Patents by Inventor Franck Furno

Franck Furno has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9555148
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing a water-absorbing polymer, including the following steps: (i) mixing (?1) 0.1 to 99.999 wt % polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated, acid-group-containing monomers; (?2) 0 to 70 wt % polymerized ethylenically unsaturated, monomers copolymerizable with (?1); (?3) 0.00 1 to 10 wt %, cross-linking agent(s); (?4) 0 to 30 wt % water-soluble polymers; and (?5) 0 to 20 wt % additive(s), wherein the total quantity by weight of (?1) to (?5) amounts to 100 wt %, (ii) radical polymerization while cross-linking, in order to form a hydrogel polymer, (iii) drying the hydrogel polymer, (iv) grinding and sifting the water-absorbing polymer, (v) surface post-cross-linking the hydrogel polymer, and (vi) drying and processing the polymer, wherein, before the admixture of the initiator and the start of radical polymerization, 0.01 to 5 wt % of a surfactant, relative to acrylic acid, 0.01 to 5 wt % foaming agent, are added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Laurent Wattebled, Jorg Harren, Matthias Naumann, Franck Furno, Matthias Lobert, Rainer Teni
  • Patent number: 9534095
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of water-absorbing polymer structures, comprising the following process steps: i) providing an untreated, water-absorbing polymer structure; and ii) bringing the untreated, water-absorbing polymer structure into contact with a salt comprising a divalent or higher-valent cation of a metal and at least one organic base as anion. The invention relates also to the water-absorbing polymer structures obtainable by that process, to water-absorbing polymer structures, to a composite comprising a water-absorbing polymer structure and a substrate, to a process for the preparation of a composite, to the composite obtainable by that process, to chemical products, such as foams, molded articles and fibers comprising water-absorbing polymer structures or a composite, to the use of water-absorbing polymer structures or of a composite in chemical products and to the use of a salt in the treatment of the surface of water-absorbing polymer structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Mirko Walden, Harald Schmidt, Rainer Teni, Armin Reimann, Franck Furno, Jorg Issberner, Peter Herbe, Ursula Nielinger, Michael Keup
  • Publication number: 20160106881
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of a water-absorbing polymer structure, comprising the process steps: i) providing an untreated water-absorbing polymer structure having a degree of neutralization of at most 70 mol %; ii) bringing the untreated water-absorbing polymer structure into contact with an acidic component. The invention also relates to the water-absorbing polymer structures obtainable by this process, water-absorbing polymer structures, a composite, a process for the production of a composite, the composite obtainable by this process, foams, shaped articles, fibers, foils, films, cables, sealing materials, liquid-absorbing hygiene articles, carriers for plant and fungal growth-regulating agents, packaging materials, soil additives or building materials, and the use of a water-absorbing polymer structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Jörg Harren, Stephan Ramlow, Axel Busch, Franck Furno
  • Publication number: 20160083532
    Abstract: A process is described for production of superabsorbents, comprising conveying steps for transporting the particulate material obtained, with use of a conveying machine from the group of the mechanical continuous conveyors with traction means in at least one of the conveying steps. Conveying machines used with preference are tubular drag conveyors and/or bucket conveyors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Dirk Wagner, Thomas Hoefges, Udo Klapperich, Manfred van Stiphoudt, Henry Rudolph, Frank Soppe, Jörg Harren, Franck Furno, Frank Loeker
  • Patent number: 8907017
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of water-absorbing polymer structures, comprising the following process steps: I) providing an untreated, water-absorbing polymer structure; and II) bringing the untreated, water-absorbing polymer structure into contact with a salt comprising a divalent or higher-valent cation of a metal and at least one organic base as anion. The invention relates also to the water-absorbing polymer structures obtainable by that process, to water-absorbing polymer structures, to a composite comprising a water-absorbing polymer structure and a substrate, to a process for the preparation of a composite, to the composite obtainable by that process, to chemical products, such as foams, molded articles and fibers comprising water-absorbing polymer structures or a composite, to the use of water-absorbing polymer structures or of a composite in chemical products and to the use of a salt in the treatment of the surface of water-absorbing polymer structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Mirko Walden, Harald Schmidt, Rainer Teni, Armin Reimann, Franck Furno, Jörg Issberner, Peter Herbe, Ursula Nielinger, Michael Keup
  • Publication number: 20140350191
