Methods for liberating trichome fibers form portions of a host plant
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsKhosrow Parvis Mohammadi, Scott Christopher Kreider
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Abstract
Improved processes for liberating trichome fibers from non-seed portions of a trichome-bearing host plant are provided. The processes include one or more steps for disassociating trichome fibers that are already separated from leaves, stems, and still-attached fibers so that the separated trichome fibers can be collected and not lost through a waste stream.
Claims13
A method for liberating individualized trichome fibers from a non-seed portion of a host plant, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing an initial mass of material comprising a plurality of leaves and stems of a host plant, at least some of which comprising attached trichome fibers;
- b. milling the leaves and stems to separate trichome fibers from the same, wherein the milled leaves and stems, and separated trichome fibers define a feed stock;
- c. entraining a pressurized fluid stream with the feed stock;
- d. thereafter directing the pressurized fluid stream against a fluid flow resistor to disassociate at least some of the separated trichome fibers from the milled leaves and stems to create a refined feed stock;
- e. thereafter subjecting the refined feed stock to one or more air classifiers;
- and
- f. collecting material from the one or more air classifiers to define an end mass of material;
- g. wherein a yield of trichome fibers, as defined by the end mass of material divided by the initial mass of material, is greater than 15%.
A method for liberating individualized trichome fibers from a non-seed portion of a host plant, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing an initial mass of material comprising a feedstock comprising leaves, stems, attached trichome fibers, and separated trichome fibers;
- b. disassociating at least some of the separated trichome fibers from the leaves, stems, and still attached trichome fibers to create a refined feedstock wherein the step of disassociating comprises entraining pressured fluid with the feedstock and directing the entrained pressurized fluid against a plate;
- c. thereafter subjecting the refined feed stock to one or more air classifiers;
- and
- d. collecting material from the one or more air classifiers to define an end mass of material;
- e. wherein a yield of trichome fibers, as defined by the end mass of material divided by the initial mass of material, is greater than 15%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.