Manufacture of finely divided copper hydroxychloride

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FINELY DIVIDED PARTICLE FORM, COPPER HYDROXY CHLORIDE SUITABLE FOR USE AS A PLANT-PROTECTING AGENT BY CALCINING COARSE COPPER HYDROXY CHLORIDE (3CUO$CUCL2$3H2O) AND THEREAFTER HYDRATING THE CALCINED COPPER HYDROXY CHLORIDE, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES INTRODUCING AQUEOUS COPPER HYDROXY CHLORIDE (3CUO$CUCL2$3H2O) PASTE INTO A STREAM OF HOT INERT GAS MAINTAINED UNDER TURBULENT FLOW CONDITIONS WHEREBY PARTICLES OF SAID PASTE ARE FORMED AND DISPERSED IN SAID GAS STREAM, THE DISPERSED PASTE PARTICLES BEING HEATED WITHIN A PERIOD OF LESS THAN ONE SECOND TO 250-500*C. AND THE WATER OF HYDRATION INCOMPLETELY SPLIT OFF, AND HYDRATING THE DEHYDRATED PRODUCT BY CONTACT WITH SUFFICIENT WATER TO REGENERATE 3CUO$CUCL2$3H2O CHARACTERIZED BY INCREASED SURFACE AREA AND REDUCED BULK WEIGHT WITH RESPECT TO THE STARTING COPPER HYDROXY CHLORIDE MATERIAL.