Desiccant composition

• US 6,217,701 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1999
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United Catalysts Inc (Clariant AG)
• Original Assignee: United Catalysts Inc (Clariant AG)
• Inventors: Shelley, Richard M., Rix, Matthew Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Ball, Michael W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haran, John T.
• Application Number:
  US09/348,397
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 156/308.4, 961/18, 252/194
• US Class Current: 156/308.4
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/046 containing halogens, e.g. halides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/24 Naturally occurring macromolecular compounds, e.g. humic acids or their derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/265 modified or post-treated polymers polymer carriers or substrates subjected to further impregnating or coating B01J20/3208
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/2805 Sorbents inside a permeable or porous casing, e.g. inside a container, bag or membrane
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2220/46 Materials comprising a mixture of inorganic and organic materials materials coated or impregnated on a carrier B01J20/32
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 1/00 Layered products having a non-planar shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/264 for absorbing liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/268 the absorber being enclosed in a small pack, e.g. bag, included in the package
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/10 Bio-packaging, e.g. packing containers made from renewable resources or bio-plastics

Abstract

Disclosed is a new desiccant composition containing calcium chloride and a modified starch, preferably a modified corn starch. The composition contains from about 5 to about 95 percent calcium chloride and from about 5 to about 95 percent starch.

Claims

1. A process for manufacturing a desiccant container comprising

(a) preparing a water vapor permeable film product,

(b) preparing a desiccant composition wherein the desiccant composition comprises calcium chloride and a modified starch wherein the calcium chloride comprises at least about 5 to 95 percent of the composition by weight and the modified starch comprises from about 5 to about 95 percent of the composition by weight,

(c) placing the desiccant composition between layers of the water vapor permeable film product, and

(d) sealing edges of the water vapor permeable film product around the desiccant composition to produce the desiccant container.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the calcium chloride comprises from about 20 to about 95 percent of the desiccant composition by weight and the modified starch comprises from about 5 to about 80 percent of the composition by weight.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the calcium chloride comprises from about 50 to about 80 percent of the desiccant composition by weight and the modified starch comprises from about 20 to about 50 percent of the composition by weight.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the modified starch comprises a modified corn starch.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the modified starch exhibits a Brookfield viscosity of at least about 1 cps.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the modified starch comprises an oxidized starch.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the modified starch comprises an enzyme-converted starch.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein the modified starch comprises at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, carbonyl, amido, and amino groups.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein the modified starch is modified by a process selected from the group consisting of cross linking, substitution and granulation.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein the modified starch is selected from the group consisting of oxidized starches, enzyme-converted starches and hydroxyethylated starches.