Total chlorine free bleaching of arundo donax pulp

Abstract

Composite panels and pulp, and paper products of the pulp, are produced from Arundo donax. In the fabrication of the composite panels, Arundo donax is comminuted to a suitable size, combined with a binder, and consolidated into panels that meet standards for construction and / or furniture grade panels. The Arundo donax particulates may be combined with wood particulates to produce a mixed furnish that can be used in the preparation of composite panels. Comminuted Arundo donax is treated, in conventional pulping processes, to produce a high tensile strength pulp that can be used in the production of paper. The pulp has a lighter color than wood pulp, and thereby uses less bleaching chemicals to achieve a desired whiteness. The pulp can be combined with wood pulp to produce a variety of products.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 892,199, filed Jun. 25, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 741,484, filed Dec. 15, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT / US99 / 13519, filed Jun. 16, 1999, which claims the benefit of the priority of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 089,596, filed Jun. 17, 1998. The benefit of the priority of the filing dates of each is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §§ 120 and 119, respectively. Each of the above-identified applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention pertains to composite panels and engineered products made of Arundo donax (a type of grass), and pulp and paper produced from Arundo donax. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] There are several well-known technologies for producing particle board, using wood chips and oth...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention provides a way to make use of a native wild grass called nalgrass to create wood-based composites. These composites use less binder than traditional wood-based composites and have better physical properties. The process involves collecting and sizing the nalgrass, combining it with a resin, and then consolidating it into a composite product. The resulting composite is stronger and lighter than traditional wood-based composites, and can be used in various products like paper and building materials. The invention also provides a way to make use of the lighter color and strength of nalgrass pulp, which requires less chemical bleach and can be used in other cellulose-based products."

Problems solved by technology

While the supply of wood for use in these products is “renewable,” it requires setting aside land for long periods of time for tree farming.

Moreover, when demand outstrips supply, because supply is based on forecasts of decades before when trees were planted, then a shortage inevitably develops.

Since the wood required for these uses results in cutting millions of acres of forest each year, such shortages lead to serious worldwide concerns about large scale deforestation and its contribution to global warming.

However, this approach was found to be more difficult that first visualize in part due to the presence of high levels of chloride, residual from the bleaching with chorine compounds as a result non-chlorine bleach alternatives were sort.

In the mid 1980s, a specific environmental problem was detected in that dioxins, a group of highly chlorinated compounds were found to be highly toxic and suspected as being carcinogenic, were found to be generated in various industrial processes.

However, the means of controlling dioxin formation were not considered satisfactory by environmental activists as chlorine and chlorine bleaching compounds were still being used.

Industry data supported the position that adoption of non-chlorine processes would lead to high costs and poor pulp quality both in terms of brightness and strength (T. L. Deardorff, “International Paper Follows Science in ECF, TCF Choice” Pulp & Paper, Vol. 71, No. 10, pp.

They have not been fully successful in marketing the pulp and have had to make and sell unbleached pulp to fill the mills capacity.

Extensive research had been conducted and production trials have been made in an effort to find a suitable non-wood fiber for composites and pulp but, until now, this work has met with very little success due to inferior properties, excessive costs and many commercial production drawbacks.

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