Patent ID: 6228506
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: B01D,B01J,F24F,Y10T

Abstract:
An enthalpy exchanger comprising a cellulosic fibre-based substrate treated with a polymeric desiccant, wherein the polymeric desiccant is obtained by preparing a polymerizable organic solution containing (a) a polymerizable monomer selected from the groups consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and itaconic acid wherein up to 50% of the carboxyl groups are neutralized by treatment with a base, (b) a homolytic reaction initiator, (c) at least 0.1% by weight a cross-polymerization agent and (d) an organic solvent, said polymerizable solution containing less than about 35% by weight of water, impregnating said cellulosic substrate with said polymerizable solution, heating said impregnated substrate in a substantially oxygen-free environment to effect polymerization of the monomer on the substrate, treating the substrate thus obtained with an alkaline solution to transform the polymer into a salt and drying the alkaline treated substrate.