Abstract:
A pulp in accordance with a particular embodiment includes crosslinked cellulose fibers. The pulp can have high brightness, reactivity, and intrinsic viscosity. The pulp, therefore, can be well suited for use as a precursor in the production of low-color, high-viscosity cellulose derivatives. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present technology includes forming a pulp from a cellulosic feedstock, bleaching the pulp, crosslinking cellulose fibers within the pulp while the pulp has a high consistency, and drying the pulp. The bleaching process can reduce a lignin content of the pulp to less than or equal to 0.09% by oven-dried weight of the crosslinked cellulose fibers. Crosslinking the cellulose fibers can include exposing the cellulose fibers to a glycidyl ether crosslinker having two or more glycidyl groups and a molecular weight per epoxide within a range from 140 to 175.
Abstract:
An omnibus process of pulping and bleaching lignocellulosic materials in which a charge of a lignocellulosic material is biopulped and/or water extracted prior to pulping and bleaching. The lignocellulosic material may be mechanically pulped and bleached in the presence of an enzyme that breaks lignin-carbohydrate complexes. The aqueous extract in embodiments including a water extract step is separated into acetic acid and hemicellulose sugar aqueous solutions.
Abstract:
An omnibus process of pulping and bleaching lignocellulosic materials in which a charge of a lignocellulosic material is biopulped and/or water extracted prior to pulping and bleaching. The lignocellulosic material may be mechanically pulped and bleached in the presence of an enzyme that breaks lignin-carbohydrate complexes. The aqueous extract in embodiments including a water extract step is separated into acetic acid and hemicellulose sugar aqueous solutions.
Abstract:
Provided herein are isolated laccase enzymes and nucleic acids encoding them. Also provided are mediators for laccase reactions. Also provided herein are methods for using laccases to oxidize lignins and other phenolic and aromatic compounds, such as for bio-bleaching and decolorization of wood pulp under high temperature and pH conditions to facilitate a substantial reduction in use of bleaching chemicals, as well as for treatment of fibers.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for producing cellulose and a fertilizer by-product by using a closed cycle of cooking chemicals and process waters. In the process of the invention, the pulp is bleached by at least partly using potassium hydroxide as a bleaching chemical. Thus, a bleach concentrate rich in potassium is obtained from the bleach filtrate, which bleach concentrate is combined with ashes obtained from the burning of lignin and other organic matter recovered from pulp production as a by-product, in order to be used as a potash fertilizer. The bleach concentrate can also be used as a potash fertilizer as such. The invention also relates to a potash fertilizer obtained this way.
Abstract:
A method for delignifying wood pulp and fiber is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a wood pulp and exposing the wood pulp to a polyoxometalate of the formula �V.sub.l Mo.sub.m W.sub.n Nb.sub.o Ta.sub.p (TM).sub.q X.sub.r O.sub.s !.sup.x- where l is 0-18, m is 0-40, n is 0-40, o is 0-10, p is 0-10, q is 0-9, r is 0-6, TM is a d-electron-containing transition metal ion, and X is a heteroatom, which is a p or d block element, where l+m+n+o+p.gtoreq.4, l+m+q>0 and s is sufficiently large that x>0. The exposure is under conditions wherein the polyoxometalate is reduced. In a preferable form of the invention, the method additionally comprises the step of reoxidizing the polyoxometalate.
Abstract:
A method for delignifying wood pulp is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a wood pulp and exposing the wood pulp to a polyoxometalate of the formula [V.sub.n Mo.sub.m W.sub.l Nb.sub.o Ta.sub.p (TM).sub.q (MG).sub.r O.sub.s ].sup.x- where n is 1-18, m is 0-40, l is 0-40, o is 0-10, p is 0-10, q.ltoreq.6, r.ltoreq.6, TM is a d-electron-containing transition metal ion, and MG is a main group ion, provided that n+m+o+l+p.gtoreq.4 and s is sufficiently large that x>o. The exposure is under conditions wherein the polyoxometalate is reduced. In a preferable form of the invention, the method additionally comprises the step of reoxidizing the polyoxometalate.
Abstract:
Disclosed are non-wood pulps having a fiber length greater than about 1.70 mm and a brightness of about 80% or greater. The relatively high degree of brightness is achieved without a loss fiber length or pulp yield. The high degree of brightness and relatively long fiber length makes the pulps well suited for the manufacture of wet-laid fibrous products, particularly wet-laid tissue products. The pulps may be prepared from plants of the family Asparagaceae by mechanical pulping and more preferably by a chemi-mechanical pulping using a sodium hydroxide alkaline peroxide solution where the primary pulp is cleaned to reduce debris prior to bleaching. Preferably the cleaned primary pulp has less than about 5% debris prior to bleaching.
Abstract:
A high efficiency bleaching method for cellulosic pulp includes: (a) providing a charge of aqueous cellulosic pulp to a bleaching vessel at a consistency of from 10% to 30% along with a peroxy bleaching agent and an alkaline agent effective to adjust pH of the charge to 9.5 to 12.5; and (b) bleaching the aqueous cellulosic pulp in the bleaching vessel while maintaining a bleaching temperature of from 110° F. (43° C.) to 135° F. (57° C.) and a pH of the charge from 9.5 to 12.5 for an extended bleaching retention time. The bleaching method is advantageously used to bleach low brightness recycle pulp, and/or as part of a multistage process with bleaching stages of lesser duration, and/or as a high peroxy efficiency, low dose bleaching process or in connection with concurrently storing and bleaching pulp.