PROCESS FOR PRODUCING COLLAGEN SPONGES

• US 3,665,061 A
• Filed: 07/16/1969
• Issued: 05/23/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David H. Eberly Jr
• Original Assignee: David H. Eberly Jr
• Inventors: Eberly, David H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Philip E.
• Application Number:
  US04/842,251
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 264/41,49,28,140,101,177R 106/122,124,123 260/2.5M 131/10.9,1R,14P 18/45,14A
• US Class Current: 264/49
• CPC Class Codes: A24D 3/0237 by extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 67/202 comprising elimination of a solid or a liquid ingredient
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2201/048 Elimination of a frozen liquid phase
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2389/00 Characterised by the use of proteins; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/28 by elimination of a liquid phase from a macromolecular composition or article, e.g. drying of coagulum

Abstract

A method for producing a spongy mass of compacted collagen particles having a large surface area to volume ratio and suitable for use in filtering materials such as tobacco smoke. To form the spongy mass, finely granulated collagen particles are mixed with snow, frozen carbon dioxide or similar material, and the mixture chopped and mixed at temperatures below the freezing point to cause entwining of the distal fibers and impart binding. The mixture is then compacted and forced through a forming tube having a gradually decreasing diameter and porous walls through which the supporting snow or carbon dioxide matrix is removed. A compacted tube or rod of collagen sponge suitable for filtering cigarette or tobacco smoke merges from the forming tube and can be cut or otherwise treated as desired.

Claims

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein said compacting includes a further step of feeding said mixture through a worm compacter before said mixture is forced through said porous tube.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein said collagen in said tube is moist and including the step of feeding air into said tube to dry said spongy mass.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein said crystals are frozen carbon dioxide.

5. A method as in claim 1 wherein said crystals are snow.

6. A method as in claim 1 including the step of milling the collagen into fine particles prior to mixing them with the frozen material.

7. A method as in claim 1 wherein said mixing step includes the step of mixing and chopping said particles and crystals in a Hobart mixer.

8. A method of forming a mass of collagen particles comprising the steps of:

mixing protein particles with crystals of frozen material chosen from the group consisting of ice, snow and frozen carbon dioxide, and removing said crystals from the mixture by applying a reduced pressure to the region about said mixture so that said crystals are converted into their gaseous phase, leaving said mass of protein particles.

9. A method of producing a cigarette filter comprised of particles of collagen comprising the steps of:

milling collagen into fine particles, mixing said particles with crystals of a frozen material chosen from the group consisting of ice, snow and frozen carbon dioxide, forcing said mixture through a porous tube having a decreasing diameter, and removing said crystals from said tube by applying a reduced pressure to the region about said mixture so that said crystals are converted into their gaseous phase and so that a solid rod comprised of said particles emerges from said tube.