US3915959A
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US
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Activated alkali cellulose and derivatives formed therefrom and a process for making the same
Assignee: Fort James Corp
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Filing: 1974-03-15
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1994-03-15
Abstract
Abstract A novel activated alkali cellulose material is provided herein. Furthermore, a novel process is conducted for preparing this activated alkali cellulose product which comprises reacting cellulose and a caustic reagent in a high energy reactor. Cellulose derivatives can then be formed by combining an appropriate chemical reactant with the activated alkali cellulose, either directly in the high energy reactor, or by interacting the respective activated cellulose material and chemical reactant in a subsequent step. Low viscosity alkali cellulose derivatives can also be rapidly and efficiently formed by employing an oxidizing gas during the reaction step.
Inventors
- 👤 David W Goheen
- 👤 Michael D Fahey
- 👤 Harvey L Claussen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 01:04
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08B; C08B1/00; C08B1/08; C08B1/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A PROCESS FOR FORMING ACTIVATED ALKALI CELLULOSE WHICH COMPRISES CONFRICATING CELLULOSE FIBERS, AT HIGH CONSISTENCY, AND A CAUSTIC REAGENT, SAID CONFRICATION STEP INCLUDING THE HIGH ENERGY, FRICTIONAL INTERACTION OF SAID CELLULOSE FIBERS WHICH ARE MAINTAINED IN RELATIVELY INTIMATE CONTACT ONE WITH THE OTHER, SAID RESULTING ACTIVATED ALKALI CELLULOSE PRODUCT BEING CHARACTERIZED IN THAT SAID CAUSTIC REAGENT HAS SUBSTANTIALLY PENETRATED, AND IS UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED ALONG, SAID CELLULOSE FIBERS.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
A PROCESS FOR FORMING ACTIVATED ALKALI CELLULOSE WHICH COMPRISES CONFRICATING CELLULOSE FIBERS, AT HIGH CONSISTENCY, AND A CAUSTIC REAGENT, SAID CONFRICATION STEP INCLUDING THE HIGH ENERGY, FRICTIONAL INTERACTION OF SAID CELLULOSE FIBERS WHICH ARE MAINTAINED IN RELATIVELY INTIMATE CONTACT ONE WITH THE OTHER, SAID RESULTING ACTIVATED ALKALI CELLULOSE PRODUCT BEING CHARACTERIZED IN THAT SAID CAUSTIC REAGENT HAS SUBSTANTIALLY PENETRATED, AND IS UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED ALONG, SAID CELLULOSE FIBERS.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the activated alkali cellulose product formed has a penetration coefficient of greater than about 6.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the activated alkali cellulose product formed has a penetration coefficient of greater than about 15.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the percent fiber length retention of the activated alkali cellulose product is greater than about 50.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the weighted average fiber length of said cellulosic fibers is greater than about 1.0 mm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the weighted average fiber length of said cellulose fibers is greater than about 1.5 mm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the consistency of such cellulose feed is from about 10% to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the cellulose fibers in the feed and the amount of energy required for conducting said confrication step is at least about 8 HPD/T.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the required time, measured from the initial contact of the cellulose and caustic, for substantially completing the reaction of said process, is less than about 90 seconds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
112 words
A process for forming an activated alkali cellulose product which comprises the steps of: a. introducing cellulose fibers, at high consistency, into the area formed within a high energy reactor, said area including means for confricating said fibers; b. adding to said inner area a caustic reagent; and c. confricating said cellulose fibers and caustic reagent, respectively, to form an activated alkali cellulose product, said confricating step including a high energy frictional interaction of said cellulose fibers which are maintained in relatively intimate contact one with the other, said resulting activated alkali cellulose product being characterized in that said caustic reagent has substantially penetrated, and is uniformly distributed along, said cellulose fibers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
112 words
A process for forming an activated alkali cellulose product which comprises the steps of: a. introducing cellulose fibers, at high consistency, into the area formed within a high energy reactor, said area including means for confricating said fibers; b. adding to said inner area a caustic reagent; and c. confricating said cellulose fibers and caustic reagent, respectively, to form an activated alkali cellulose product, said confricating step including a high energy frictional interaction of said cellulose fibers which are maintained in relatively intimate contact one with the other, said resulting activated alkali cellulose product being characterized in that said caustic reagent has substantially penetrated, and is uniformly distributed along, said cellulose fibers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The process according to claim 9, wherein said confricating means comprises a pair of opposed surfaces forming a work space therebetween, said surfaces being capable of rotating in relative motion with respect to each other for purposes of imparting to said respective fibers passing within said work space the amount of confricating energy required for forming activated alkali cellulose.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process of claim 9, wherein the amount of energy required for conducting said confrication step is at least about 8 HPD/T, and the consistency is from about 10% to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the cellulose fibers in the feed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
