US4380458A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Novel desiccant
Assignee: LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS A GOVERNING BODY OF LA
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Filing: 1981-02-09
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Granted: 1983-04-19
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Expires: 2001-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A solid methyl cellulose desiccant wherein from about 0.6 to 1.8, preferably 0.9 to 1.5 of the available hydroxyl groups of the anhydroglucose units of the cellulose entity have been replaced by methyl, or methyl and hydroxy alkyl or carboxy alkyl groups, if any, containing from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms, e.g. hydroxy ethyl, hydroxy propyl, carboxyl methyl and the like. In the solid methyl cellulose desiccant, at least one of the substituting groups must be methyl, with the remainder of the substituting groups, if any, hydroxy alkyl or carboxy alkyl, or both; preferably carboxy methyl, if any. At least one-half of the substituting groups are methyl, and preferably at least two-thirds of the substituting groups are methyl; the balance of the substituting groups, if any, being hydroxy alkyl or carboxy alkyl groups. Methyl cellulose of this character can be contacted with a water-containing stream at a temperature below which it will have great affinity for and will absorb significant amounts of water; and conversely above this temperature the methyl cellulose will not only lose this affinity but in addition may give up a large portion of any water it had previously absorbed.
Inventors
- 👤 Clayton D. Callihan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:17
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/26; B01D53/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A process for the dehydration of a fluid stream with a desiccant, and regeneration of said desiccant which comprises contacting said fluid stream with a desiccant at a temperature below its syneresis temperature, the syneresis temperature of said desiccant ranging from about 100° F. to about 195° F., said desiccant being characterized as solid methyl cellulose wherein from about 0.6 to about 1.8 of the available hydroxyl groups of the anhydroglucose units constituting the basic cellulose entity have been replaced by methyl and other hydroxy alkyl or carboxy alkyl groups containing from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms where at least one-half of the substituting groups are methyl, and heating said desiccant above the syneresis temperature, said solid methyl cellulose desiccant having the capacity to lose its affinity for water, and to release water when heated above its syneresis temperature.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A process for the dehydration of a fluid stream with a desiccant, and regeneration of said desiccant which comprises contacting said fluid stream with a desiccant at a temperature below its syneresis temperature, the syneresis temperature of said desiccant ranging from about 100° F. to about 195° F., said desiccant being characterized as solid methyl cellulose wherein from about 0.6 to about 1.8 of the available hydroxyl groups of the anhydroglucose units constituting the basic cellulose entity have been replaced by methyl and other hydroxy alkyl or carboxy alkyl groups containing from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms where at least one-half of the substituting groups are methyl, and heating said desiccant above the syneresis temperature, said solid methyl cellulose desiccant having the capacity to lose its affinity for water, and to release water when heated above its syneresis temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the desiccant is solid methyl cellulose wherein at least two-thirds of the substituting groups are methyl, where all of the substituting groups are not methyl.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the desiccant is solid methyl cellulose which contains carboxyl methyl groups.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the desiccant is solid methyl cellulose and essentially all of the substituting groups are methyl.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the syneresis temperature of the solid methyl cellulose desiccant ranges from about 140° F. to about 160° F.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
137 words
A process for drying air with a desiccant, and regeneration of said desiccant which comprises contacting said fluid stream with a desiccant at a temperature below its syneresis temperature, the syneresis temperature of said desiccant ranging from about 100° F. to about 195° F., said desiccant being a solid methyl cellulose wherein from about 0.6 to about 1.8 of the available hydroxyl groups of the anhydroglucose unit constituting the basic cellulose entity have been replaced by methyl, or methyl and other hydroxy alkyl or carboxy alkyl groups containing from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms where at least one-half of the substituting groups are methyl, and heating said desiccant above the syneresis temperature, said solid methyl cellulose desiccant having the capacity to lose its affinity for water, and to release water when heated above its syneresis temperature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
137 words
A process for drying air with a desiccant, and regeneration of said desiccant which comprises contacting said fluid stream with a desiccant at a temperature below its syneresis temperature, the syneresis temperature of said desiccant ranging from about 100° F. to about 195° F., said desiccant being a solid methyl cellulose wherein from about 0.6 to about 1.8 of the available hydroxyl groups of the anhydroglucose unit constituting the basic cellulose entity have been replaced by methyl, or methyl and other hydroxy alkyl or carboxy alkyl groups containing from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms where at least one-half of the substituting groups are methyl, and heating said desiccant above the syneresis temperature, said solid methyl cellulose desiccant having the capacity to lose its affinity for water, and to release water when heated above its syneresis temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the desiccant is solid methyl cellulose which contains at least two-thirds of the substituting groups as methyl, where all of the substituting group are not methyl.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the desiccant is solid methyl cellulose which contains carboxy methyl groups.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the desiccant is solid methyl cellulose and essentially all of the substituting groups are methyl.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the syneresis temperature of the solid methyl cellulose desiccant ranges from about 140° F. to about 160° F.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-04-18 | 1986-10-18 | 1987-04-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-04-18 | 1990-10-18 | 1991-04-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-04-18 | 1994-10-18 | 1995-04-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |