Importance

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Abstract

Synthetic absorbent granules of calcium sulfate dihydrate are manufactured by a process which utilizes a commercial type of dry powdered gypsum plaster or calcium sulfate hemihydrate, mixes the plaster with water in an inclined rotating disc machine to cause hydration to occur, and wherein the plaster is formed and grown into balls or granules of a generally predetermined size and discharged from the disc when reaching such size. The ball forming operation is started in the disc with seed material in the form of balls of a size corresponding generally to the balls to be manufactured by the process. Water spray is applied to the seed material in the rotating disc and a uniform pattern of movement of such material with a well defined eye is developed. When this occurs, generally the water is turned off. Dry powdered gypsum plaster is fed to the rotating disc from a position adjacent the base of the eye and then water spray is fed to the disc through a nozzle located so that the water will not strike the eye formation of the moving material. With the plaster being fed to the disc the seed material balls grow to a size where they are discharged from the inclined rotating disc at a lower portion thereof, and meanwhile the dry powdered plaster coming in contact with the water spray forms into new tiny balls, and these grow as the mix moves in the inclined rotating disc until they reach a size at which they are discharged. During this operation, while the balls grow in size and the plaster is hydrating, the material in the disc is visually observed, and if the balls or granules are too dry that they are not growing, or if they are too wet that they stick together, of if the eye configuration in the moving material is not proper, adjustments are made in one or more of the processing conditions including the position or amount of the water spray, the position or amount of the plaster feed, the speed of rotation of the disc, or the inclination thereof. When the desired eye configuration is restored from needed adjustments, the balls or granules grow, they are discharged, and they are dried and then screened to the desired size, with large balls or granules crushed and again screened to the desired size. The screened synthetic balls or granules are ready for marketing and use as absorbents for various purposes including the absorbing of undesirable oil, grease and other liquid accumulation on floors, of animal toilet refuse as in cat boxes, and the serving as carriers for agricultural chemicals to be distributed in such granular form.

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First Claim