US4529794A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of rapidly dissolving polymers in water
Assignee: Diatec Polymers Inc
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Filing: 1984-03-29
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Granted: 1985-07-16
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Expires: 2004-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A method for rapidly dissolving particles of dry water soluble polymers or gums in water. A suspension of polymer particles is formed and subjected to conditions of high shear in a particle size reduction apparatus whereby the finely divided particles are forced into solution. Sufficient water is present that heat is dissipated and molecular degradation of the polymer is avoided.
Inventors
- 👤 Edwin T. Sortwell
- 👤 Manuel Slovinsky
- 👤 Alan R. Mikkelsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:25
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01F; B01F25/00; B01F25/80; B01F25/85; B01F21/00; B01F21/10; B01F21/20; B01F27/00; B01F27/80; B01F27/81; B01F27/812; C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/52; C02F1/54; C08; C08J; C08J3/00; C08J3/02; C08J3/03; C08J3/05; C08J2300/00; C08J2300/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of rapidly dissolving particles of a water soluble polymer in water, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said particles with water to form a suspension of said particles in water; and, (b) simultaneously with or immediately after formation of said suspension subjecting said suspension to instantaneous and momentary conditions of high shear in order to finely divide said particles, said shear conditions and the proportion of said water to said polymer in said suspension being selected to avoid molecular degradation of said polymer, whereby at least a portion of said particles are dissolved in said water.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of rapidly dissolving particles of a water soluble polymer in water, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said particles with water to form a suspension of said particles in water; and, (b) simultaneously with or immediately after formation of said suspension subjecting said suspension to instantaneous and momentary conditions of high shear in order to finely divide said particles, said shear conditions and the proportion of said water to said polymer in said suspension being selected to avoid molecular degradation of said polymer, whereby at least a portion of said particles are dissolved in said water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said polymer comprises between about 0.05 weight percent and 6 weight percent, inclusive, of the total weight of said water and said polymer.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of rapidly dissolving particles of a water soluble polymer in water, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said particles with water to form a suspension of said particles in water; and, (b) simultaneously with or immediately after formation of said suspension finely dividing said particles by subjecting said suspension to instantaneous and momentary conditions of high shear in a particle size reduction apparatus comprising a rotatable impeller and a cylindrical array of generally radially directed blade members circumferentially surrounding said impeller, with radial discharge spaces defined between adjacent blades, said shear conditions and the proportion of said water to said polymer in said suspension being selected to avoid molecular degradation of said polymer, whereby at least a portion of said particles are dissolved in said water.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of rapidly dissolving particles of a water soluble polymer in water, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said particles with water to form a suspension of said particles in water; and, (b) simultaneously with or immediately after formation of said suspension finely dividing said particles by subjecting said suspension to instantaneous and momentary conditions of high shear in a particle size reduction apparatus comprising a rotatable impeller and a cylindrical array of generally radially directed blade members circumferentially surrounding said impeller, with radial discharge spaces defined between adjacent blades, said shear conditions and the proportion of said water to said polymer in said suspension being selected to avoid molecular degradation of said polymer, whereby at least a portion of said particles are dissolved in said water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said discharge spaces are of substantially uniform width.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said blades and said impeller are offset from each other by an angle of about 2°.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of rapidly dissolving particles of a water soluble polymer in water, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said particles with water to form a suspension of said particles in water; and, (b) immediately after formation of said suspension subjecting said suspension to instantaneous and momentary conditions of high shear in order to finely divide said particles, said shear conditions and the proportion of said water to said polymer in said suspension being selected to avoid molecular degradation of said polymer, whereby at least a portion of said particles are dissolved in said water.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of rapidly dissolving particles of a water soluble polymer in water, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said particles with water to form a suspension of said particles in water; and, (b) immediately after formation of said suspension subjecting said suspension to instantaneous and momentary conditions of high shear in order to finely divide said particles, said shear conditions and the proportion of said water to said polymer in said suspension being selected to avoid molecular degradation of said polymer, whereby at least a portion of said particles are dissolved in said water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said suspension is formed by contacting dry particles of said polymer with a stream of water in mixing means communicating with a particle size reduction apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said mixing means comprises a source of polymer particles, a source of water, means for defining a stream of said water, and means for delivering said particles to said stream for mixing thereof.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of rapidly dissolving particles of a water soluble acrylamide polymer in water, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said particles with water to form a suspension of said particles in water; and, (b) simultaneously with or immediately after formation of said suspension subjecting said suspension to instantaneous and momentary conditions of high shear in order to finely divide said particles, said shear conditions and the proportion of said water to said polymer in said suspension being selected to avoid molecular degradation of said polymer, whereby at least a portion of said particles are dissolved in said water.