Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Processes – Using solid work treating agents
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-01
2003-02-25
Gulakowski, Randy (Department: 1746)
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Processes
Using solid work treating agents
C134S040000, C134S042000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06524393
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods of using polyvinyl alcohol based fabrics. In particular, the present invention includes methods for oil, wax, or hydrocarbon solvent absorption or adsorption and release using textiles formed from polyvinyl alcohol based fibers.
2. Background of the Invention
The spillage of oil or oily substances such as waxes is a common occurrence. In the household setting, such spills are generally cleaned using a fibrous material such as a paper towel or a cotton towel. The recovery of oil or wax by cotton towels is adequate at best. Moreover, once used, it is difficult to remove the oils from the cotton fabric for reuse of the fabric.
In the industrial setting, special non-woven fabrics have been developed to assist in the recovery of oils or waxes. These non-wovens perform better than cotton fibers at absorbing oil. An example of such a non-woven is the 3M® SRP Petro Spill Response Pack (3M Company, Minneapolis, Minn.) product. However, this product is expensive and does not release the oil or wax sufficiently rapidly to be practical. Therefore, there exists a need for reclamation and recovery methods employing superior materials.
In addition, where large oil spills have contaminated sand, there exists a need for a more effective way to recover oils or oily substances from the sand.
Moreover, once the typical fabrics become saturated with oil or wax, they must be disposed of, which is an added expense.
Therefore there exists a need for a novel method of recovering and releasing oil or oily substances such as waxes. In addition, there exists a need for novel methods of recovering oil or wax from oil/sand mixtures. Finally, there exists a need for efficiently disposing of used recovery materials after the oil or wax has been recovered.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is capable of solving these drawbacks and can provide further surprising properties.
The present invention includes a method of absorbing or adsorbing oil or wax comprising contacting the oil or wax with a non-woven, woven, or knitted fabric prepared from a hot water soluble, cold water insoluble polyvinyl alcohol fiber.
In another embodiment, the invention includes a method of recovering oil or wax contained in a non-woven, woven, or knitted fabric, comprising contacting the fabric with water wherein the woven fabric is formed from polyvinyl alcohol fiber formed from a hot water soluble, cold water insoluble polyvinyl alcohol fiber.
In a further embodiment, the present invention includes a method of disposing of a non-woven, woven, or knitted fabric prepared from a hot water soluble or dispersible, cold water insoluble or nondispersible polyvinyl alcohol fiber, comprising the steps of:
a) absorbing or adsorbing an oil or wax onto the fabric; and
b) contacting the fabric with water of a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient period of time to dissolve or disperse the fabric.
In yet another embodiment, the invention includes a method of absorbing or adsorbing an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon solvent comprising contacting the hydrocarbon solvent with a nonwoven or woven fabric prepared from a hot water soluble, cold water insoluble polyvinyl alcohol fiber.
Additional advantages that can be associated with the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention.
Before the present articles and methods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Throughout this application, where publications are referenced, the disclosures of these publications in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this application in order to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains.
The present invention includes a method of absorbing or adsorbing oil or wax comprising contacting the oil or wax with a non-woven, woven, or knitted fabric prepared from a hot water soluble, cold water insoluble polyvinyl alcohol fiber.
By “hot water” it is intended to refer to water at or above 37° C., more preferably above 50° C., even more preferably above 75° C., and still more preferably above 90° C. By “cold water” it is intended to refer to water below 37° C.
The PVA fibers suitable for this invention include those disclosed and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. B1 5,181,966 and B1 5,207,837, the contents of both of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference. For example, suitable fibers included polyvinyl alcohol fibers comprising polyvinyl alcohols with or without acetyl groups, cross-linked or uncross-linked. An example of a suitable polyvinyl alcohol fiber for use in the present invention is a polyvinyl alcohol homopolymer that has been highly crystalized by post drawing or by heat annealing.
In one embodiment, a non-woven fabric can be formed from spun-bonded polyvinyl alcohol fibers. Alternatively, the non-woven fabric can be formed by melt blowing the polyvinyl alcohol fibers. In still a further embodiment, the non-woven fabric can be formed by dry carding and hydroentangling the polyvinyl alcohol fiber. In another embodiment, the non-woven fabric can be formed by thermally bonding the fiber. In addition, the fabric can be formed by dry laying the fiber. In yet another embodiment, after dry laying, the fiber can be carded to produce a more uniform distribution of fibers and then needle-punched to enhance the strength of the fabric. Finally, after carding and needle-punching, the fiber can, optionally, be thermobonded. In still a further embodiment, the non-woven fabric can be formed by chemical bonding the fiber.
In still a further embodiment, the fabric can be formed from woven polyvinyl alcohol fibers. In yet another embodiment, the fabric can be formed from knitted polyvinyl alcohol fibers. To this end, any known technique for knitting and/or weaving fibers can be employed.
The methods of the present invention can be employed with a variety of oils and waxes. For example, the oil or wax can be a mineral oil. Alternatively, the oil can be a vegetable-derived oil such as, but not limited to, corn oil. In fact, the oil can be an engine oil. Other examples of suitable oils and waxes include crude oil and its refined products such as gasoline, kerosene, diesel oil, fuel gas, heating oil, furnace oil, asphalt, black fuel oil, and coke.
The present invention also includes a method of disposing of a non-woven, woven, or knitted fabric prepared from a hot water soluble, cold water insoluble (or nondispersible) polyvinyl alcohol fiber. The disposal method includes the steps of first absorbing or adsorbing oil or wax onto the fabric. The oil or wax need not saturate the fabric. Next, the method involves contacting the fabric with water of a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient period of time to dissolve or disperse the fabric. Thus, by using this disposal method, there is no solid waste fabric product to dispose of and the solution of oil or wax and dissolved fabric can be readily disposed of.
The present invention further includes a method of recovering oil or wax contained in a non-woven, woven, or knitted fabric, compri
Flynn Nigel J.
Honeycutt Travis W.
Lee Baosheng
Qin Feng
Chaudhry Saeed
Gulakowski Randy
Isolyser Company, Inc.
Merchant & Gould LLC
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