a. providing an aqueous-fluid absorbing composition comprising water-insoluble alkali salts of aqueous alkali saponified gelatinized-starch-polyacrylonitrile graft polymers which contain gelatinized starch (GS) and saponified polyacrylonitrile (HPAN) in molar ratios of from about 1:1.5 to 1:9 GS:HPAN, said water-insoluble alkali salts of aqueous alkali saponified gelatinized-starch-polyacrylonitrile graft polymers being further characterized as water-insoluble solids capable of absorbing in excess of 300 parts of water by weight per part of said water-insoluble solids,
- b. mixing an aqueous suspension or dispersion with the aqueous-fluid absorbing composition, and
- c. separating the resulting water-soaked aqueous fluid-absorbing composition from the resulting water-reduced suspension or dispersion.
A method of changing the consistency of aqueous suspensions or dispersions from a fluid to a sufficiently solid mass to be handled by ordinary mechanical means, comprising:
- a. providing an aqueous-fluid absorbing composition comprising water-insoluble alkali salts of aqueous alkali saponified gelatinized-starch-polyacrylonitrile graft polymers which contain gelatinized starch (GS) and saponified polyacrylonitrile (HPAN) in molar ratios of from about 1:1.5 to 1:9 GS:HPAN, said water-insoluble alkali salts of aqueous alkali saponified gelatinized-starch-polyacrylonitrile graft polymers being further characterized as water-insoluble solids capable of absorbing in excess of 300 parts of water by weight per part of said water-insoluble solids,
- b. mixing an aqueous suspension or dispersion with the aqueous-fluid absorbing composition in amounts sufficient to form a crumbly solid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.