Process for controlling microbial growth
OwnerAnna Holmberg, Hannu Leino +2inventors
InventorsAnna Holmberg, Hannu Leino, Pia Kontola, Pirjo Puutonen
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Abstract
The invention relates to a process for controlling microbial growth in a production line for cellulosic products with the aid of gases. The invention also relates to the use of gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon and/or non-naturally occurring mixtures thereof for controlling microbial growth. In the process an aqueous material containing water and suspended pulp fibers and/or additives therefor is treated with the gaseous inhibitor to significantly retard or inhibit the growth of microorganisms therein. An oxygen rich gas may be introduced in addition to the inhibitor of the invention.
Claims27
A process for controlling microbial growth in a production line for cellulosic products comprising
- providing an aqueous material containing water and suspended pulp fibers and/or additives therefor,
- maintaining said aqueous material under conditions susceptible to microbial growth,
- providing a gaseous microbe inhibitor selected from carbon dioxide, nitrogen, noble gases and a non-natural mixtures containing the same,
- introducing said gaseous microbe inhibitor to said aqueous material in an amount sufficient for said microbe inhibitor to significantly retard or inhibit the growth of micro-organisms therein.
Use of carbon dioxide, nitrogen or a noble gas alone or in a non-natural gas mixture as a gaseous microbe inhibitor for controlling microbial growth in an aqueous material containing water as well as suspended pulp fibers and/or additives therefor, which material is processed and/or stored in a production line for cellulosic products.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.