Absorbent granular product
AssigneeMarcal Paper Mills, Inc.
InventorsEdward G. Knapick, Brent Willemsen, Ernest P. Wolfer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Granular absorbent products with low amounts of paper fiber are described. The absorbent products are made from recycled paper and include less than about 10% of paper fibers having a length sufficient to be retained on a 100 mesh screen. A process for making such granular absorbent products is also provided. The granular absorbents are highly absorbent for water and oil even though they include only low amounts of paper fiber.
Claims19
A granular absorbent product comprising:
- a plurality of irregular, generally spherical granules containing kaolin clay and cellulose fibers, the granules containing less than 10% by weight of the fibers having a size to be retained on a 100 mesh screen, the granules containing 50-60% organic components and 40-50% by weight inorganic components, the granules having a water absorption capacity of at least about 0.85 ml/g, and a bulk density of at least 24 lbs/ft.sup.3, at least some of the fibers communicating between the surface of a granule and the interior of the granule.
A granular product for absorbing liquids comprising:
- a plurality of irregular, generally spherical granules having a bulk density of at least 24 lbs/ft.sup.3 and a solids content of at least 95%;
- the majority of the granules having a size that will pass through a 6 mesh screen and be retained on a 30 mesh screen;
- the granules containing kaolin clay and cellulose fibers recovered from waste paper, the granules containing less than 10% of the fibers having a length sufficient to be retained on a 100 mesh screen, said granules containing 40-50% by weight of inorganic constituents and 50-60% by weight organic constituents;
- and
- the granules having the ability to absorb water at the rate of at least 0.85 ml/g.
A granular absorbent product comprising:
- (a) a plurality of irregular, generally spherical granules having a bulk density of at least 24 lbs/ft.sup.3 and a solids content of at least 95%;
- (b) the granules containing organic and inorganic solid constituents, including kaolin clay and cellulose fibers recovered from waste paper, 50-60% by weight of the solid constituents being organic and 40-50% by weight of the solid constituents being inorganic;
- (c) at least some of the fibers extending from the surface of the granule to the interior of the granule;
- (d) the granules having an absorption capacity for water of at least about 0.85 ml/g and for oil of at least 0.65 ml/g, and having a substantial integrity when wet;
- and
- (e) the granules having a resistance to attrition of at least 98% and having a size distribution wherein less than 60% of the granules have a size of 16 mesh or greater.
An absorbent material comprising granules containing 50-60% by weight of inorganic constituents including kaolin clay and 40-50% by weight of organic materials including cellulose material in the form of fibers, the granules containing less than 10 percent of the cellulose fibers having a length sufficient to be retained on a 100 mesh screen, the granules having a bulk density of at least about 24 lbs/ft.sup.3, the granules having a porous outer surface and having an irregular, generally spherical shape, and the granules having a resistance to attrition of at least 90%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.