# US 8,785,417 B2 · Absorbent hydrophobic boronate galactomannan complexes and process for producing same

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- Number: US 8,785,417 B2
- Document ID: US8785417B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/367,029
- Filed: 2009-02-06
- Published: 2010-02-18
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2009-02-06
- Assignees: Archer Daniels Midland Company
- Applicants: Anne-Claude Couffin; Mohammed Berrada; André Laforest; Nicolas Nourry
- Inventors: Anne-Claude Couffin; Mohammed Berrada; André Laforest; Nicolas Nourry
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8785417B2

## CPC

- A61L 15/60: Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents
- A61L 15/18: containing inorganic materials
- A61L 15/28: Polysaccharides or their derivatives {(A61L15/225 takes precedence)}
- B01J 20/24: Naturally occurring macromolecular compounds, e.g. humic acids or their derivatives
- B01J 20/26: Synthetic macromolecular compounds
- B01J 20/262: {obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon to carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. obtained by polycondensation (macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bonds per se C08G)}
- B01J 2220/4825: Polysaccharides or cellulose materials, e.g. starch, chitin, sawdust, wood, straw, cotton
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS

## Abstract

Absorbent boronate-galactomannan complexes comprising a hydrophobic group are disclosed. The boronate-galactomannan complexes are solid materials capable of gel forming upon contacting with liquids. The boronate-galactomannan complexes are particularly suitable for absorbing liquids.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An absorbent material comprising one or more dried particles consisting of boronate galactomannan complexes that are precipitated from one or more hydrophilic organic solvents, said dried particles having a size ranging from about 80 μm to about 800 μm, wherein said boronate galactomannan complexes comprise a hydrophobic group, and said dried particles have a Free Swell Capacity (FSC) in a range between 45 g/g and 112.0 g/g and a Centrifuge Retention Capacity (CRC) in a range between 39.5 g/g and 91.0 g/g.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The absorbent material of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic group is selected from the group consisting of aromatic groups, aliphatic groups and cyclic aliphatic groups.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The absorbent material of claim 1, wherein the galactomannan is selected from the group consisting of guar gum, locust bean gum, fenugreek gum, tara gum, mesquite gum and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The absorbent material of claim 3, wherein the galactomannan comprises a galactose to mannose ratio ranging from about 1:5 to about 1:1.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A product comprising the absorbent material of claim 1, the product being selected from the group consisting of diapers, incontinence articles, feminine hygiene products, airlaids, absorbent dressings, litter products, absorbent paper products, bandages, surgical pads, and food pads.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method for absorbing liquids, comprising the step of contacting the absorbent material of claim 1 with a liquid selected from the group consisting of water, aqueous solutions, physiological solutions and saline solutions.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

An absorbent composition comprising at least one absorbent material as defined in claim 1, and at least one co-absorbent material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The absorbent composition of claim 7, wherein the co-absorbent material is selected from the group consisting of synthetic superabsorbent polymers, starch-based absorbents, ionic polysaccharides, fibers and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

A product comprising the absorbent composition of claim 7, the product being selected from the group consisting of diapers, incontinence articles, feminine hygiene products, airlaids, absorbent dressings, litter products, absorbent paper products, bandages, surgical pads, and food pads.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

A method for absorbing liquids, comprising the step of contacting the absorbent composition of claim 7 with a liquid selected from the group consisting of water, aqueous solutions, physiological solutions and saline solutions.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

A method for absorbing liquids comprising contacting said liquids with the absorbent composition of claim 7.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the liquids are selected from the group consisting of water, aqueous solutions, physiological solutions and saline solutions.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The absorbent composition of claim 7, wherein the boronate galactomannan complexes are capable of forming a gel upon contacting with a liquid.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A method for absorbing liquids comprising contacting said liquids with the absorbent material of claim 1.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the liquids are selected from the group consisting of water, aqueous solutions, physiological solutions and saline solutions.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The absorbent material of claim 1, wherein the boronate galactomannan complexes are capable of forming a gel upon contacting with a liquid.