120 words
A process for forming uniformly substituted derivatives of activated alkali cellulose which comprises the steps of: a. introducing cellulose fibers, at high consistency, into a high energy reactor; b. adding to said reactor a caustic reagent; c. confricating said cellulose fibers and caustic reagent, respectively, to form an activated alkali cellulose product, said confrication step including a high energy, frictional interaction of said cellulose fibers which are maintained in relatively intimate contact one with the other, said resulting activated alkali cellulose product being characterized in that said caustic reagent has substantially penetrated, and is uniformly distributed along, said cellulose fibers; and d. reacting said activated alkali cellulose with a chemical reactive therewith to produce said uniformly substituted alkali cellulose derivative.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
120 words
A process for forming uniformly substituted derivatives of activated alkali cellulose which comprises the steps of: a. introducing cellulose fibers, at high consistency, into a high energy reactor; b. adding to said reactor a caustic reagent; c. confricating said cellulose fibers and caustic reagent, respectively, to form an activated alkali cellulose product, said confrication step including a high energy, frictional interaction of said cellulose fibers which are maintained in relatively intimate contact one with the other, said resulting activated alkali cellulose product being characterized in that said caustic reagent has substantially penetrated, and is uniformly distributed along, said cellulose fibers; and d. reacting said activated alkali cellulose with a chemical reactive therewith to produce said uniformly substituted alkali cellulose derivative.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 12, wherein the rate of efficiency, with respect to the utilization of said chemical reactant, in producing said cellulosic derivatives is greater than about 65%.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 12, wherein the percent fiber length retention of said cellulose derivative is greater than 50%.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 12, wherein the weighted average fiber length of the cellulose fibers is greater than about 1.0 mm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process of claim 12, wherein said consistency is from about 10% to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the cellulose fibers in the feed and the amount of energy required for conducting said confrication step is at least about 8 HPD/T.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 12, wherein the reaction time for said alkali cellulose formation process is less than about 90 seconds.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 12, wherein the chemical reactant employed is chloroacetic acid and the alkali cellulose derivative formed is carboxymethyl cellulose.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
127 words
A process for forming derivatives of activated alkali cellulose which comprises the steps of: a. introducing cellulose fibers, at high consistency, into the area formed within a high energy reactor, said area including means for confricating said fibers; b. adding to said area a caustic reagent; c. confricating said cellulose fibers and caustic reagent, respectively, to form an activated alkali cellulose product, said confrication step including a high energy, frictional interaction of said cellulose fibers which are maintained in relatively intimate contact one with the other, said resulting activated alkali cellulose product being characterized in that said caustic reagent has substantially penetrated, and is uniformly distributed along, said cellulose fibers; and d. reacting said activated alkali cellulose and a chemical reactive therewith to produce a cellulose derivative.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
127 words
A process for forming derivatives of activated alkali cellulose which comprises the steps of: a. introducing cellulose fibers, at high consistency, into the area formed within a high energy reactor, said area including means for confricating said fibers; b. adding to said area a caustic reagent; c. confricating said cellulose fibers and caustic reagent, respectively, to form an activated alkali cellulose product, said confrication step including a high energy, frictional interaction of said cellulose fibers which are maintained in relatively intimate contact one with the other, said resulting activated alkali cellulose product being characterized in that said caustic reagent has substantially penetrated, and is uniformly distributed along, said cellulose fibers; and d. reacting said activated alkali cellulose and a chemical reactive therewith to produce a cellulose derivative.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
