Cellulose fiber-based compositions and their method of manufacture
AssigneeRegents of the University of Minnesota
InventorsBrock Lundberg, Lin Gu, Rongsheng Roger Ruan, Ling Chen, Paul Bradley Addis, Jack Edgar Johnson
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Abstract
The present invention comprises an improved method for refining cellulose that produces a highly refined cellulosic material. The method comprises soaking raw material in a mild NaOH using reduced temperatures and pressures, and refining the material with a plate refiner so that a waste water stream is reduced in volume and has a pH within a range of 8 to 9. The present invention also comprises a HRC gel having a lignin concentration of at least about one (1)% by weight, and a water retention capacity of about 25 to at least about 56 g H2O/g dry HRC.
Claims31
A method for refining cellulose, comprising:
- soaking raw material in NaOH;
- draining the material and allowing the material to sit for at least about 6 hours to produce soaked raw material;
- refining the soaked raw material to produce refined material;
- dispersing the refined material to produce dispersed refined material;
- and
- homogenizing the dispersed refined material to produce highly refined cellulose (HRC) having a lignin concentration of at least about one (1)% and a water retention capacity (WRC) of about 25 to at least about 56 g H2O/g dry HRC wherein the method produces a waste water stream having a pH within a range of 8 to 9.
A highly refined cellulose (HRC) having a lignin concentration of at least 1% by weight and a water retention capacity of at least about 20 g H2O/g dry HRC.
An HRC having a lignin concentration of not more than about 20% by weight, and a water retention capacity of about 25 to at least about 56 g H2O/g dry HRC.
A composition comprising an HRC and a food, wherein the HRC has a lignin concentration of at least 1% by weight and a water retention capacity of at least about 20 g H2O/g dry HRC.
A composition comprising an HRC having a lignin concentration of at least 1% by weight and soil.
A filter comprising an HRC having a lignin concentration of at least 1% by weight.
A method for refining cellulose, comprising:
- soaking raw material in NaOH;
- draining the material and allowing the material to sit for at least about 6 hours to produce soaked raw materials;
- and
- refining the soaked raw material to produce material wherein the method produces a waste water stream having a pH within a range of 8 to 9.
A device for accelerating chemical reactions, comprising an HRC having a lignin concentration of at least 1% by weight.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.