Apparatus and process for treatment of fibers

Abstract

A process for treatment of fibers is disclosed. The treatment comprises simultaneously and continuously macerating the fibers and exposing the fibers to superheated steam, ammonia gas and ethylenediamine gas. The treatment is carried out in a chamber where the fibers are subjected to the mechanical rubbing and crushing action of a plurality of rotating pins against channels disposed on the chamber interior wall. The treatment results in improved fiber water holding capacity and improved conversion efficiency in the production of biofuels from the treated fibers.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation in part of non-provisional application Ser. No. 12 / 951,052 filed on Nov. 21, 2010.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for treating fibers and fiber bundles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a process and apparatus for treating raw biomass fibers and fiber bundles that impart properties to the fibers such as improved water holding capacity and crystallinity that are beneficial in a variety of applications such as biofuel manufacturing and soil erosion prevention as well as in products such as plant growth substrates and animal bedding.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Biomass materials contain valuable materials that may be used in a variety of applications such as the production of fuels, feeds and chemicals. The release, segregation and collection of these useful materials are accomplished in the art using a variety of chemical, mechanical and enzymatic pr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The process of the present invention comprises a process of treating fibers by continually exposing the surfaces of fibers to treatment agents in a gas phase under superheated steam pressure while separating out components such as lignin and hemicelluloses from the fibers that have value in other applications such as soil erosion control and as components in high molecular weight biofuels. The valuable cellulose fibers may be contained in fiber bundles that are byproducts of harvest or sawmill processes of wood or biomass. Separating the fiber bundles is an important step in order to make the fibers accessible to the treatment agents. This is accomplished in the present invention by applying mechanical maceration action to the fibers in such a manner as to expose the fibers to the softening effect of the superheated steam and treatment agents in the gas phase. One such treatment agent is ethylenediamine that is disclosed as an aid in the removal of lignin in U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,385. The lignin acts as glue in the cellulose fiber matrix and therefore reduces the accessibility of reactants that may be used to impart beneficial physical characteristics to the cellulose fibers or to extract valuable chemicals from cellulose and biomass fibers. Sources for biomass fibers include but not limited to: cotton, mulch, switch grass, burr plants, wheat, sorghum, hey, Sudan grass, paper waste, municipal sewer solids, manure solids, sugar cane, cassava, corn and wheat and other cereals straw. The combination of these process steps may be carried out simultaneously at a relatively low pressure of about 2 Kilopascal gauge.

[0008]It is the object of the present invention to provide a process for transforming biomass fibers into materials useable in the production of biofuels. It is also the object of the present invention to provide processes for transforming biomass fibers into materials useable in soil erosion applications and into materials useable as animal feed, animal bedding, and fertilizers. It is further the object of the present invention to provide treated fibers having improved water holding capacity. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide fibers that have a high degree of crystallinity that makes the sugar components of the fibers accessible to enzymatic treatment.

Problems solved by technology

This method of treatment is typically inefficient and expensive as the unused treating agents must be recovered from the spent liquid for reuse.

The lignin acts as glue in the cellulose fiber matrix and therefore reduces the accessibility of reactants that may be used to impart beneficial physical characteristics to the cellulose fibers or to extract valuable chemicals from cellulose and biomass fibers.

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