The process according to claim 19, wherein said confricating means comprises a pair of opposed surfaces forming a work space therebetween, said surfaces being capable of rotating in relative motion with respect to each other for imparting a sufficient amount of confrication energy to said fibers passing within said work space.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 19, wherein the percent fiber length retention of the cellulose derivative is greater than about 50%.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process of claim 19, wherein the amount of energy required for conducting the confrication step is at least about 8 HPD/T, and the consistency is from about 10% to 60%, based on the total weight of the cellulose fibers in the feed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 19, wherein the average pressure applied to the cellulosic feed within said work space by means of said opposed surfaces is from about 5 to 20 pounds per square inch.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process according to claim 19, wherein the relative tangential velocity of said opposed surfaces in relative motion with respect to one another is at least aboUt 1000 feet per minute.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
79 words
A direct process for making an alkali cellulose derivative comprising the steps of: a. introducing cellulose fibers, at high consistency, into a high energy reactor; b. adding to said reactor a caustic reagent and a chemical reactive therewith; and c. confricating said cellulose fibers, caustic reagent and chemical reactant, respectively, to form said cellulose derivative, said confrication step including the high energy, frictional interaction of said cellulose feed fibers which are maintained in intimate contact one with the other.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
79 words
A direct process for making an alkali cellulose derivative comprising the steps of: a. introducing cellulose fibers, at high consistency, into a high energy reactor; b. adding to said reactor a caustic reagent and a chemical reactive therewith; and c. confricating said cellulose fibers, caustic reagent and chemical reactant, respectively, to form said cellulose derivative, said confrication step including the high energy, frictional interaction of said cellulose feed fibers which are maintained in intimate contact one with the other.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 25, wherein the rate of efficiency with respect to the utilization of said chemical reactant in producing said cellulosic derivative is greater than about 65%.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 25, wherein the percent fiber length retention of said cellulosic fibers is greater than 50%.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 25, wherein the weighted average fiber length of the cellulose fibers is greater than about 1.00 mm.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 25, wherein greater than 70% by weight of the cellulose fibers in said feed are retained on a 35-mesh screen.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process of claim 25, wherein said consistency is from about 10% to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the cellulose fibers in the feed, and the amount of energy required for conducting said confrication step is at least 8 HPD/T.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 25, wherein the chemical reactant employed is chloroacetic acid and the alkali cellulose derivative formed is carboxymethyl cellulose.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
105 words
A process for making low molecular weight alkali cellulose derivatives comprising the steps of: a. introducing cellulose fibers, at high consistency, into a high energy reactor; b. adding to said reactor a caustic reagent and an oxidizing gas; c. confricating said fibers, caustic reagent, and oxidizing gas, respectively, to rapidly produce a substantially low molecular weight alkali cellulose material, said confrication step including the high energy, frictional interaction of said cellulose fibers which are maintained in intimate contact one with the other; and d. reacting said low molecular weight alkali cellulose and a chemical reactive therewith to form a low molecular weight cellulose derivative product.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
105 words
A process for making low molecular weight alkali cellulose derivatives comprising the steps of: a. introducing cellulose fibers, at high consistency, into a high energy reactor; b. adding to said reactor a caustic reagent and an oxidizing gas; c. confricating said fibers, caustic reagent, and oxidizing gas, respectively, to rapidly produce a substantially low molecular weight alkali cellulose material, said confrication step including the high energy, frictional interaction of said cellulose fibers which are maintained in intimate contact one with the other; and d. reacting said low molecular weight alkali cellulose and a chemical reactive therewith to form a low molecular weight cellulose derivative product.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 32, wherein an oxidizing agent is added instead of said oxidizing gas.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 32, wherein an oxidizing agent is added along with said oxidizing gas to the reactor.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 34, wherein an activated metal ion is added along with said oxidizing gas and oxidizing agent, respectively.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
76 words
The process of claim 34, wherein said consistency is from about 10% to 60%, based on the weight of cellulose fibers in the feed, said confrication energy is at least 5 HPD/T, said oxidizing gas is added at the rate of from about 1 to 20 cubic feet per minute, and the amount of said oxidizing agent added is from about 0.2% to 6% by weight based on the total weight of cellulose in the system.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |