Method of Drying A Material Having A Cohesive Phase

Abstract

A method for drying a material such as a polymer hydrogel which passes through a cohesive phase as it dries is disclosed. The method comprises agitating a composition while removing liquid until the solids content of the composition reaches a level at which the composition enters a cohesive phase, halting agitation, removing liquid from the composition in the absence of agitation, and resuming agitation. Practice of the present invention can eliminate the problems associated with adhesion of a material to itself and to process equipment during the cohesive phase.

1 . A method of removing liquid from a composition, the method comprising:
 (a) agitating the composition while removing liquid until the composition enters a cohesive phase;   (b) halting agitation;   (c) removing liquid from the composition in the absence of agitation until the composition passes through the cohesive phase;   (d) resuming agitation; and   (e) removing liquid from the composition while agitating the composition until the solids content of the composition reaches a pre-determined level.