Reactor system and process for wood modification
AssigneeTitan Wood Limited
InventorsKarlijn Rademakers, Bernardus Jozef Maria POL, Paul Bussemaker, Theodorus Gerardus Marinus Maria Kappen
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Abstract
A reactor system for the modification of lignocellulosic materials comprises a reaction vessel, a vacuum connection and an inlet and/or outlet connected to a gas flow loop connected to a heat exchanger and at least one fluid circulation device. Particularly, gas flow loop is arranged so as to allow gas circulation over the diameter of the reaction vessel. The gas flow loop preferably includes a gas distribution device, such as a distribution plate.
Claims13
A reactor system for the acetylation of lignocellulosic materials, the system comprising a reaction vessel having a closable aperture suitable for the introduction of lignocellulosic material, a vacuum connection suitable for creating vacuum in the reaction vessel, a liquid-inlet and/or liquid-outlet for acetylation fluid, and a gas-inlet and gas-outlet connected to a first gas flow loop, said first gas flow loop comprising a gas flow line connecting the gas-inlet and the gas-outlet, said gas flow line connected to a heat exchanger and at least one fan, wherein the inlet and the outlet of the first gas flow loop are positioned such as to allow gas circulation over the diameter of the reaction vessel.
A process for the acetylation of lignocellulosic material, comprising the steps of (a) impregnating the lignocellulosic material with an acetylation fluid and removing the excess acetylation liquid;
- (b) heating the impregnated lignocellulosic material by means of a flow of heated gas so as to allow acetylation of the lignocellulosic material to occur;
- (c) lowering the pressure to which the lignocellulosic material is subjected so as to allow residual acetylation fluid to migrate out of the lignocellulosic material;
- (d) allowing gas to act as a stripping gas for the migrated residual acetylation fluid by subjecting such gas to condensation;
- wherein the gas subjected to condensation is a portion of the circulating heated gas flow.
The use of a reactor system to conduct a process for the acetylation of lignocellulosic materials, the reactor system comprising a reaction vessel having a closable aperture suitable for the introduction of lignocellulosic material, an inlet and outlet for acetylation fluid, and an inlet and outlet connected to a first gas flow loop, said first gas flow loop comprising a gas flow line connecting the inlet and the outlet, said gas flow line connected to a heat exchanger and at least one fan, the use being for an acetylation process wherein solid wood is submerged into a liquid acetylation medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.