Patents by Inventor Hirotama Fujimaru

Hirotama Fujimaru 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: 9187579
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a particle-shaped water absorbing agent having a remarkably improved surface color and excellent water-absorbing properties (better water absorption capacity, and lower water soluble content and residual monomer content) at the same time. In order to attain the object, a particle-shaped water absorbing agent according to the present invention is a particle-shaped water absorbing agent whose main component is a polyacrylic acid and/or a salt thereof, the particle-shaped water absorbing agent having a surface color of Hunter b value in a range of ?5 to 10, and having a cross-linking absorption property index (CPI) in a range of 1 to 100, the CPI defined by the following two equations: GEX=(GVs+17)/Ln (water soluble content);??Equation 1: CPI=(GEX/residual monomer content)×100??Equation 3: where GVs is gel volume in saline, Ln (water soluble content) is a logarithm natural of water soluble content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Hirotama Fujimaru, Makoto Nagasawa, Kazuhiko Sakamoto, Shigeru Sakamoto, Kazushi Torii, Ryoko Tahara
  • Patent number: 9062140
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention allows for the production, with a high productivity, of a water-absorbent resin having an improved relationship between absorption capacity and water-soluble polymer, which are conflicting properties of the water-absorbent resin, being easily controlled for polymerization reaction, being of no odor, being less colored, and being of high absorption properties (high absorption capacity under load and high PPUP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirotama Fujimaru, Kunihiko Ishizaki, Sei Nakahara
  • Patent number: 8822373
    Abstract: A particulate water absorbing agent includes a polyacrylic acid and/or a salt thereof water absorbent resin as a main component, wherein the water absorbent resin includes ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid and/or a salt thereof, and the absorbing agent satisfies a specific particle size distribution and a specific water absorbing performance, thereby solving the conventional problems. Further, a production method of the water absorbing agent is characterized in that ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid and/or a salt thereof is added to (a) a monomer aqueous solution whose main component is acrylic acid and/or a salt thereof and which is being cross-linked and polymerized or (b) a hydrogel polymer after the polymerization. As a result, in the particulate water absorbing agent containing the water absorbent resin as a main component, it is possible to realize both excellent water absorbing performance and excellent coloring prevention effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hirotama Fujimaru, Eri Nagasawa, Masatoshi Nakamura, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Makoto Nagasawa, Ryoko Tahara
  • Patent number: 8765857
    Abstract: A particulate water retaining material for cultivating plant comprising (A) a carboxyl group-containing water-insoluble water absorbent resin and (B) a polyvalent metal compound, by having the compound (B) deposited on the rerin (A), it is made possible to possess an outstanding water absorbing property without impairing the growth of a plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotama Fujimaru, Yorimichi Dairoku, Kunihiko Ishizaki, Yoshifumi Adachi, Nobuyuki Harada
  • Patent number: 8729191
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention allows for production, with a high productivity, of a water-absorbent resin including an improved relationship between absorption capacity and water-soluble polymer which are conflicting properties of the water-absorbent resin, being easily controlled for polymerization reaction, being of no odor, being less colored, and being of high absorption properties. In one embodiment of the present invention, acrylic acid composition is neutralized with a basic composition including an iron content of 0.2 to 5 ppm by weight (relative to a basic compound exclusive of a solvent); and then polymerizing a resultant neutralized product, the acrylic acid composition including: (i) a methoxyphenol content of 10 to 200 ppm by weight relative to the weight of acrylic acid; and (ii) at least one compound content of which is 0 to 10 ppm by weight relative to the weight of acrylic acid, the compound being selected from the group consisting of protoanemonin and furfural.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Kawano, Hirotama Fujimaru, Kunihiko Ishizaki, Katsuyuki Wada
  • Patent number: 8552134
    Abstract: A method of producing a water-absorbent resin of the present invention reduces amounts of a residual cross-linking agent and a residual surfactant, achieves high productivity, and improves physical properties of the resultant water-absorbent, such as absorption capacity, extractable polymer content, powder friction, and gel crushability. The method includes the steps of: polymerizing an aqueous monomer solution containing as a major component an acrylic acid monomer in the presence of a cross-linking agent; and drying the resultant polymer by heating, in which the cross-linking agent is a multifunctional (meth)acrylate cross-linking agent having polyethylene glycol structural units including a total of 6 to 200 ethylene oxide repeating units, and the aqueous monomer solution includes a mono(meth)acrylate compound having polyethylene glycol structural units in an amount of 0.1 to 30% by weight relative to an amount of the multifunctional (meth)acrylate cross-linking agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotama Fujimaru, Eri Goto, Kunihiko Ishizaki, Atsushi Motoyama
  • Patent number: 8481664
    Abstract: As a characteristic that had not been known conventionally at all, “permeability potential under pressure (PPUP)” of a particulate water absorbing agent is regulated, and further, “range of particle size distribution” and “coloring” are concomitantly regulated. The present invention is directed to a particulate water absorbing agent having the following (a) to (c): (a) permeability potential under pressure (PPUP) being 50 to 100%; (b) yellowness index (YI) being 0 to 10, and rate of change of yellowness index (?YI) being 100 to 150% following a coloring acceleration test for 14 days at 70±1° C. and the relative humidity of 95±1%; and (c) particles of smaller than 150 ?m specified by standard sieve classification accounting for 0 to 5% by weight, weight average particle diameter (D50) being 200 to 550 ?m, and logarithmic standard deviation (??) of particle size distribution being 0.20 to 0.40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yorimichi Dairoku, Hirotama Fujimaru, Kunihiko Ishizaki
  • Publication number: 20100009846
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a particle-shaped water absorbing agent having a remarkably improved surface color and excellent water-absorbing properties (better water absorption capacity, and lower water soluble content and residual monomer content) at the same time. In order to attain the object, a particle-shaped water absorbing agent according to the present invention is a particle-shaped water absorbing agent whose main component is a polyacrylic acid and/or a salt thereof, the particle-shaped water absorbing agent having a surface color of Hunter b value in a range of ?5 to 10, and having a cross-linking absorption property index (CPI) in a range of 1 to 100, the CPI defined by the following two equations: GEX=(GVs+17)/Ln (water soluble content)??Equation 1; CPI=(GEX/residual monomer content)×100??Equation 3 where GVs is gel volume in saline, Ln (water soluble content) is a logarithm natural of water soluble content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Hirotama Fujimaru, Makoto Nagasawa, Kazuhiko Sakamoto, Shigeru Sakamoto, Kazushi Torii, Ryoko Tahara
  • Publication number: 20090318885
    Abstract: As a characteristic that had not been known conventionally at all, “permeability potential under pressure (PPUP)” of a particulate water absorbing agent is regulated, and further, “range of particle size distribution” and “coloring” are concomitantly regulated. The present invention is directed to a particulate water absorbing agent having the following (a) to (c): (a) permeability potential under pressure (PPUP) being 50 to 100%; (b) yellowness index (YI) being 0 to 10, and rate of change of yellowness index (?YI) being 100 to 150% following a coloring acceleration test for 14 days at 70±1° C. and the relative humidity of 95±1%; and (c) particles of smaller than 150 ?m specified by standard sieve classification accounting for 0 to 5% by weight, weight average particle diameter (D50) being 200 to 550 ?m, and logarithmic standard deviation (??) of particle size distribution being 0.20 to 0.40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yorimichi Dairoku, Hirotama Fujimaru, Kunihiko Ishizaki
  • Publication number: 20090312183
    Abstract: A particulate water absorbing agent includes a polyacrylic acid (salt) water absorbent resin as a main component, wherein the water absorbent resin includes ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid (salt), and the absorbing agent satisfies a specific particle size distribution and a specific water absorbing performance, thereby solving the conventional problems. Further, a production method of the water absorbing agent is characterized in that ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid (salt) is added to (a) a monomer aqueous solution whose main component is acrylic acid (salt) and which is being cross-linked and polymerized or (b) a hydrogel polymer after the polymerization. As a result, in the particulate water absorbing agent containing the water absorbent resin as a main component, it is possible to realize both excellent water absorbing performance and excellent coloring prevention effect. Further, it is possible to provide an absorbing article particulate water absorbing agent which is suitable for practical use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Hirotama Fujimaru, Eri Nagasawa, Masatoshi Nakamura, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Makoto Nagasawa, Ryoko Tahara
  • Patent number: 7435477
    Abstract: A particulate water absorbent contains a water absorbent resin as a main component, the water absorbent resin being a crosslinked polymer of a water-soluble unsaturated monomer. The water absorbent resin is particular in shape and contains particles of a particle size in a range of not less than 106 ?m and less than 850 ?m in an amount of not less than 90 mass percent with respect to the total mass of the water absorbent resin contained in the particulate water absorbent. The particulate water absorbent has a first salt concentration absorption index of not less than 0.60 as measured by a formula below when ion exchange water is used as an aqueous solution of a constant salt concentration: (salt concentration absorption index)=(absorbency against a pressure of 4.83 kPa with respect to the aqueous solution of a constant salt concentration)/(absorbency against no pressure with respect to the aqueous solution of a constant salt concentration).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubi Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Adachi, Takahiro Kitano, Hirotama Fujimaru, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Katsuyuki Wada
  • Publication number: 20080161512
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention allows for production, with a high productivity, of a water-absorbent resin including an improved relationship between absorption capacity and water-soluble polymer which are conflicting properties of the water-absorbent resin, being easily controlled for polymerization reaction, being of no odor, being less colored, and being of high absorption properties. In one embodiment of the present invention, acrylic acid composition is neutralized with a basic composition including an iron content of 0.2 to 5 ppm by weight (relative to a basic compound exclusive of a solvent); and then polymerizing a resultant neutralized product, the acrylic acid composition including: (i) a methoxyphenol content of 10 to 200 ppm by weight relative to the weight of acrylic acid; and (ii) at least one compound content of which is 0 to 10 ppm by weight relative to the weight of acrylic acid, the compound being selected from the group consisting of protoanemonin and furfural.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Takaaki Kawano, Hirotama Fujimaru, Kunihiko Ishizaki, Katsuyuki Wada
  • Publication number: 20080119626
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention allows for the production, with a high productivity, of a water-absorbent resin having an improved relationship between absorption capacity and water-soluble polymer, which are conflicting properties of the water-absorbent resin, being easily controlled for polymerization reaction, being of no odor, being less colored, and being of high absorption properties (high absorption capacity under load and high PPUP).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Hirotama Fujimaru, Kunihiko Ishizaki, Sei Nakahara
  • Patent number: 7282262
    Abstract: The particulate water absorbent has a cross-linking structure therein, and contains (i) a particulate water absorbent resin having a cross-linking structure on a surface therof and (ii) not less than 0.001 mass % and less than 10 mass % of anorganic acid multivalent metal salt whose molecule contains not less than seven carbon atoms. Futher, the particulate water absorbent contains 90 mass % of particles, whose particle diameter is not less than 106 ?m and 850 ?m, with respect to the particulate water absorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Adachi, Takahiro Kitano, Hirotama Fujimaru, Kozo Nogi
  • Publication number: 20070232760
    Abstract: A method of producing a water-absorbent resin of the present invention reduces amounts of a residual cross-linking agent and a residual surfactant, achieves high productivity, and improves physical properties of the resultant water-absorbent, such as absorption capacity, extractable polymer content, powder friction, and gel crushability. The method includes the steps of: polymerizing an aqueous monomer solution containing as a major component an acrylic acid monomer in the presence of a cross-linking agent; and drying the resultant polymer by heating, in which the cross-linking agent is a multifunctional (meth)acrylate cross-linking agent having polyethylene glycol structural units including a total of 6 to 200 ethylene oxide repeating units, and the aqueous monomer solution includes a mono(meth)acrylate compound having polyethylene glycol structural units in an amount of 0.1 to 30% by weight relative to an amount of the multifunctional (meth)acrylate cross-linking agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD
    Inventors: Hirotama Fujimaru, Eri Goto, Kunihiko Ishizaki, Atsushi Motoyama
  • Publication number: 20070101644
    Abstract: A particulate water retaining material for cultivating plant comprising (A) a carboxyl group-containing water-insoluble water absorbent resin and (B) a polyvalent metal compound, by having the compound (B) deposited on the the rerin (A), it is made possible to possess an outstanding water absorbing property without impairing the growth of a plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventors: Hirotama Fujimaru, Yorimichi Dairoku, Kunihiko Ishizaki, Yoshifumi Adachi, Nobuyuki Harada
  • Patent number: 7196139
    Abstract: A water-absorbent resin composition excelling in an absorption capacity under pressure, a first transition of initial absorption, and the small amount of rewet is provided. It comprises a water-absorbent resin obtained by aqueous solution polymerization and by reversed-phase suspension or reversed-phase emulsion polymerization and shows a CSF of not less than 20 g/g or an AAP of not less than 20 g/g or an SFC of not less than 10 (unit: 10?7×cm3×s×g?1). The gaps among resin particles owing to the difference in shape form optimum gap widths for the sake of capillarity. The resin composition consequently formed, therefore, manifests such excellent properties without the influences of a surfactant or an emulsifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotama Fujimaru, Katsuyuki Wada, Kunihiko Ishizaki, Motohiro Imura, Hiroki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20070066167
    Abstract: The present invention provides a water absorbing agent which maintains excellent water absorbing properties for a long time, even when urine composition of human urine varies depending. A particulate water absorbing agent comprising a water-absorbing resin obtained by crosslinking polymerization of an unsaturated monomer, which exhibits Centrifuge retention capacity in a physiological saline solution of not lower than 32 g/g, mass median particle size (D50) of 200 to 400 ?m, ratio of particles with diameter of smaller than 150 ?m of 0 to 2% by weight, and increased extractables by deterioration of 0 to 15% by weight and extractables for one hour in deterioration test liquid of 0.1 to 30% by weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Wada, Kazuki Kimura, Hiroko Ueda, Teruyuki Kanto, Hirotama Fujimaru
  • Patent number: 7049366
    Abstract: In order to produce inexpensively with high productivity a water-absorbent resin of which: the residual monomer content and the water-extractable content are both low, and the properties are high, and the colorability is low; there is provided a process for producing a water-absorbent resin, which is a process for producing a crosslinked water-absorbent resin by polymerizing a monomer component including acrylic acid and/or its salt in a major proportion wherein the acrylic acid is a product obtained by catalytic gas phase oxidation of propylene and/or propane, with the process being characterized by comprising the steps of: preparing the monomer component from an acrylic acid composition that includes the unneutralized acrylic acid and a methoxyphenol and has a methoxyphenol content of 10 to 160 ppm by weight (based on the unneutralized acrylic acid); and then carrying out radical and/or ultraviolet polymerization of the resultant monomer component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sei Nakahara, Kunihiko Ishizaki, Hirotama Fujimaru, Yasuhisa Nakashima, Kazuhiko Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20050221980
    Abstract: A particulate water absorbent contains a water absorbent resin as a main component, the water absorbent resin being a crosslinked polymer of a water-soluble unsaturated monomer. The water absorbent resin is particular in shape and contains particles of a particle size in a range of not less than 106 ?m and less than 850 ?m in an amount of not less than 90 mass percent with respect to the total mass of the water absorbent resin contained in the particulate water absorbent. The particulate water absorbent has a first salt concentration absorption index of not less than 0.60 as measured by a formula below when ion exchange water is used as an aqueous solution of a constant salt concentration: (salt concentration absorption index)=(absorbency against a pressure of 4.83 kPa with respect to the aqueous solution of a constant salt concentration)/(absorbency against no pressure with respect to the aqueous solution of a constant salt concentration).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Adachi, Takahiro Kitano, Hirotama Fujimaru, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Katsuyuki Wada