Method of rapidly dissolving polymers in water
AssigneeDiatec Polymers
InventorsEdwin T. Sortwell, Manuel Slovinsky, Alan R. Mikkelsen
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Abstract
A method for rapidly dissolving particles of dry water soluble polymers or gums in water. A suspension of polymer particles is formed and subjected to conditions of high shear in a particle size reduction apparatus whereby the finely divided particles are forced into solution. Sufficient water is present that heat is dissipated and molecular degradation of the polymer is avoided.
Claims33
A method of rapidly dissolving particles of a water soluble polymer in water, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting said particles with water to form a suspension of said particles in water;
- and,
- (b) simultaneously with or immediately after formation of said suspension subjecting said suspension to instantaneous and momentary conditions of high shear in order to finely divide said particles, said shear conditions and the proportion of said water to said polymer in said suspension being selected to avoid molecular degradation of said polymer, whereby at least a portion of said particles are dissolved in said water.
A method of rapidly dissolving particles of a water soluble polymer in water, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting said particles with water to form a suspension of said particles in water;
- and,
- (b) simultaneously with or immediately after formation of said suspension finely dividing said particles by subjecting said suspension to instantaneous and momentary conditions of high shear in a particle size reduction apparatus comprising a rotatable impeller and a cylindrical array of generally radially directed blade members circumferentially surrounding said impeller, with radial discharge spaces defined between adjacent blades, said shear conditions and the proportion of said water to said polymer in said suspension being selected to avoid molecular degradation of said polymer, whereby at least a portion of said particles are dissolved in said water.
A method of rapidly dissolving particles of a water soluble polymer in water, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting said particles with water to form a suspension of said particles in water;
- and,
- (b) immediately after formation of said suspension subjecting said suspension to instantaneous and momentary conditions of high shear in order to finely divide said particles, said shear conditions and the proportion of said water to said polymer in said suspension being selected to avoid molecular degradation of said polymer, whereby at least a portion of said particles are dissolved in said water.
A method of rapidly dissolving particles of a water soluble acrylamide polymer in water, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting said particles with water to form a suspension of said particles in water;
- and,
- (b) simultaneously with or immediately after formation of said suspension subjecting said suspension to instantaneous and momentary conditions of high shear in order to finely divide said particles, said shear conditions and the proportion of said water to said polymer in said suspension being selected to avoid molecular degradation of said polymer, whereby at least a portion of said particles are dissolved in said water.
A method of rapidly dissolving particles of a water soluble acrylamide polymer in water, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting said particles with water to form a suspension of said particles in water;
- and,
- (b) simultaneously with or immediately after formation of said suspension finely dividing said particles by subjecting said suspension to instantaneous and momentary conditions of high shear in a particle size reduction apparatus comprising a rotatable impeller and a cylindrical array of generally radially directed blade members circumferentially surrounding said impeller, with radial discharge spaces defined between adjacent blades, said shear conditions and the proportion of said water to said polymer in said suspension being selected to avoid molecular degradation of said polymer, whereby at least a portion of said particles are dissolved in said water.
A method of rapidly dissolving particles of a water soluble polymer in water, said polymer being selected from the group consisting of biologically produced polymers and polyethylene oxides, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting said particles with water to form a suspension of said particles in water;
- and,
- (b) simultaneously with or immediately after formation of said suspension subjecting said suspension to instantaneous and momentary conditions of high shear in order to finely divide said particles, said shear conditions and the proportion of said water to said polymer in said suspension being selected to avoid molecular degradation of said polymer, whereby at least a portion of said particles are dissolved in said water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.