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of water-absorbing polymer structures, comprising the following process steps: i) providing an untreated, water-absorbing polymer structure; and ii) bringing the untreated, water-absorbing polymer structure into contact with a salt comprising a divalent or higher-valent cation of a metal and at least one organic base as anion. The invention relates also to the water-absorbing polymer structures obtainable by that process, to water-absorbing polymer structures, to a composite comprising a water-absorbing polymer structure and a substrate, to a process for the preparation of a composite, to the composite obtainable by that process, to chemical products, such as foams, molded articles and fibers comprising water-absorbing polymer structures or a composite, to the use of water-absorbing polymer structures or of a composite in chemical products and to the use of a salt in the treatment of the surface of water-absorbing polymer structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Mirko Walden, Harald Schmidt, Rainer Teni, Armin Reimann, Franck Furno, Jorg Issberner, Peter Herbe, Ursula Nielinger, Michael Keup
  • Publication number: 20140339469
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method for the production of a superabsorbent composition comprising the process steps: i. production of a hydrogel by radical polymerization of an aqueous monomer solution containing at least one monomer ii. drying the hydrogel to obtain a water-absorbing polymer structure iii. surface crosslinking of the water-absorbing polymer structure to obtain a surface-crosslinked water-absorbing polymer structure, iv. incorporation of a starch compound in one or at least two of the variants V1 to V6, V1. in process step i. into the monomer solution V2. after process step i. and prior to process step ii. into the hydrogel V3. in process step ii. V4. after process step ii. and prior to process step iii. into the water-absorbing polymer structure V5. in process step iii V6. after process step iii onto the surface-crosslinked water-absorbing polymer structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: EVONIK DEGUSSA GMBH
    Inventors: Franck Furno, Harald Schmidt, Nicolaas De Bruin
  • Publication number: 20140312273
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing a water-absorbing polymer, including the following steps: (i) mixing (?1) 0.1 to 99.999 wt % polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated, acid-group-containing monomers; (?2) 0 to 70 wt % polymerized ethylenically unsaturated, monomers copolymerizable with (?1); (?3) 0.00 1 to 10 wt %, cross-linking agent(s); (?4) 0 to 30 wt % water-soluble polymers; and (?5) 0 to 20 wt % additive(s), wherein the total quantity by weight of (?1) to (?5) amounts to 100 wt %, (ii) radical polymerization while cross-linking, in order to form a hydrogel polymer, (iii) drying the hydrogel polymer, (iv) grinding and sifting the water-absorbing polymer, (v) surface post-cross-linking the hydrogel polymer, and (vi) drying and processing the polymer, wherein, before the admixture of the initiator and the start of radical polymerization, 0.01 to 5 wt % of a surfactant, relative to acrylic acid, 0.01 to 5 wt % foaming agent, are added.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: EVONIK DEGUSSA GMBH
    Inventors: Laurent Wattebled, Jorg Harren, Matthias Naumann, Franck Furno, Matthias Lobert, Rainer Teni
  • Patent number: 8829107
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method for the production of a superabsorbent composition comprising the process steps: i. production of a hydrogel by radical polymerization of an aqueous monomer solution containing at least one monomer ii. drying the hydrogel to obtain a water-absorbing polymer structure iii. surface crosslinking of the water-absorbing polymer structure to obtain a surface-crosslinked water-absorbing polymer structure, and iv. incorporating a starch compound into the method. The present invention also relates to a superabsorbent composition obtainable according to this method, a particulate superabsorbent composition and a composite, a sanitary article core and a sanitary item, furthermore chemical products and also the use of this superabsorbent composition in chemical products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Franck Furno, Harald Schmidt, Nicolaas De Bruin
  • Publication number: 20140180234
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of polymers, such as water-absorbing polymer structures, by radical polymerization of acrylic acid, whereby the acrylic acid has been obtained by a synthesis process which comprises as a process step the splitting of an organic material by means of an enzyme or at least one component of an enzyme. The invention also relates to the water-absorbing polymers obtainable by this process, water-absorbing polymers which are based to at least about 25 wt % upon partially neutralized acrylic acid, a composite, a process for the production of a composite, the composite obtainable by this production, the use of acrylic acid in the production of polymers, preferably in the production of water-absorbing polymer structures, a device for the production of acrylic acid, and a process for the production of acrylic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: EVONIK DEGUSSA GMBH
