PROCESS FOR CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF A PROCESSED RAW MATERIAL COMPRISING CELLULOSE, PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A REGENERATED CELLULOSE MOLDED PART AND USE OF A CONTINUOUS COOKING UNIT

Abstract

This is a process for the continuous supply of a processed raw material containing cellulose. It is a process for the continuous supply of a processed raw material containing cellulose (110), particularly as a raw material for the production of a molded cellulosic part (102). The process herein involves: i) supplying (10) a reactor device (105) with a processed raw material containing cellulose (101), which is particularly a solid with a predefined composition; ii) continuous processing (20) of the raw material (101) in the reactor device (105) to obtain the processed raw material containing cellulose (110); and iii) discharging (30) the processed raw material containing cellulose (110) from the reactor device (105).

Description

1 / 42 “PROCESS FOR CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF A PROCESSED RAW MATERIAL COMPRISING CELLULOSE, PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A REGENERATED CELLULOSE MOLDED PART AND USE OF A CONTINUOUS COOKING UNIT”

[001] The invention relates to a process for the continuous supply of a processed raw material containing cellulose from a processed raw material containing cellulose, which has a predefined composition. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for the production of a molded part, particularly regenerated cellulosic, from the processed raw material. In addition, the invention further relates to an application of a continuous cooking unit for the continuous processing of a processed raw material containing cellulose, particularly used textiles, with a predefined composition.

[002] The invention may therefore relate to the technical field of supplying processed raw materials containing cellulose. In particular, the invention may relate to the technical field of producing a molded (regenerated) cellulosic part from a processed raw material containing cellulose. Furthermore, the invention may relate to the technical field of recycling solid materials, particularly used textiles.

[003] The supply of a processed raw material containing cellulose, for example, for the production of a regenerated cellulosic molded part is conventionally carried out through a batch production process. A raw material containing cellulose, which is a solid material and must be processed, does not, however, usually have a homogeneous composition. Instead, the compositions of materials such as, for example, used textiles, which can be used as a solid starting material, can become very weak. Therefore, a preparation process is suitable. Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 17 / 112 2 / 42 discontinuous, in which the raw material is supplied in batches. In this way, the process conditions can be individually adapted to the composition of each batch. According to an example, a batch-operated cooking unit is generally used, which is first filled with the raw material (first batch) and at least one decomposition agent or reaction medium. Then, the cooking unit is heated to allow, for example, in the case of wood chips, the dissolution of lignin and the obtaining of cellulose. The resulting cellulose suspension is then discharged and the residues are removed from the cooking unit. After an additional cleaning step, the reactor is then filled with a new second batch and the discontinuous process restarts. In short, therefore, a plurality of work steps is necessary, which again require a plurality of measuring and adjustment instruments.In general, controlling these processes is challenging because each batch has distinct properties (materials), and the operating conditions need to be adapted each time. Due to the plurality of individual steps, it is no longer possible to provide a single large, compact unit. Instead, the steps are distributed across many individual units. Finally, energy consumption is also relatively high, since, for example, the cooker must be reheated for each batch.

[004] The object of the present invention is to provide a processed raw material containing cellulose (for example, for the production of a regenerated cellulosic molded part) in an efficient, robust and resource-saving manner.

[005] This objective is solved by the objects according to the independent patent claims. Preferred embodiments result from the dependent patent claims.

[006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a process is described for the continuous supply of a processed raw material that Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 18 / 112 3 / 42 features cellulose (wherein the raw material is particularly suitable for the production of a molded cellulosic part (more particularly, regenerated)). The process involves: i) supplying a processed raw material containing cellulose, which is particularly a solid material (more particularly, used textiles), with a predefined composition to a reactor device (e.g., a cooking unit), ii) continuously processing (particularly, obtaining cellulose by means of cooking) the processed raw material containing cellulose in the reactor device, to obtain the processed raw material containing cellulose, and iii) discharging the processed raw material containing cellulose from the reactor device.

[007] According to another aspect of the present invention, a process for producing a molded cellulosic part (particularly regenerated) is described. The process involves: i) providing the processed raw material containing cellulose described above, and ii) forming the molded cellulosic part from the processed raw material containing cellulose.

[008] According to another aspect of the present invention, an application of a continuous cooking unit is described for the continuous processing of a processed raw material containing cellulose (particularly used textiles) with a predefined composition.

[009] In the context of this document, the term “cellulose” may be understood to refer particularly to an organic compound that is a component of plant cell walls or can be produced synthetically. Cellulose is a polysaccharide (i.e., a multiple sugar). Cellulose is unbranched and typically contains several hundred to thousands of β-D glucose molecules (β-1,4-glycosidic linkage) or cellobiose units. Plants build cellulose fibers from cellulose molecules in a controlled manner. Using a technical process, cellulose molecules can be stored together to form regenerated fibers, by Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 19 / 112 4 / 42 example, such as tear-resistant fibers.

