Catalyst – solid sorbent – or support therefor: product or process – Solid sorbent – Organic
Patent
1999-05-24
2000-08-22
Griffin, Steven P.
Catalyst, solid sorbent, or support therefor: product or process
Solid sorbent
Organic
502401, 252601, 252607, B01J 2000, B01J 2022, C09K 2100
Patent
active
061072427
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to absorbent materials.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of coir dust as an absorber of spills of various types has been known for some time, although not widely used. In U.S Pat. No. 3,703,464, the use of coir dust or coconut short fibers is described as a satisfactory absorbent material for oil spills on water and on other surfaces. The widespread use of this material as a spill absorbent has been restricted to situations where exposure to high levels of heat or fire are not present since coir dust is capable of burning and is therefore regarded as a potential fire hazard.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION AND OBJECT
It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved absorbent material which can be used in situations involving high levels of heat or fire.
The invention therefore provides an absorbent material including coir fibers and/or coir dust, an effective quantity of a fire retardant material in the form of small particles, the particle size of the fire retardant material being selected to ensure that the fire retardant material substantially penetrates or substantially coats at least a substantial proportion of the coir fibers present in the absorbent material.
Preferably, the fire retardant is in the form of a powder, the particle size of which is smaller than the particle size of the coir fibers and/or coir dust to encore that the fire retardant material substantially penetrates the coir fibers present in the absorbent material.
The fire retardant may include a suitable phosphate material, such as ammonium polyphosphate. In its most preferred form, the fire retardant material comprises superphosphate. The inventors have found that superphosphate functions adequately as a fire retardant and that the above defined combination of coir fibers and/or coir dust and superphosphate in the form of a powdered results in an absorbent material which is essentially self-extinguishing in the presence of high levels of heat or fire.
It has been found that superphosphate in fine powder form, similar to talcum powder, and preferably having a particle size less than 10 microns, and preferably less than 5 microns and most preferably of the order of one micron performs satisfactorily in that it adequately penetrates the coconut fibers present in the absorbent material to provide a self-extinguishing property in these fibers.
In a preferred form, the absorbent material includes from about 4 to at least about 8 grams of powdered superphosphate to 115 grams or 1 liter of dry coir dust, together with sufficient water or other suitable liquid to ensure intimate mixing.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method of producing an absorbent material including intimately mixing coir fibers and/or coir dust with an effective quantity of a fire retardant material in the form of small particles, and adding an effective quantity of a liquid such as water to promote intimate mixing of the coir fibers and the fire retardant material whereby the fire retardant penetrates or coats the coir fibers, the particle size of the fire retardant material being selected to ensure that the fire retardant penetrates or coats the coir fibers in the absorbent material.
Preferably, the fire retardant is in the form of a powder, the particle size of which is smaller than the particle size of the coir fibers and/or coir dust to ensure that the fire retardant material substantially penetrates the coir fibers present in the absorbent material.
In a preferred form of the method, powdered superphosphate is used as the fire retardant. It has been found that satisfactory results are achieved by the following mixtures: from about 4 grams to at least about 8 grams of powdered superphosphate to 115 grams or 1 liter of dry coir dust and approximately 65 mL water intimately mixed together to ensure penetration of the powdered superphosphate into the coir fibers.
An inspection of the absorbent material according to the above combination shows evidence of small crystals of superphosphate embedded i
REFERENCES:
patent: 3703464 (1972-11-01), Ferm
patent: 3877952 (1975-04-01), Dahmen et al.
patent: 4172039 (1979-10-01), Akiyama
patent: 4184311 (1980-01-01), Rood
patent: 4600606 (1986-07-01), Mischutin
patent: 4739603 (1988-04-01), Butler
patent: 5409769 (1995-04-01), Fukumoto et al.
Derwent Accession Number 95-190277/25, Japanese Patent No. 07108170-A issued Apr. 25, 1995.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, C73 p. 165, Japanese Appln. No. 53-67914 filed May 6, 1978.
Japanese Abstract 07109652, Suzuki Sogyo KK, Apr. 25, 1995.
Ackerman Louis
Lopez George
Coir Peat Aust Pty Ltd
Donley Cynthia
Griffin Steven P.
LandOfFree
Absorbent material including coir fibres and/or coir dust does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Absorbent material including coir fibres and/or coir dust, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Absorbent material including coir fibres and/or coir dust will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-581005