Fractionated agaroid compositions, their preparation and use
AssigneeFMC Corporation
InventorRichard B. Provonchee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for fractionating agaroid compositions by dissolving the agaroid in a glycol, precipitating a first fraction by cooling and precipitating a second fraction by incorporating a nonsolvent to form two fractions substantially more soluble in water than the initial agaroid. Optionally the solubility of either fraction can be converted to conventional solubilities.
Claims19
A process for converting an extraordinarily soluble agaroid, precipitated from a glycol solution and which is soluble in water at temperatures below the gelling temperature of an aqueous gel made from said extraordinarily soluble agaroid, to a converted agaroid of the same physical shape and form which has a minimum dissolution temperature in water higher than the melting temperature of an aqueous gel made from said extraordinarily soluble agaroid comprising exposing the extraordinarily soluble agaroid to water under conditions which inhibit the dissolution of the extraordinarily soluble agaroid.
In a process for dissolving agaroid compositions in a glycol comprising dissolving an agaroid in the glycol at a temperature of about 50.degree. C.-130.degree. C. and maintaining the solution at or near the dissolution temperature to maintain the agaroid composition in solution, the improvement comprising adding glycerin to the solution prior to cooling to result in an agaroid solution at temperatures below the precipitation temperature of the agaroid solution without the glycerin.
In a process for preparing a conventionally soluble agaroid composition comprising dissolving an agaroid in a glycol at a temperature of about 50.degree. C.-130.degree. C.;
- cooling the solution in a quiescent state to a sufficiently lower temperature to result in a dimensionally stable micro-porous agaroid matrix as a first precipitate;
- and then exposing that precipitate to water under a condition that would inhibit the dissolution of the first precipitate, thereby converting the first precipitate into a conventionally soluble agaroid matrix.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.