Regenerated cellulose softener recovery method and apparatus

Claim 2

REMOVING ENTRAINED DROPLETS OF AQUEOUS SOLUTION AND SOLID CONTAMINANTS FROM THE AIR STREAM OF THE ABSORPTION STEP (C),

Claim 3

REMOVING ENTRAINED DROPLETS OF AQUEOUS SOLUTION AND SOLID CONTAMINANTS FROM THE AIR STREAM OF THE ABSORPTION STEP (C),

Claim 4

FURTHER ABSORBING SOFTENING AGENT FROM THE AIR STREAM OF THE PRECEDING STEP BY CONTACTING SAID AIR STREAM WITH A MIST OF A SEPARATE, DILUTE AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF SOFTENING AGENT, AND

Claim 5

FURTHER ABSORBING SOFTENING AGENT FROM THE AIR STREAM OF THE PRECEDING STEP BY CONTACTING SAID AIR STREAM WITH A MIST OF A SEPARATE, DILUTE AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF SOFTENING AGENT, AND

Claim 6

further absorbing softening agent from the air stream of the preceding step by contacting said air stream with a mist of a separate, dilute aqueous solution of softening agent; and

Claim 7

further absorbing softening agent from the air stream of the preceding step by contacting said air stream with a mist of a separate, dilute aqueous solution of softening agent; and

Claim 8

a mist eliminator between said first absorption chamber and said second absorption chamber to remove droplets of aqueous solution from said air stream;

Claim 9

a mist eliminator between said first absorption chamber and said second absorption chamber to remove droplets of aqueous solution from said air stream;

Claim 10

The process as defined in claim 1 wherein said aqueous solution of softening agent contains from about 0 to 1.5 weight percent of a urea-formaldehyde resin, which resin is removed in the droplets of step (1) prior to further absorbing step (2).

Claim 11

adding water to said dilute aqueous solution of softening agent to replace process water losses.

Claim 12

adding water to said dilute aqueous solution of softening agent to replace process water losses.

Claim 13

means for dispersing a mist of said dilute aqueous solution of softening agent from said containing means into said air stream within said second absorption chamber; and

Claim 14

means for dispersing a mist of said dilute aqueous solution of softening agent from said containing means into said air stream within said second absorption chamber; and

Claim 15

The process as defined in claim 2 wherein said aqueous solution of softening agent contains about 8 to 12 weight percent softening agent.

Claim 16

ADDING WATER TO SAID DILUTE AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF SOFTENING AGENT TO REPLACE PROCESS WATER LOSSES.

Claim 17

ADDING WATER TO SAID DILUTE AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF SOFTENING AGENT TO REPLACE PROCESS WATER LOSSES.

Claim 18

means for adding water to said dilute aqueous solution of softening agent.

Claim 19

means for adding water to said dilute aqueous solution of softening agent.

Claim 20

The process as defined in claim 3 wherein said separate dilute aqueous solution of softening agent contains about 1 to 3 weight percent softening agent.

Claim 21

In an apparatus for reclaiming a portion of a softening agent used in treating regenerated cellulose film which comprises: a. a tank for containing an aqueous solution of softening agent with means for moving a gel regenerated cellulose film through said tank; b. a drying chamber for drying the film from said tank by a stream of air passing therethrough; c. means for moving the gel regenerated cellulose film through said drying chamber counter current to said air stream so that excess water and softening agent are transferred from said film to said air stream; d. a first aBsorption chamber for absorbing softening agent from said air stream; e. means for moving said air stream from said drying chamber to said first absorption chamber; f. means for dispersing a mist of said aqueous solution of softening agent from said tank into said air stream within said first absorption chamber; g. means for returning said aqueous solution from said first absorption chamber to said tank; the improvement which comprises:

Claim 22

The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said containing means comprises a reservoir including means for returning excess dilute aqueous solution of softening agent from said reservoir to said tank.

Claim 23

The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said mist eliminator is a vane-type mist eliminator.

Claim 24

The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for dispersing a mist of dilute aqueous solution of softening agent comprises a plurality of full cone spray nozzles.