Method for obtaining fibers from at least one plant stem

Abstract

A method, application and device for obtaining fibres from at least one plant stem or from plant bast is disclosed. The at least one plant stem is treated with at least one high-speed liquid jet or high-speed gas jet. At the start of treatment with the high-speed liquid jet or the high speed gas jet the at least one plant stem has a moisture content of at least 25% and/or vegetable glues, in particular the pectin and hemicelluloses, of the plant stem are in a swollen state.

Description

BACKGROUNDTechnical Field[0001]The present invention relates to a method for obtaining fibers from at least one plant stem or plant bast.Background Information[0002]Various methods are known from the prior art for obtaining fibers from plant stems. They are normally mechanically stripped of wood components, in part after having been biologically pre-macerated. Methods using shearing forces and others are also known. Normally, dried plant stems are used for this, which have been previously stripped of leaves. Their moisture content is 17% or less during the stripping of wood components, and is normally 14%. This is thus dealing with dried materials. Moreover, there are negative effects with the stripping of wood components, e.g. fiber damage caused by mechanical loads.[0003]A biological pre-maceration can be carried out via a field retting or a water retting, rarely used due to its negative impact on the environment. The use of microorganisms is also known from DE 10 2006 013 657. Ch...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The object of the present invention is to specify an appropriate method that is superior to the conventional methods, and is suitable for obtaining fibers for further processing with less energy input and lower processing waste, even with plant stems that are difficult to break down. Special importance is given thereby to the fibers exhibiting a certain length and a certain fineness, and being able to float under certain conditions.

Problems solved by technology

Moreover, there are negative effects with the stripping of wood components, e.g. fiber damage caused by mechanical loads.

With respect to the dissolving of water-soluble sugars, the high-speed jet results in particular in the supplying of liquid, the solubility product of which regarding the relevant compound has not yet been obtained.

In addition, there are also the effects of temperature: the solubility product increases with the heat of the solvent.

The power consumption is also low, in particular with the use of a liquid jet, because of the lower compression capacity, e.g. of water.

However, due to the guidance for the method, e.g. due to the retaining, gripping or guidance of the plant stem, it may be difficult to reach the entire length of the plant stem in each of the at least one treatments with the at least one high-speed jet, such that lower coverage is sufficient, in particular depending on the type of plant stem and the pre-treatment.

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