(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: us 6,399,668 Bi
Miyake et al. (45) Date of Patent: *Jun. 4,2002
(21) Appl. No.: 09/112,150
(22) Filed: Jul. 9, 1998
Related U.S. Application Data
(62) Division of application No. 08/453,705, filed on May 30, 1995, now Pat. No. 5,830,543.
(30) Foreign Application Priority Data
May 30, 1994 (JP) 6-116947
(51) Int. CI. C08J 9 04
(52) U.S. CI 521/92; 521/125; 521/149;
521/91
(58) Field of Search 428/35.2, 35.5,
428/34.4, 34.5, 35.8, 35.9, 36.5, 913, 76; 206/204, 524.7; 383/37, 200; 521/92, 94, 125, 149, 91
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FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
EP 0 494 599 A2 7/1992
EP 0 532 002 Al 9/1992
JP 4-235783 A 8/1992
WO WO 91/15368 10/1991
* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—Rena L. Dye
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Kubovcik & Kubovcik
(57) ABSTRACT
A gelling material is composed of water-absorbent resin 12 wrapped in a bag composed of two laminated water-soluble sheets 1.1, the water-absorbent resin being prepared so as to enable the bag to be disintegrated by an inner pressure generated when an expanded volume of the water-absorbent resin by absorbing water through the bag exceeds a maximum volume capacity. When the gelling material is added to the aqueous fluid, the water-absorbent resin 12 is spread in the aqueous fluid at a stroke, and is diffused uniformly. Thus, the water-absorbent resin 12 is brought fully in contact with the aqueous fluid. Since this enables the aqueous fluid to be gelled in a short period of time, the aqueous fluid can be processed speedily. Even the aqueous fluids, which are difficult to be handled by the conventional gelling material, can be gelled conveniently in a short period of time, and the resulting gell can be easily handled, thereby enabling an easy disposal of the aqueous fluids, i.e., the gell. Additionally, since the water-absorbent resin is spread in the aqueous fluid at a stroke, and is diffused uniformly, a troublesome operation of agitating the aqueous fluid can be eliminated during the gelling process, thereby enabling a simplified gelling process.
17 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
