Systems for the control and use of fluids and particles

• US 8,501,919 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2007
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kamterer Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Kamterer Products LLC
• Inventors: Eastin, John Alvin, Vu, David
• Primary Examiner(s): OLSON, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US11/983,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20080071080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,093 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 536/20
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/004 using liquid seeding techniques
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/06 Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0089 Regulating or controlling systems the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 9/00 Special adaptations or arrangements of powder-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 9/0092 Regulating or controlling systems the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06
• CPC Class Codes: C08B 37/0024 beta-D-Glucans; (beta-1,3)-D-Glucans, e.g. paramylon, coriolan, sclerotan, pachyman, callose, scleroglucan, schizophyllan, laminaran, lentinan or curdlan; (beta-1,6)-D-Glucans, e.g. pustulan; (beta-1,4)-D-Glucans; (beta-1,3)(beta-1,4)-D-Glucans, e.g. lichenan; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08B 37/003 Chitin, i.e. 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-(beta-1,4)-D-glucan or N-acetyl-beta-1,4-D-glucosamine; Chitosan, i.e. deacetylated product of chitin or (beta-1,4)-D-glucosamine; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 5/08 Chitin; Chondroitin sulfate; Hyaluronic acid; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 1/02 Preparation of spinning solutions
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/0007 Electro-spinning non-woven fabrics produced by electro-spinning D04H1/728
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/90 Methods of planting seeds and miscellaneous compositions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/905 Seed treating seed planter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/917 Gel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 47/09 Physical and chemical treatment of seeds for planting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 47/11 The application of protective coatings to plants

Abstract

The configuration of a feedstock material is controlled by bringing it into contact with at least a first gas moving against it at a location with an area and thickness of the feedstock liquid that forms drops or fibers of a selected size. In one embodiment, drops of agricultural input materials are formed for spraying on agricultural fields. In another embodiment, nanofibers of materials such as chitosan or metals are formed. In another embodiment seeds are planted with gel.

Claims

1. A method of forming a chitosan formable material comprising the steps of:

dissolving chitosan in an acidic liquid;

displacing at least some of the acid from the acidic solution while maintaining the pH of the chitosan formable material low enough to avoid chitosan precipitation by bubbling carbon dioxide through the chitosan and acidic liquid solution; and

adding sufficient organic solvent to lower the conductivity to a level that permits electrospinning.

2. A method of forming a chitosan formable material comprising the steps of:

dissolving chitosan in an acidic liquid;

displacing at least some of the acid from the acidic solution while maintaining the pH of the chitosan formable material low enough to avoid chitosan precipitation by bubbling carbon dioxide through the chitosan and acidic liquid solution; and

adding sufficient organic solvent to reduce the viscosity to a level that permits the formation of long fibers.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of adding sufficient organic solvent to reduce the viscosity to a level that permits the formation of long fibers includes the step of adding ethanol.

6. The method of claim 2 further including the step of adding poly(ethyleneoxide).

3. A method of forming a chitosan formable material comprising the steps of:

dissolving chitosan in an acidic liquid;

displacing at least some of the acid from the acidic solution while maintaining the pH of the chitosan formable material low enough to avoid chitosan precipitation by bubbling carbon dioxide through the chitosan and acidic liquid solution;

wherein the step of dissolving chitosan in an acidic liquid comprises the step of dissolving chitosan powder that is in a water suspension in glacial acetic acid.

4. A method of forming a chitosan formable material comprising the steps of:

dissolving chitosan in an acidic liquid;

displacing at least some of the acid from the acidic solution while maintaining the pH of the chitosan formable material low enough to avoid chitosan precipitation;

wherein the step of displacing at least some of the acid from the acidic solution while maintaining the pH of the chitosan formable material low enough to avoid chitosan precipitation includes the step of bubbling carbon dioxide through chitosan solution while maintaining the pH of the chitosan formable material below 5.