[010] In the context of this document, the term “molded part” can be understood, in particular, as a two- or three-dimensional geometric body that is the result of a process to produce or recover cellulose. In particular, a molded part can be understood as a two- or three-dimensional object that contains cellulose or consists of cellulose and is produced from dissolved pulp. Molded parts can be, in particular, lyocell (tencel) molded parts, viscose molded parts, modal molded parts, or paper molded parts (paper pulp). Typical molded parts are filaments, fibers, foams, and / or films. Basically, all types of cellulose parts are suitable for the embodiments of the invention. In this case, fibers should be understood as both continuous filaments and discontinuous fibers cut with conventional dimensions (e.g., 38 mm in length) and short fibers.For fiber production, both processes using conveying equipment after one or more extrusion nozzles and other processes, particularly the Melt-Blowing process, are considered. Alternatively, a film containing cellulose can also be produced as a molded part; that is, a flat and essentially homogeneous film with or without cellulose. Films can be produced, in particular, because by adjusting the process parameters of a lyocell process, at least partial coagulation is initially induced after impacting the filaments in an intake area. Films can be understood as flat molded cellulose parts where the thickness of these films is adjustable (for example, by selecting a series of nozzle bars arranged in series).Other embodiments of a molded part are a fabric and a fleece of cellulose filaments or cellulose fibers, particularly a heat-bonded spinning fleece of essentially continuous ("melt blown") cellulose filaments fused integrally together ("merging"). Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 20 / 112 5 / 42 Here, a fabric may be understood, in particular, as a flat textile formation of at least two crossed yarn (or fiber) systems (preferably rectangular or nearly rectangular), wherein the yarns (or fibers) may be designated, in the longitudinal direction, as warp yarns and the yarns (or fibers) in the longitudinal direction as weft yarns. A fleece or nonwoven fabric may be designated as a disordered structure (especially in a random position) of filaments or fibers or cut yarns of limited length, which are joined together (particularly frictionally) to form a fiber layer or fiber flock. A molded piece may also be developed in the form of a sphere. As a molded piece, particles containing cellulose may also be supplied, such as, in particular, granules (i.e., granules or spheres) or flakes, which may be processed in this form.Possible molded cellulose parts are therefore also particulate structures, such as granules, spherical powders, or fibers. Molding of a molded part preferably occurs by extruding a spinning solution containing cellulose through an extrusion nozzle, since this allows the production of large quantities of molded cellulose parts with a very uniform shape. Another possible molded cellulose part is a foam or, more generally, a porous molded part. The aforementioned molded parts can be used, according to illustrative embodiments, for example, for the production of yarns, textiles, gels, paper, cardboard, filters, or composite materials.

[011] In the context of this document, the term “lyocell process” can be understood, in particular, as a process for producing cellulose according to a direct solvent process. Cellulose can be obtained, for the lyocell process, from a feedstock containing this cellulose. The feedstock can be dissolved in the lyocell process in a suitable solvent (which has, in particular, tertiary amine oxides, such as N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 21 / 112 6 / 42 and / or ionic liquids, i.e., low melting point salts, which are formed from cations and anions). Dissolution can occur, particularly, through the removal of water and / or without chemical modification. The resulting solution, which can also be designated as dope or spinning solution, can be compressed during the lyocell process by one or more spinning nozzles. Through this, filaments formed during and / or after their free or controlled precipitation can be precipitated by an air gap in a water-containing immersion (particularly in an immersion with aqueous NMMO solution) and / or by moisture present in the air gap.

[012] Lyocell designates a type of regenerated fiber containing cellulose, which is produced according to a direct solvent process. Cellulose is extracted for the lyocell process typically from wood as raw material. The resulting pulp may be subsequently dissolved in N-methylmorpholine-Noxide (NMMO) in a solvent, filtered to remove water without chemical modification, and then compressed through spinning nozzles. The filaments thus formed are precipitated, after passing through an air gap, in an immersion with aqueous NMMO solution, and subsequently cut into staple fibers.

[013] In the context of this document, the term “viscose process” can be understood, in particular, as a process for producing cellulose according to a wet spinning process. Cellulose can be obtained, for the viscose process, from a raw material (particularly wood or wood pulp) that contains this cellulose.

[014] In the context of this document, the term “viscose process” may be understood as a xanthate process. In sequential process steps, in the viscose process, which is carried out as a xanthate process, the raw material may be initially treated with a base (e.g., with caustic soda) whereby alkaline cellulose is formed. In a subsequent conversion of the alkaline cellulose with Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, p. 22 / 112 7 / 42 carbon disulfide forms cellulose xanthate. From this, a spinning solution for viscose can be created by adding a base (particularly caustic soda), which can be compressed by one or more spinning nozzles. In a spinning immersion, viscose filaments result from coagulation. The viscose filaments thus produced are then cut, for example, into staple viscose fibers.

[015] In the context of this document, the term “viscose process” may also be understood as a carbamate process, in which, instead of carbon disulfide, ammonia is used to produce a soluble cellulose derivative. In this case, instead of cellulose xanthate, the result is what is called cellulose carbamate. Analogously to the improvement of cellulose xanthate, a reliable solution is produced from cellulose carbamate which, after compression by one or more spinning nozzles, can be regenerated in a spinning immersion of cellulose filaments.

[016] Furthermore, in the context of this document, the term “viscose process” may also be understood as a cold alkaline process in which cellulose is brought into solution, without further derivatization to xanthate or carbamate, in a tempered, particularly cooled, aqueous alkaline medium. The temperature of the aqueous alkaline medium, in one embodiment, is less than 20°C, particularly also less than 5°C. To enhance the dissolving behavior, additives such as urea, thiourea, zinc oxide, polyethylene glycol, or surfactants may be added to the aqueous alkaline medium. Again, from the spinning solution containing cellulose, after exiting through one or more spinning nozzles, by precipitation in an acidic or alkaline spinning immersion, cellulose filaments can be regenerated.

[017] Viscose fibers are designated as synthetic or regenerated fibers, which are produced by means of a viscose process (particularly, a xanthate process, a carbamate process or a cold alkaline process) Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 23 / 112 8 / 42 referred to as the wet spinning process. The raw material for the viscose process is high-purity cellulose in the form of chemical pulp.

[018] In the context of this document, the term “clothing production scraps” may be understood to mean, in particular, scraps and / or trimmings of a textile or yarn containing or consisting of cellulose, which are produced during the clothing production process. During clothing production, for example, textile material containing cellulose as a raw material is produced, from which flat pieces can then be cut (for example, in the form of half a T-shirt). Common leftover scraps can be fed back into a process for the production of a molded piece containing cellulose, according to an exemplary embodiment. Clothing production scraps may therefore refer to raw material containing or consisting of cellulose, which can be used to recover cellulose before a consumer uses the scraps as clothing or in any other way.Garment production scraps can be formed, in particular, from essentially pure cellulose, specifically without separate foreign bodies that do not contain cellulose (such as, for example, buttons, prints or seams).

[019] In the context of this document, the term “old clothes” can be understood, in particular, as clothing and / or household textiles containing cellulose (e.g., bed linen) which, by recovering at least some of the cellulose, have already been used (in particular, are worn out) by a consumer. Old clothes can also therefore refer to a raw material containing cellulose, which may (but not necessarily must) contain high amounts of foreign substances and can be used for cellulose recovery after a consumer has used the old clothes as clothing or otherwise. Old clothes can be formed, in particular, from a mixture of cellulose and one or more foreign substances, Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, p. 24 / 112 9 / 42 In particular, foreign bodies (such as buttons, prints or seams) containing synthetic material (such as polyester and / or elastane), (particularly frequently used in clothing) and / or separate foreign bodies that do not contain cellulose. Polyester is understood, in particular, to be polymers with ester functions (R-[-CO-O-]-R) in their main chain. Polycarbonates and polyethylene terephthalate belong to the polyester group. Elastane is understood, in particular, to be a highly elastic extensible chemical fiber. An elastane-based block copolymer may contain a mass content of at least 85% polyurethane.

[020] In the context of this document, the term “used textiles” can be understood to mean both “old clothes” and “scraps from a clothing production”.

[021] In the context of this document, the terms “textiles” and “new textiles” are understood to mean both “old clothes” and “scraps from a clothing production”.

[022] The term “new textiles” includes textile raw materials (natural fibers, synthetic fibers), and non-textile raw materials, which have been processed by one or more processes into linear, flat or spatial products. The term “new textiles” can encompass both the term “clothing production scraps” and designate finished products (e.g., clothing, bedding), where the latter have essentially not yet been used / worn by a user. In one example of embodiment, a distinction is made between used textiles and new textiles. In another example of embodiment, the term used textiles also includes these new textiles (finished textile products that are not used can also be understood as used textiles or clothing scraps).

[023] In the context of this document, the term “paper production” may be understood to mean that a pulp for cellulosic paper is formed from a raw material containing cellulose, which is then processed into a product. Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 25 / 112 10 / 42 of paper. All processing steps that lead from a raw material containing cellulose to a paper pulp can therefore be designated as a process for paper production. Furthermore, all processing steps that lead from paper pulp to a paper product can also be designated as paper production.

[024] In this context, “paper pulp” can be understood as a raw material for paper, from which paper products such as paper, cardboard, filters, or similar products can then be formed. Paper pulp can be a composite material containing at least pulp (cellulose) and a binder. Paper pulp can exist in solid form, but also as a suspension, for example, in water. In another sense, “paper pulp” can also include the paper product itself. Furthermore, paper pulp can also include paper or paper-like materials, as well as cardboard, filter material, insulation mats, absorbent fleece, fiber-reinforced flat materials, etc. Paper pulp can also be formed by dehydrating a fiber suspension, for example, in a sieve. Paper pulp can also be compacted and dried in subsequent processing steps.A paper pulp can also consist of a flat material (fiber fleece), which consists essentially of fibers (of cellulose).

[025] In the context of this document, the term “processing” may be understood to mean that an input raw material is treated (processed) in such a way that a processed output raw material differs in its chemical / physical properties or in its material composition at least marginally from the input raw material. During a processing, a cooking process, particularly an alkaline cooking, may be carried out, for example. In addition, synthetic fibers, such as cellulose polyester, may be depleted, for example, during a processing (by means of Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 26 / 112 11 / 42 cooking). In addition, a processing method may also include mechanical separation steps, such as density separation. Alternatively or in addition to the cooking process, synthetic fibers or other foreign materials may be mechanically removed.

[026] In the context of this document, the term “cooking process” may be understood to mean, in particular, a chemical process used to obtain pulp (cellulose) from a raw material containing cellulose. Also referred to as “cooking,” in a cooking process under temperature and / or pressure, the raw material may be opened in a reactor device. The term “reactor device” may, in this context, refer to any device that allows a cooking process described in this document to be carried out. For example, the reactor device may have a cooking unit (e.g., a Pandia cooker). A cooking unit (cooker) may be referred to as a digester. In one embodiment, a cooker may have a means of transport, for example, a screw conveyor (extruder) or a conveyor belt (conveyor), to continuously transport the raw material through the cooker.A cooking process can be alkaline or acidic. In particular, a more alkaline cooking process can lead to the saponification of plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), or polyurethane (PUR). According to one embodiment, a cooking solution that does not decompose cellulose can be used. For example, an alkaline cooking can be carried out with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to decompose (residual) polyester and to optionally adjust the chain length of the cellulose molecules.

[027] Regarding the decomposition of wood chips, the following cooking processes are used particularly frequently, which can also be used, for example, for used textiles: i) a sulfate process (also called decomposition or Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, p. 27 / 112 12 / 42 sulfate process or, due to stronger fibers, also designated as strength process). The active substances can be caustic soda and sodium sulfide (sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) can be used for recovery). The raw material (e.g., wood chips) can be impregnated with an alkaline cooking solution and fed to the cooker. At a temperature of, for example, up to 170 °C, wood components such as hemicelluloses and lignins can be transported in soluble forms. A breakdown of the cellulose fibers may, in this case, be undesirable; ii) a sulfite process, for which liquid sulfur dioxide, for example, can be used. The acid sulfite process can dissolve the bond between lignin and cellulose by sulfonation and ether cleavage of the lignin.

[028] In the context of this document, the term “feed” may be understood to mean that a raw material is supplied with a predefined composition. The raw material may be a solid (such as used textiles) and may be supplied directly to the reactor device (e.g., after a grinding step). The raw material may also be a solid and be supplied to the reactor device, after a further solution step, at least in a dissolved form. In the context of this application, the term “discharge” may be understood to mean that a processed raw material is removed from a reactor device after a processing step. The processed raw material may be present here in dissolved form (e.g., in a solvent) or also as a solid. Feeding and discharge may occur continuously.

[029] In the context of this document, the term “continuously” may be understood to mean that a technical process occurs without interruption. In other words, a long-duration flow of substances (continuously, “steady state”) (which has at least the steps i) feeding, ii) processing, and iii) discharging) may occur that is essentially uninterrupted. In contrast, a discontinuous process is constantly interrupted, as occurs here. Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 28 / 112 13 / 42 batch processing (or loads). In continuous processing, feeding and unloading can also occur continuously. For example, a reaction device may be formed at least partially tubular, such that raw material is continuously supplied to a first opening, and from a second opening the processed raw material can be continuously discharged, while, between such processes, it is continuously processed and pushed further (e.g., hydrostatically or by means of a screw conveyor).

[030] In the context of this document, the term “predefined composition” may be understood to mean, in particular, a portion or concentration of at least two compositional components within a raw material. For example, the raw material may be a used textile and the components may be cellulose fibers and synthetic fibers. In this case, the concentration or a range of concentrations may be predefined respectively for cellulose fibers and synthetic fibers in order to provide a predefined composition. The defined composition may here comprise absolute values ​​or absolute ranges.

[031] In the context of this document, the term “synthetic fiber” may be understood to mean, in particular, a fiber that has one or more synthetic materials or consists of them. The term “synthetic material” may be understood, in particular, to mean a material that is made of macromolecules and is produced synthetically. The respective macromolecules of a plastic are polymers and, therefore, constituted by repeating basic units (repeated units). The size of the macromolecules of a polymer can vary from a few thousand to more than a million basic units. For example, the polymer polyethylene (PE) consists of several repeating ethylene units connected to each other. The polymers here can be unbranched, branched, or cross-linked molecules. In terms of their physical properties, plastics can, in principle, be divided into three groups: Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 29 / 112 14 / 42 thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers. Furthermore, these properties can also be combined into subgroups, for example, in thermoplastic elastomers. Important characteristics of plastics are their technical properties, such as malleability, hardness, elasticity, tear resistance, temperature and heat resistance, and chemical resistance, which can be varied within wide limits by the choice of macromolecules, manufacturing process, and generally by the addition of additives. Typical reactions for the production of synthetic plastics from monomers or prepolymers are: chain polymerization, polyaddition, or polycondensation.Examples of synthetic plastics, which are also used in textiles, include polyurethane (PUR), particularly as a component of elastane, polyester (PE, e.g., polyethylene terephthalate (PET)), polyamide (PA, e.g., Nylon, Perlon), and polyether, particularly polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a component of elastane.

[032] In the context of this document, the term “elastane” may be understood to mean a synthetic material exhibiting thermoplastic and elastic properties. Elastane may therefore be designated as a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Elastane may be present as a block copolymer, which is characterized in particular by the following two blocks: polyurethane (PUR) and polyethylene glycol ether (PEG). The PUR segments may form rigid sections, which alternate with soft and elastic PEG sections. The PUR may form rigid and extended sections that join together along their length and allow for fiber cohesion, for example, through the accumulation of secondary valence forces. The rubber-like PEG blocks (e.g., about 40 to 50 monomeric units each) may, on the other hand, be tightly kneaded together, but may also be stretched.Here, elastane may be present as a corrugated structure with very high elasticity (more than 100%, for example, 700%). The density may be, for example, between 1.1 and 1.3 g / cm3 and the resistance, for example, Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 30 / 112 15 / 42 from 5 to 12 Cn / tex. Here, elasticity can be temperature dependent. Furthermore, the term "elastane" can refer to both elastane itself and thermoplastic elastomers used (e.g., Elastollan, Desmopan, Texin, and Utechllan).

[033] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a particularly efficient, robust and resource-saving process is provided for the production of a processed raw material containing cellulose by virtue of carrying out a continuous processing process, to which a raw material containing cellulose (a solid, particularly used textiles) is provided in a predefined composition. A continuous production process (particularly a cooking process) can be implemented technically more simply than a batch process. Thus, for example, one larger unit (e.g., a reactor device such as a cooker) can be used instead of four smaller units. This can significantly reduce the need for measurement and control technology.In a continuous processing system, a steady-state flow can be created, therefore, inlet and outlet streams can be coordinated as a constant flow. This can be particularly operationally controllable. Through continuous operation, a higher throughput can be achieved than in a batch process, as it eliminates "dwell times" (e.g., reactor feeding, heating, emptying, cleaning). Continuous operation thus allows for a compact design.

[034] Furthermore, the continuous process can be carried out in a much more economical, sustainable and environmentally friendly way, since energy consumption (e.g. steam) can be reduced. For example, the cooker does not need to be reheated with each batch (as in a batch process), but runs (heats) continuously. Energy can also be saved because Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 31 / 112 16 / 42 to a more efficient use in terms of installation design. Furthermore, the process described can also be efficiently combined with subsequent processes (e.g., a bleaching process), which can also be operated continuously.

[035] A continuous cooking process could have disadvantages. In this way, the process conditions (e.g., dwell time, temperature) are defined within a determined range. This means that it is not possible to react flexibly / dynamically to changes in the quality of the raw material or in the composition of the material. Consequently, it is not possible to treat individual raw materials individually.

[036] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, however, these possible disadvantages are overcome precisely by the fact that the solid raw material is supplied (exclusively) with a predefined composition. This predefined composition can be, for example, a special mixture / composition of used textiles. Instead of always adapting the process again (or in batches) to the composition of substances in the raw material (as in the case of the batch process), it has now been surprisingly discovered that, instead, the composition of the raw material containing solid cellulose can be adapted to the process in an extremely efficient and robust manner (continuous process). For example, the supply of used textiles can be selectively enriched or depleted so that the overall composition matches the predefined composition.Here, quantities of, for example, cellulose and synthetic material in the raw material can be adjusted to precise defined concentrations. These concentrations can also be subject to predefined fluctuation intervals, allowing for a continuous processing operation with significantly less complex measurement and control technology. The resulting savings can be primarily... Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 32 / 112 17 / 42 of lower control requirements (one unit with high capacity in continuous operation instead of several smaller units with lower capacity in discontinuous batch operation).

[037] The flexible adjustment stage can also be advanced in the raw material, so that the entire operationally continuous production process becomes more efficient and robust.

[038] Other examples of process and application modalities are described below.

[039] According to an example embodiment, the raw material containing cellulose consists entirely or partially of clothing production scraps and / or old clothes. This can bring the advantage that used textiles can be recycled very efficiently. With the process described, used textiles, which by their nature represent a very non-homogeneous mixture, can be efficiently supplied to a continuous production process. Because the used textiles are subjected to a mixture of a predefined composition, continuous processing of a stream of used textiles supplied as raw material containing cellulose can be permitted.

[040] In this context, the invention may relate to the technical field of recycling, particularly to the reuse of used textiles. Used textiles may contain cellulose and optionally at least one synthetic material and, therefore, be used as raw materials containing cellulose. Thus, used textiles can be reused as raw materials with a predefined composition for the continuous production of a regenerated cellulosic molded part, particularly where the cellulose of the regenerated molded part is essentially present in the form of lyocell fibers, viscose fibers and / or paper fibers.

[041] In another example of a modality, a pre-selection may precede the processing of the material composition of the textile mixture used. Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 33 / 112 18 / 42 used. Used textiles may normally be supplied in a mixture that may be poorly defined (non-homogeneous). Used fabrics may be pre-sorted with mechanical pre-selection, also manual, to separate completely unusable portions of, for example, wool, metal sheets, plastic screens, etc.

[042] According to one example of a materialization, garment production scraps can be mixed with old clothes to provide the predefined composition. Garment production scraps can be, for example, industrial production scraps and are thus often identifiable and partially unmixed. By combining these two streams (recycling), a beneficial mixture of used textiles can be provided. This may be particularly suitable for the production of a cellulosic molded part, for example, a lyocell molded part.

[043] According to an embodiment, the process also presents an adjustment of the predefined composition (particularly by the precise mixing of different input streams with known composition). The adjustment may present here: i) a selective enrichment of at least one component of the composition and / or ii) a selective depletion of at least one component of the composition. This can provide the advantage that the predefined composition can be achieved quickly and robustly.

[044] The raw material may be a mixture of two or more compositional components, for example, a mixture of textiles used with cellulose fibers and synthetic fibers. The compositional components may, however, also be scraps of clothing or old clothes of a particular type. For example, a pure cotton shirt may be a component of the composition, while a sports garment, which consists mainly of polyester, may be another component of the composition. To achieve a predefined composition, they may be Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 34 / 112 19 / 42 mixed loads with known compositions (known quantities of compositional components) such that the mixture has the predefined composition. As described above, scraps (trimmings) from clothing production can, for example, have a known composition. However, the composition of, for example, a mixture of old clothes can also be determined in different ways, for example, by a trained operator or, particularly, by automatic optical measurement methods. Based on a given composition, other used textiles or clothing scraps (as compositional components) can then be added to achieve the predefined composition. According to one embodiment, used textiles with a high cotton content can be added to increase the cellulose content. Alternatively, compositional components can also be extracted from the raw material.For example, sportswear with a particularly high percentage of polyester can be removed. So-called garment production scraps, which may have defined compositions, are quite suitable for more precise adjustments.

[045] According to an example of the modality, the impoverishment of the process also presents: by less partial (selective) maintenance of a synthetic material in the raw material. Here, the synthetic material may be particularly from a group consisting of polyamide, polyester, polyurethane and elastane. This has the advantage that the synthetic material no longer needs to be impoverished in a particularly clean or pure way. The impoverishment of small concentrations of scrap can, in fact, be technically quite challenging and resource-intensive.

[046] Instead, synthetic material, for example, polyurethane, can remain in the textile blend, so that complex and expensive stripping processes can be reduced or no longer needed. When it is allocated Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 35 / 112 20 / 42 at least a portion of the polyurethane elastane can also achieve other advantages, such as, for example, an improvement in the strength and / or elasticity values ​​of the molded part to be produced.

[047] Low proportions (e.g., below 2%) of, for example, polyamides and polyesters can be processed together in the recycling process to achieve good integration into the cellulose. In a recycling process, this can be a significant advantage, as the removal, even partially, of other synthetic polymers, particularly in lower concentrations, can be disproportionately laborious. The other synthetic materials mentioned above may be widely and frequently contained in raw materials such as textiles. Therefore, accepting small residual quantities makes the recycling process much easier.

[048] According to another example of embodiment, continuous processing also involves: carrying out a continuous cooking process, particularly under the application of an alkaline cooking solution, more particularly, a cooking solution containing sodium hydroxide. This can provide the advantage that robust and proven techniques can be applied directly.

[049] When wood chips are used as solid raw material, then cooking or boiling in a strong decomposition agent / reaction medium such as sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide can allow the lignin to dissolve to separate it from the cellulose. When textiles are used as solid raw material, then synthetic material can be dissolved to obtain cellulose in the purest possible form or with a desired residual concentration of polymers. In particular, a cooking process, particularly with NaOH (sodium sulfide is not necessary since textiles do not contain lignin), can lead to saponification of PET, PA or PUR plastics, while cellulose Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 36 / 112 21 / 42 is not decomposed.

[050] According to a preferred embodiment, alkaline cooking can be carried out as follows: the fibers, particularly already enriched cellulosic (or predominantly cellulosic) fibers, can be treated with an alkaline solution (e.g., sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide) in combination with a gaseous oxidant (e.g., O2) in a cooker (e.g., a pressure vessel) (preferably at a pH value of at least 9), and, namely: a) at a temperature between 90 °C and 185 °C; b) for an incubation time of 45 minutes to 270 minutes; c) in the presence of a cellulose stabilizing additive (for example, a magnesium salt, preferably magnesium sulfate; or a chelating compound based on a transition metal, for example, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)), preferably at a concentration in the range of 0.01 percent by weight to 5 percent by weight relative to the supplied fibers; d) in an alkaline concentration in a range between 1 percent by weight and 35 percent by weight relative to the fiber supplied; (e) at an initial gas pressure in a range of 1 bar to 21 bar (correspondingly around 0.1 MPa to about 2.1 MPa).

[051] The dissolved pulp created can then be subjected to a washing procedure.

[052] In particular, the solution can be supplied for the decomposition of non-cellulosic fibers, particularly synthetic fibers, and more specifically polyester fibers. In this way, polyester can be broken down into water-soluble constituents, which can be separated from the wastewater of the cellulose fibers resulting from the process. In this procedure, for example, polyester can be broken down into ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol monomers. Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 37 / 112 22 / 42 terephthalic. These are water-soluble and can be separated from the cellulose fibers, according to one embodiment, by leaching in the process. Cellulose decomposition reactions can also occur in this cooking process in parallel with polyester decomposition. Through appropriate selection of process parameters, cellulose decomposition can be controlled, according to one embodiment, in such a way that a specific target degree of polymerization is achieved. This is advantageous since the degree of cellulose polymerization (expressed as a limiting viscosity number) is often a specification criterion for chemical pulp.

[053] The following are some examples of predefined composition modalities. These can offer the advantage of allowing a continuous supply of processed raw material efficiently because process conditions can also be kept stable in the long term. To quantify the predefined composition, both concentrations and fluctuation ranges of the composition components can be used.

[054] In the context of this document, the term “fluctuation range” may designate a deviation from a predetermined value or a reference value. The fluctuation range may be, here, an absolute value or a relative value. The fluctuation range may also designate a standard deviation. Table 1 - Overview of the composition of raw materials in % (pure fiber content without foreign materials such as buttons, etc.) Preferred Base Type Particularly Preferred Cellulosic Fibers >60 >80 >92.5 Polyester <30 <16 <5 Polyamides <4 <1 <0.5 Polyacrylate <1 <0.5 <0.1 Elastane (type) <5 <2.5 <1

[055] Tolerable fluctuation range: For cellulosic and polyester fibers ± 2.5 %, Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 38 / 112 23 / 42 preferably ± 1%, particularly preferably <±0.5%. For polyamide, polyacryl and elastane ± 0.5%, preferably ± 0.1%, particularly preferably <±0.05%.

[056] According to another embodiment, the predefined composition features cellulosic fibers. Furthermore, the predefined composition of cellulosic fibers has a fluctuation range of 2.5% or less, particularly 1% or less, in particular 0.5% or less.

[057] According to another embodiment, the predefined composition features synthetic fibers, particularly polyester fibers. Furthermore, the predefined composition of synthetic fibers, particularly polyester fibers, has a fluctuation range of 2.5% or less, particularly 1% or less, more particularly 0.5% or less.

[058] According to another embodiment, the predefined composition features other synthetic fibers. In addition, the predefined composition of the other synthetic fibers has a fluctuation range of 0.5% or less, particularly 0.1% or less, more particularly 0.05% or less. The other synthetic fibers particularly feature at least one from the group consisting of: polyamide, polyacrylic and elastane.

[059] According to another embodiment, the predefined composition has 60% or more, particularly 80% or more, more particularly 92.5% or more of cellulosic fibers. Alternatively, the predefined composition has 30% or less, particularly 16% or less, more particularly 5% or less of synthetic fibers, particularly polyester fibers.

[060] According to another example of modality, the predefined composition presents at least one of the following characteristics: i) the predefined composition contains 4% or less, particularly 1% or Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, p. 39 / 112 24 / 42 less, more specifically 0.5% or less of polyamide; ii) the predefined composition contains 1% or less, particularly 0.5% or less, more particularly 0.1% or less of polyacrylate; iii) the predefined composition contains 5% or less, particularly 2.5% or less, more particularly 1% or less of elastane.

[061] According to another embodiment, the reactor device features a continuous cooker. This may have the advantage that established and proven technology can be used directly for the described process.