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of rapidly dissolving particles of a water soluble acrylamide polymer in water, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said particles with water to form a suspension of said particles in water; and, (b) simultaneously with or immediately after formation of said suspension subjecting said suspension to instantaneous and momentary conditions of high shear in order to finely divide said particles, said shear conditions and the proportion of said water to said polymer in said suspension being selected to avoid molecular degradation of said polymer, whereby at least a portion of said particles are dissolved in said water.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said acrylamide polymer comprises between about 0.05 weight percent and 6 weight percent, inclusive, of the total weight of said water and said polymer.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of rapidly dissolving particles of a water soluble acrylamide polymer in water, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said particles with water to form a suspension of said particles in water; and, (b) simultaneously with or immediately after formation of said suspension finely dividing said particles by subjecting said suspension to instantaneous and momentary conditions of high shear in a particle size reduction apparatus comprising a rotatable impeller and a cylindrical array of generally radially directed blade members circumferentially surrounding said impeller, with radial discharge spaces defined between adjacent blades, said shear conditions and the proportion of said water to said polymer in said suspension being selected to avoid molecular degradation of said polymer, whereby at least a portion of said particles are dissolved in said water.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of rapidly dissolving particles of a water soluble acrylamide polymer in water, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said particles with water to form a suspension of said particles in water; and, (b) simultaneously with or immediately after formation of said suspension finely dividing said particles by subjecting said suspension to instantaneous and momentary conditions of high shear in a particle size reduction apparatus comprising a rotatable impeller and a cylindrical array of generally radially directed blade members circumferentially surrounding said impeller, with radial discharge spaces defined between adjacent blades, said shear conditions and the proportion of said water to said polymer in said suspension being selected to avoid molecular degradation of said polymer, whereby at least a portion of said particles are dissolved in said water.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said discharge spaces are of substantially uniform width.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said blades and said impeller are offset from each other by an angle of about 2°.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said suspension is formed prior to step (b).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said suspension is formed by contacting dry particles of said polymer with a steam of water in mixing means communicating with a particle size reduction apparatus.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said mixing means comprises a source of polymer particles, a source of water, means for defining a stream of said water, and means for delivering said particles to said stream for mixing thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9 or 11 wherein said acrylamide polymer is a homopolymer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 or 11 wherein said acrylamide polymer is a copolymer derivative of acrylamide and a comonomer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said comonomer comprises 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said comonomer is selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, maleic anhydride, acrylonitrile, styrene, allyl amines, diallyl amines, and dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said comonomer comprises sodium polyacrylate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said comonomer comprises dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of rapidly dissolving particles of a water soluble polymer in water, said polymer being selected from the group consisting of biologically produced polymers and polyethylene oxides, said method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said particles with water to form a suspension of said particles in water; and, (b) simultaneously with or immediately after formation of said suspension subjecting said suspension to instantaneous and momentary conditions of high shear in order to finely divide said particles, said shear conditions and the proportion of said water to said polymer in said suspension being selected to avoid molecular degradation of said polymer, whereby at least a portion of said particles are dissolved in said water.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of rapidly dissolving particles of a water soluble polymer in water, said polymer being selected from the group consisting of biologically produced polymers and polyethylene oxides, said method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said particles with water to form a suspension of said particles in water; and, (b) simultaneously with or immediately after formation of said suspension subjecting said suspension to instantaneous and momentary conditions of high shear in order to finely divide said particles, said shear conditions and the proportion of said water to said polymer in said suspension being selected to avoid molecular degradation of said polymer, whereby at least a portion of said particles are dissolved in said water.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said polymer comprises between about 0.05 weight percent and 6 weight percent, inclusive, of the total weight of said water and said polymer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 23 wherein step (b) is carried out in a particle size reduction apparatus comprising a rotatable impeller and a cylindrical array of generally radially directed blade members circumferentially surrounding said impeller, with radial discharge spaces defined between adjacent blades.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said discharge spaces are of substantially uniform width.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said blades and said impeller are offset from each other by an angle of about 2°.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said suspension is formed prior to step (b).
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said suspension is formed by contacting dry particles of said polymer with a stream of water in mixing means communicating with a particle size reduction apparatus.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said mixing means comprises a source of polymer particles, a source of water, means for defining a stream of said water, and means for delivering said particles to said stream for mixing thereof.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said polymer comprises a biologically produced polymer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 31 wherein said polymer comprises Xanthan gum.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said polymer comprises a polyethylene oxide.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-07-15 | 1989-01-14 | 1989-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-07-15 | 1993-01-14 | 1993-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-07-15 | 1997-01-14 | 1997-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |