Inventors:
Tim Hagen - Superior WI, US
George J. Coy - Mantorville MN, US
Matthew Coy - Mantorville MN, US
Assignee:
Clean Plus, Inc. - Concord MN
Regents of the University of Minnesota - St. Paul MN
International Classification:
B29C 67/02, B32B 5/16
Abstract:
This disclosure describes a method and apparatus for agglomerating stover to produce a liquid absorbing particle. The method comprises providing stover particles coated with a first binder component and then rolling the stover particles coated with the first binder component on a rotating surface. The rotating surface is inclined sufficiently to aid in the rolling of the stover particles. A second liquid binder component that readily chemically crosslinks with the first binder component is applied to the first binder component to produce a web that the stover particles adhere to. The web in combination with the inclined rotating surface rolls the stover particles thereby forming an agglomerated stover particle that will be suitable for absorbing liquids. Agglomerated stover particles are also described.