Method of forming a cellulose sponge

Claim 1

THE METHOD OF FORMING A SPONGE HAVING A MULTIPLICITY IF FINE PORES TO THE EXTENT OF AT LEAST 500,00 PORES PER CUBIC INCH, SAID METHOD COMPRISING PREPARING A PASTE INCLUDING A VISCOSE SOLUTION AND POWER FINE CRYSTALS OF AN ALKALI METAL SALT HAVING A MELTING POINT NOT GREATER THAN ABOUT 95*C., SUBJECTING THE PASTE THUS FORMED TO TWO SEPARATE HEAT APPLICATIONS, THE FIRST COMPRISING AN INITIAL ELEVATED TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF FROM ABOUT 55*C. TO 75*C. TO EFFECT PARTIAL REGENERATION OF THE CELLULOSE OF THE VISCOSE SOLUTION WHEREBY A SUBSTANTIALLY IMMOBILE AND HOMOGENEOUS GEL-LIKE MASS INCLUDING THE FINE CRYSTALS OF SALT IS FORMED AND THE SECOND HEAT APPLICATION COMPRISING THEREAFTER SUBJECTING THIS GEL-LIKE MASS TO A SUBSEQUENT TEMPERATURE AT LEAST 10*C. HIGHER THAN THE FIRST APPLIED HEAT AND IN EXCESS OF 75*C. TO ACCOMPLISH THE COMPLETE REGENERATION OF THE CELLULOSE OF THE VISCOSE SOLUTION TO FORM THE SPONGE.

Claim 2

THE METHOD OF FORMING A SPONGE HAVING A MULTIPLICITY IF FINE PORES TO THE EXTENT OF AT LEAST 500,00 PORES PER CUBIC INCH, SAID METHOD COMPRISING PREPARING A PASTE INCLUDING A VISCOSE SOLUTION AND POWER FINE CRYSTALS OF AN ALKALI METAL SALT HAVING A MELTING POINT NOT GREATER THAN ABOUT 95*C., SUBJECTING THE PASTE THUS FORMED TO TWO SEPARATE HEAT APPLICATIONS, THE FIRST COMPRISING AN INITIAL ELEVATED TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF FROM ABOUT 55*C. TO 75*C. TO EFFECT PARTIAL REGENERATION OF THE CELLULOSE OF THE VISCOSE SOLUTION WHEREBY A SUBSTANTIALLY IMMOBILE AND HOMOGENEOUS GEL-LIKE MASS INCLUDING THE FINE CRYSTALS OF SALT IS FORMED AND THE SECOND HEAT APPLICATION COMPRISING THEREAFTER SUBJECTING THIS GEL-LIKE MASS TO A SUBSEQUENT TEMPERATURE AT LEAST 10*C. HIGHER THAN THE FIRST APPLIED HEAT AND IN EXCESS OF 75*C. TO ACCOMPLISH THE COMPLETE REGENERATION OF THE CELLULOSE OF THE VISCOSE SOLUTION TO FORM THE SPONGE.