Eucalyptus biokraft pulping process
AssigneesBiopulping International, Inc., Thapar Centre for Industrial Research & Development
InventorsPratima Bajpai, Pramod K. Bajpai, Masood Akhtar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a new process for preparing pulped wood chips for paper making, chips from a hardwood such as eucalyptus are inoculated with a living culture of one or more white rot fungi. The fungi propagate throughout the body of the wood chip, selectively attacking the lignin of the wood without harming the cellulosic fibers. Subsequent kraft pulping with standard chemicals results in less chemical usage, reduced utilization of energy, improved strength, and reduced cooking time.
Claims19
A method for producing paper pulp for use in the making of paper from eucalyptus wood chips, comprising in the steps of:
- a) inoculating the wood chips with white rot fungi;
- b) fermenting the wood chips so as to cause a propagation of the fungus through the wood chips and allow the fungus to modify lignin;
- and
- c) pulping the degraded wood chips by a known kraft process.
Canceled.
Biotreated eucalyptus wood chips for kraft pulping prepared by the process comprising
- inoculating the eucalyptus wood chips with white rot fungi, and
- fermenting the wood chips so as to cause propagation of the fungus through the wood chips and obtain chemically modified lignin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.