# US 8,465,683 B2 · Agglomerated stover for use as a liquid absorbent > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,683 B2 - Document ID: US8465683B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/214,761 - Filed: 2011-08-22 - Published: 2012-03-01 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-27 - Assignees: Regents of the University of Minnesota; Clean Plus, Inc. - Applicants: Tim Hagen; George J. Coy; Matthew Coy - Inventors: Tim Hagen; George J. Coy; Matthew Coy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465683B2 ## CPC - B29C 67/02: Moulding by agglomerating {(B29C67/20 takes precedence)} - B01J 20/28011: {Other properties, e.g. density, crush strength} - B01J 20/3028: {Granulating, agglomerating or aggregating} - B01J 20/3042: {Use of binding agents; addition of materials ameliorating the mechanical properties of the produced sorbent} - B01J 20/3287: {Layers in the form of a liquid} - C09K 3/32: for absorbing liquids to remove pollution, e.g. oil, gasoline, fat - B01J 2220/485: Plants or land vegetals, e.g. cereals, wheat, corn, rice, sphagnum, peat moss - B29K 2003/00: Use of starch or derivatives as moulding material - Y10T 428/2982: Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.] - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract This disclosure describes a method and apparatus for agglomerating stover to produce a liquid absorbing particle. The method comprises providing stover particles coated with a first binder component and then rolling the stover particles coated with the first binder component on a rotating surface. The rotating surface is inclined sufficiently to aid in the rolling of the stover particles. A second liquid binder component that readily chemically crosslinks with the first binder component is applied to the first binder component to produce a web that the stover particles adhere to. The web in combination with the inclined rotating surface rolls the stover particles thereby forming an agglomerated stover particle that will be suitable for absorbing liquids. Agglomerated stover particles are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for agglomerating stover to produce a liquid absorbing particle, the method comprising: providing stover particles coated with a first binder component; and applying a liquid second binder component to the stover particles and rolling the stover particles coated with the first binder component on a rotating surface, the liquid second binder component chemically cross-linking with the first binder component to produce a web to which the stover particles adhere and the rotating surface being inclined sufficiently to effect the rolling of the web and to effect adherence of additional stover particles thereby forming the liquid absorbing particle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the formed liquid absorbing particle has a moisture content of approximately 40 to 70% by weight. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the formed liquid absorbing particle has a moisture content of approximately 50 to 60% by weight. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 and further comprising drying the formed liquid absorbing particle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein the dried liquid absorbing particle has a moisture content of approximately greater than 0 to 15% by weight. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein the dried liquid absorbing particle has a moisture content of approximately 8 to 12% by weight. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein the dried liquid absorbing particle has a bulk density between approximately 4 to 10 pounds per cubic foot. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the dried liquid absorbing particle as a bulk density between approximately 5 to 7 pounds per cubic foot. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein the dried particle is porous. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the first binder component is boric acid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein the liquid second binder component is polyvinyl alcohol. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein concentration of the boric acid solids comprises approximately 3 to 30% by weight and concentration of the polyvinyl alcohol (solids) comprises approximately 1 to 12% by weight. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein the concentration of the boric acid solids comprises approximately 8 to 15% by weight and the concentration of the polyvinyl alcohol (solids) comprises approximately 3 to 8% by weight. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the rotating surface comprises a multiplicity of tiers, concentrically disposed with respect to each other, with an innermost tier being disposed at a lower position than the outermost tier and wherein the stover particles are initially provided to the innermost tier. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 the liquid second binder component is applied within the innermost tier of the rotating surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the liquid second binder component is applied in droplet form.