Crystalline cellulose production
AssigneeGenencor International, Inc.
InventorsEdit L. Braunstein, Robert L. Dostie, Keith H. Germano, Steve C. Lamb, Christopher S. Penet, Paul B. Richards
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Abstract
The present invention relates to new methods for producing cellulose with high crystallinity by enzymatic hydrolysis and to novel cellulosic materials produced by those methods which exhibit a wide variety of DP's. The method is especially useful in producing microcrystalline celluloses.
Claims8
A process for converting a cellulosic material to a crystalline cellulose material, the process comprising:
- a) selecting as a starting material, a never dried cellulosic material;
- and
- b) subjecting the never dried material to enzymatic hydrolysis using a cellulase enzyme at a temperature of from about 35.degree.-75.degree. C., and at a pH from about 2.0 to 4.0, for a time sufficient to form crystalline cellulose having a degree of polymerization (DP) from about 800 down to the level-off degree of polymerization (LODP) of the starting material.
A process for converting a cellulosic material to a crystalline cellulose material, the process comprising:
- a) selecting a never dried cellulosic material;
- and
- b) subjecting the never dried cellulosic material to enzymatic hydrolysis at a temperature from about 50.degree.-60.degree. C., and at a pH from about 2.5 to 3.5, for a period sufficient to form crystalline cellulose having a degree of polymerization (DP) from about 700 down to the level-off degree of polymerization (LODP) of the never dried cellulosic material.
An improved crystalline cellulose having a degree of polymerization (DP) from about 200-700, the improvement comprising producing the crystalline cellulase by enzymatic hydrolysis of a never dried cellulose starting material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.