    Inventors: Gunther Bub, Jurgen Mosler, Andreas Sabbagh, Franz-Felix Kuppinger, Franck Furno
  • Patent number: 8703450
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of polymers, such as water-absorbing polymer structures, by radical polymerization of acrylic acid, whereby the acrylic acid has been obtained by a synthesis process which comprises as a process step the splitting of an organic material by means of an enzyme or at least one component of an enzyme. The invention also relates to the water-absorbing polymers obtainable by this process, water-absorbing polymers which are based to at least about 25 wt % upon partially neutralized acrylic acid, a composite, a process for the production of a composite, the composite obtainable by this production, the use of acrylic acid in the production of polymers, preferably in the production of water-absorbing polymer structures, a device for the production of acrylic acid, and a process for the production of acrylic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Günther Bub, Jürgen Mosler, Andreas Sabbagh, Franz-Felix Kuppinger, Franck Furno
  • Patent number: 8686216
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a water-absorbing particulate composition comprising water-absorbing polymer particulate structure comprising partly neutralized, crosslinked polyacrylate, a surface crosslinking agent and a compound of the structure I in which R1, R2, R3 and R4 can be identical or different and in each case represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1- to C4-hydrocarbon group or a hydroxyl group, R5 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1- to C4-hydrocarbon group or an acetyl group, n represents an integer chosen from the group consisting of 1, 2 or 3 and Mn+ represents an n-valent metal cation or an H+ cation. In addition, the present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of a water-absorbing composition, the water-absorbing composition obtainable by this process, a composite, a process for the production of a composite, the composite obtainable by this process, and products, such as hygiene articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Laurent Wattebled, Franck Furno
  • Patent number: 8658146
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a water-absorbing composition comprising water-absorbing polymer structures, on the surface of which is at least one tannin fraction which has a number-average molecular weight, determined in accordance with the test method described herein, of at least 1,000 g/mol, which has a weight-average molecular weight, determined in accordance with the test method described herein, of at least 1,000 g/mol, or which is a hydrolysable gallotannin. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of a water-absorbing composition, the water-absorbing composition obtainable by this process, a composite, a process for the production of a composite, the composite obtainable by this process, chemical products, such as, for example, hygiene articles, the use of a water-absorbing composition or of a composite and the use of a tannin fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Franck Furno, Laurent Wattebled, Anne Ix-Mund, Harald Schmidt, Markus Henn, Jorg Harren
  • Patent number: 8653320
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to an odor-absorbing superabsorbing composition, a process for production of an odor-absorbing superabsorbing composition, a composite comprising an odor-absorbing superabsorbing composition, a hygiene article comprising a composite, chemical products comprising or based on an odor-absorbing superabsorbing composition or a composite, as well as the use of an odor-absorbing superabsorbing composition or of a composite in chemical products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Franck Furno, Felix Müller, Jörg Peggau, Michael Keup, Harald Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20120302445
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a water-absorbing polymer structure based on acid group-containing monomers, comprising the process steps of: i) providing a monomer solution comprising the optionally partly neutralized, acid group-containing monomer; ii) mixing the monomer solution with fines which consist at least to an extent of 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the fines, of particles having a particle size of less than 850 ?m, to obtain a monomer solution mixed with fines; wherein the mixing in process step ii) is effected in a mixer in which a first stream of the fines and at least one further stream of the monomer solution are passed from different directions simultaneously to a rotating mixing tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Henry Rudolph, Thomas Hoefges, Manfred Van Stiphoudt, Jörg Harren, Laurent Wattebled, Franck Furno, Frank Soppe
  • Patent number: 8258249
