Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
22 words
A method for preparing a copolymer of lignin which comprises the step of free radically graft copolymerizing 2-propenamide and 2-methyl-3-oxo-4-oxyhex-1-ene-6-ol on lignin.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
22 words
A method for preparing a copolymer of lignin which comprises the step of free radically graft copolymerizing 2-propenamide and 2-methyl-3-oxo-4-oxyhex-1-ene-6-ol on lignin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as called for in claim 1, wherein said step of copolymerizing comprises: a) adding a hydroperoxide to a solvent; and b) adding lignin, a chloride-containing salt, 2-propenamide and 2-methyl-3-oxo-4-oxyhex-1-ene-6-ol, thereby initiating free radical polymerization.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as called for in claim 2, wherein said lignin and chloride-containing salt are added to said hydroperoxide in a solvent, and then said 2-propenamide and 2-methyl-3-oxo-4-oxyhex-1-ene-6-ol, are added.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as called for in claim 3 further comprising adding an aqueous solution of at least one ion selected from the group consisting of ceric, vanadium and manganese ions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of copolymerizing is conducted so as to produce a composition which comprises about 0.32 to about 3.0 weight percent lignin, about 0.2 to about 7.6 weight percent 2-propenamide, about 0.2 to about 7.9 weight percent 2-methyl-3-oxo-4-oxyhex-1-ene-6-ol, about 0.0 to 6.1 weight percent aqueous solution of cerium, and about 60 to 97 weight percent solvent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein said hydroperoxide is selected from the group consisting of t-butyl hydroperoxide and hydrogen peroxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein hydroperoxides are added to lignin and chloride-containing salt, then the 2-propenamide and 2-methyl-3-oxo-4-oxyhex-1-ene-6-ol are added to the lignin mixture.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
35 words
A method of increasing the molecular weight of lignin during polymerization which comprises effecting said polymerization in a reaction mixture containing a mole ratio of 2-propenamide to 2-methyl-3-oxo-4-oxyhex-1-ene-6-ol of not greater than 1 to 1.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
35 words
A method of increasing the molecular weight of lignin during polymerization which comprises effecting said polymerization in a reaction mixture containing a mole ratio of 2-propenamide to 2-methyl-3-oxo-4-oxyhex-1-ene-6-ol of not greater than 1 to 1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said polymerization is a free-radical polymerization.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 9, wherein said molecular weight is increased to a molecular weight in the range about 1,000 to about 30,000,000.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 8, wherein said reaction occurs at about room temperature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 9, wherein said free radical reaction is a free radical graft copolymerization of 2-propenamide and 2-methyl-3-oxo-4-oxyhex-1-ene-6-ol on lignin.