Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of forming soluble collagen fiber from a raw animal hide comprising: treating a raw hide with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide and an organic dehydrating agent to remove the hair and fat therefrom, to yield a substantially hair and fat-free corium; stabilizing the interfibular bonds of the collagen in the corium with an aqueous solution of an alkali sulfate; neutralizing the corium; dissolving the corium in an aqueous acid solution to yield a collagen solution; precipitating collagen fibers from the solution; and drying the collagen fibers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of forming soluble collagen fiber from a raw animal hide comprising: treating a raw hide with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide and an organic dehydrating agent to remove the hair and fat therefrom, to yield a substantially hair and fat-free corium; stabilizing the interfibular bonds of the collagen in the corium with an aqueous solution of an alkali sulfate; neutralizing the corium; dissolving the corium in an aqueous acid solution to yield a collagen solution; precipitating collagen fibers from the solution; and drying the collagen fibers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said precipitation is accomplished by adjusting the pH of the aqueous collagen solution to the isoelectric point.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 including treating the corium with a dehydrating agent prior to the stabilization of said interfibular bonds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 including washing the corium with distilled water to remove residual salts therefrom prior to dissolving the corium in aqueous acid solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said dehydrating agent is selected from the group consisting of methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol and acetone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the alkali metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous solution for treating the raw hide has 2.5 to 4 molar of alkali metal hydroxide, and 40 to 50 percent of dehydrating agent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said alkali sulfate is sodium sulfate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said alkali sulfate solution is 1 to 2.5 molar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the corium is neutralized with an aqueous acid solution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said aqueous acid solution is 1 to 4 percent of acid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said acid is boric acid or hydrochloric acid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous acid solution for dissolving said collagen is 0.5 to 2.5 percent acid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of tartaric acid, citric acid and acetic acid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said collagen solution is 0.5 to 3 percent by weight.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the pH of said aqueous collagen solution is adjusted by aqueous ammonia.