    Abstract: The present invention relates to superabsorbent polymer comprising acrylic acid made by the process comprising the steps of heating an aqueous glycerine solution to form glycerine; transporting the glycerine to the dehydration reactor; dehydrating the glycerine to an acrolein-comprising dehydration product; gas phase oxidating of the acrolein-comprising dehydration product to obtain an acrylic acid-comprising monomer gas; bringing into contact of the monomer gas with a quench agent to obtain an acrylic acid-comprising quench phase; working-up the quench phase to obtain an acrylic acid-comprising monomer phase; and polymerizing the acrylic acid-comprising monomer phase; wherein a plurality of gas bubbles is generated and wherein the dehydration occurs at least partially in the liquid phase. The superabsorbent polymer has certain properties for biodegradability and sustainability. Further, at least about 25% of the acrylic acid is based on glycerine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Evonik Stockhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Günther Bub, Jürgen Mosler, Franz-Felix Kuppinger, Andreas Sabbagh, Guido Stochniol, Jörg Sauer, Markus Winterberg, Udo Knippenberg, Günter Latoschinski, Franck Furno, Thorsten Schwärtzke, Jörg Leistner
  • Patent number: 8247499
    Abstract: A water-absorbing polymer structure is disclosed, whose surface has been brought into contact with a combination of a metal salt and an oxide of a metal. The invention also relates to a process for treating the surface of water-absorbing polymer structures whereby the surface of water-absorbing polymer structures is brought into contact with a combination of a metal salt and an oxide of a metal at a temperature of from about 50 to about 300° C. The present invention further relates to the water-absorbing polymer structures obtainable by this process, a composite comprising a water-absorbing polymer structure and a substrate, chemical products such as foams and fibers comprising water-absorbing polymer structures or a composite, and the use of a combination of an oxide of a metal and of a metal salt for treatment of the surface of super-absorbing polymer structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Evonik Stockhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Mirko Walden, Franck Furno, Harald Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8071202
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for production of water-absorbing polymer structures comprising the process steps of providing an untreated, water-absorbing polymer structure (Pu) with a retention of at least about 35 g/g; and bringing this water-absorbing untreated polymer structure (Pu) into contact with a permeability-increasing agent. The invention further relates to the water-absorbing polymer structures obtainable by this process, water-absorbing polymer structures, a composite, a process for production of a composite, a composite obtainable by this process, chemical products comprising water-absorbing polymer structures or a composite as well as the use of water-absorbing polymer structures or of the composite in chemical products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Evonik Stockhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Franck Furno, Harald Schmidt, Peter Herbe, Ursula Nielinger, Michael Keup
  • Publication number: 20110144294
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for production of acrylic acid, comprising at least the following steps: a. dehydration of glycerine to an acrolein-comprising dehydration product; b. gas phase oxidation of the dehydration product to obtain an acrylic acid-comprising monomer gas; c. bringing into contact of the monomer gas with a quench agent to obtain an acrylic acid-comprising quench phase; d. work-up of the quench phase to obtain an acrylic acid-comprising monomer phase; whereby, during the dehydration a liquid phase a1 and a gas phase a2 is present, whereby in the liquid phase a1 a plurality of gas bubbles is generated, as well as a process for production of polymers by polymerization of acrylic acid, preferably for production of water-absorbing polymers, the water-absorbing polymers obtainable by this process, a composite, a process for production of a composite, the composite obtainable by this process, and further chemical products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Günther Bub, Jürgen Mosler, Franz-Felix Kuppinger, Andreas Sabbagh, Guido Stochniol, Jörg Sauer, Markus Winterberg, Udo Knippenberg, Günter Latoschinski, Franck Furno, Thorsten Schwärtzke, Jörg Leistner
  • Patent number: RE47104
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a water-absorbing composition comprising water-absorbing polymer structures, on the surface of which is at least one tannin fraction which has a number-average molecular weight, determined in accordance with the test method described herein, of at least 1,000 g/mol, which has a weight-average molecular weight, determined in accordance with the test method described herein, of at least 1,000 g/mol, or which is a hydrolysable gallotannin. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of a water-absorbing composition, the water-absorbing composition obtainable by this process, a composite, a process for the production of a composite, the composite obtainable by this process, chemical products, such as, for example, hygiene articles, the use of a water-absorbing composition or of a composite and the use of a tannin fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Franck Furno, Laurent Wattebled, Anne Ix-Mund, Harald Schmidt, Markus Henn, Jörg Harren