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US 10,648,131 B2Granted
Methods of processing plant fiber, and related systems and compositions
AssigneePOET Research, Inc.
InventorSteven G. Redford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to plant fiber processes (e.g., washing, drying, and/or grinding) that utilize recycle and/or make-up streams to use water resources efficiently and/or produce intermediate and/or final products with desired properties.
Claims18
A method of cleaning plant fiber comprising:
- a) providing a first plant fiber stream comprising grain fiber and one or more additional plant constituents including starch;
- b) combining the first plant fiber stream with at least a first aqueous stream comprising water and one or more additional plant constituents to form a first mixture in a first tank, wherein the first mixture is subjected to agitation in the first tank;
- c) providing the first mixture to a first separation apparatus;
- d) separating a second aqueous stream from the first mixture in the first separation apparatus to form a second plant fiber stream comprising grain fiber;
- e) recycling at least a first portion of the second aqueous stream so that it can be combined with the first plant fiber stream in the first tank;
- f) after step (d), combining the second plant fiber stream with make-up water to form a second mixture in a second tank, wherein the second mixture is subjected to agitation in the second tank;
- g) providing the second mixture to a second separation apparatus;
- h) separating a third aqueous stream from the second mixture in the second separation apparatus to form a third plant fiber stream comprising grain fiber;
- i) separating a first portion from the third aqueous stream and recycling the first portion so that it can be combined with the second plant fiber stream in the second tank;
- j) separating a second portion from the third aqueous stream and recycling the second portion to form the first aqueous stream so that it can be combined with the first plant fiber stream in the first tank;
- and
- k) adjusting a flow rate of the make-up water to adjust the concentration of grain fiber on a dry matter basis in the third plant fiber stream,
- wherein the concentration of plant fiber on a dry matter basis in the third plant fiber stream is greater than the concentration of plant fiber on a dry matter basis in the first plant fiber stream, and
- wherein the second aqueous stream is not combined with the second portion of the third aqueous stream at least prior to the separating the second portion from the third aqueous stream.
11 more elements
A method of cleaning plant fiber comprising:
- a) providing a first plant fiber stream comprising a grain fiber and one or more additional plant constituents including starch;
- b) combining the first plant fiber stream with at least a first aqueous stream comprising water and one or more additional plant constituents to form a first mixture in a first tank, wherein the first mixture is subjected to agitation in the first tank;
- c) providing the first mixture to a first separation apparatus;
- d) separating a second aqueous stream from the first mixture in the first separation apparatus to form a second plant fiber stream comprising grain fiber;
- e) recycling at least a first portion of the second aqueous stream so that it can be combined with the first plant fiber stream in the first tank;
- f) after step (d), combining the second plant fiber stream with at least a third aqueous stream comprising water to form a second mixture in a second tank, wherein the second mixture is subjected to agitation in the second tank;
- g) providing the second mixture to a second separation apparatus;
- h) separating a fourth aqueous stream from the second mixture in the second separation apparatus to form a third plant fiber stream comprising grain fiber;
- i) recycling at least a first portion of the fourth aqueous stream so that it can be combined with the second plant fiber stream in the second tank;
- j) recycling at least a second portion of the fourth aqueous stream to form the first aqueous stream so that it can be combined with the first plant fiber stream in the first tank,
- (k) after step (i), combining the third plant fiber stream with make-up water to form a third mixture in a third tank, wherein the third mixture is subjected to agitation in the third tank;
- (l) providing the third mixture to a third separation apparatus;
- (m) separating a fifth aqueous stream from the third mixture in the third separation apparatus to form a fourth plant fiber stream comprising grain fiber;
- (n) recycling at least a first portion of the fifth aqueous stream and combining it with the third plant fiber stream in the third tank;
- (o) recycling at least a second portion of the fifth aqueous stream to form the third aqueous stream and combining it with the second plant fiber stream in the second tank;
- and
- (p) adjusting the flow rate of the make-up water to adjust the concentration of the grain fiber on a dry matter basis in the fourth plant fiber stream,
- wherein the concentration of plant fiber on a dry matter basis in the third plant fiber stream is greater than the concentration of plant fiber on a dry matter basis in the first plant fiber stream.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.