[062] Different cooker systems are known to those skilled in the art, for example, Pandia, Sprout-Waldron, Escher-Wyss and Kamyr. These and others can be used directly for the process described as a continuous cooker. With the Kamyr cooker, for example, a sulfate or sulfite process can be carried out, in which the inlet area has a temperature of 110 °C, the central area has a temperature of about 140 °C and the outlet area has a temperature of 80 °C.

[063] According to another example of a modality, the process also presents: Carrying out a continuous succession process, particularly, a bleaching process after continuous unloading. This has the advantage that, flexibly, other processing processes can be connected after the processing and, thus, can also be operated continuously.

[064] Continuous succession processes may include, for example, certain cleaning or drying steps of the pulp mass. In addition, a succession process may include bleaching. The latter is especially true if, for the production of a molded cellulosic part from the processed raw material, a paper pulp is intended. Bleaching is a process that removes or softens unwanted coloration. Bleaching involves the use of bleaching agents, which are oxidizing or reducing compounds, Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 40 / 112 25 / 42 which must be selective at least partially. For example, bleaching agents can attack coloring substances by destroying chromophores. Oxygen, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, chlorinated compounds (e.g., chlorine dioxide or hypochlorite), but also enzymes can be used as bleaching agents.

[065] Bleaching may include at least one of a group consisting of oxidative bleaching, reductive bleaching, and enzymatic bleaching. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it may involve performing an acid wash followed by performing an ozone bleaching, followed again by performing a peroxide bleaching. Bleaching may remove dyes and other chemical residues from recycled textile materials.

[066] According to another embodiment, the formation of the molded cellulosic part from the processed raw material presents a group consisting of: a lyocell production process, a viscose process (particularly a xanthate process, a carbamate process, or a cold alkaline process), a paper production. This may bring the advantage that particularly efficient and proven processes can be applied directly to the processed raw material to produce a molded cellulosic part.

[067] The molded parts produced according to the invention can be used, for example, as packaging material, fiber material, textile composites, fiber composites, nonwovens, needle felts, upholstery filling, fabric, paper pulp, paper product, paper, cardboard, filters, knitted fabrics, as home textiles, such as bedding, as clothing items, as fillings, flocking material, hospital textiles, such as documents, diapers or mattresses, as material for heating blankets, shoe insoles and dressings. Examples of embodiments of Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 41 / 112 26 / 42 The invention can be applied in various technical areas as well as in the field of cosmetic medicine and wellness. In medicine, for example, materials for wound treatment and healing can be composed of a carrier that determines the mechanical properties, and a biocompatible coating material that is particularly compatible with the skin and the wound surface. Numerous other applications are possible.

[068] Examples of illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail below with reference to the following figures.

[069] Figure 1 shows a flowchart of a process for continuous supply of a processed raw material according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[070] Figure 2 shows a flowchart of a process for the production of a regenerated cellulosic molded part from processed raw material according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[071] Figure 3 shows an apparatus for providing processed raw material and for producing a regenerated cellulosic molded part by means of a lyocell process from the processed raw material according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[072] Figure 4 shows a cellulose fiber produced by means of a lyocell process.

[073] Figure 5 shows a cellulose fiber produced by means of a viscose process.

[074] Figure 6 shows a natural cellulose fiber from a cotton plant.

[075] Identical or similar components with different part numbers have the same reference numbers.

[076] Before describing exemplary modality examples with Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 42 / 112 27 / 42 with reference to the figures, it is necessary to summarize some basic considerations, based on which exemplary embodiments of the invention were derived.

[077] According to an exemplary embodiment, in the production of a suitable used textile blend (predefined composition), the following procedure is carried out: from a crude blend of used textiles (not yet processed) with a high content of cotton or cellulose fibers (e.g. viscose, lyocell) and synthetic polymeric fibers (e.g., PP, PET, PA, PUR-TPE), processing is carried out by grinding, flotation, selective dissolution, cooking or baking, or other standard industrial-scale processes, where 100% removal of unwanted components is very expensive. Therefore, the following material mixtures according to the invention were determined: 1) the content of additional non-textile materials from the list (buttons, rivets, clips, eyelets) is below 0.1%, the content of polyamides is below 0.1%, the content of PTFE is below 0.1%, and the content of polyester (PET) is below 30%.Polyolefin content (PE and preferably PP) is below 1%, PEG-PUR-based TPE content is below 10%, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) content is below 1%, residual components are predominantly cellulose-based textiles; or 2) above 60% cellulose, below 10% PET, preferably below 5%, improved below 2%, below 15% PUR-TPE with soft segments made of polyolefin ethers or aliphatic esters (elastane), below 5% PA, addition of more than 0.1% AO stabilizer to prevent the oxidative decomposition of desirable polymers into undesirable oligomers (which would induce negative product properties such as unstable mechanical properties, embrittlement, tendency to discolor, etc.).

[078] According to an exemplary embodiment, the following details are considered in the mixed production of additives in the NMMO solution: used textiles that are available for recycling are selected due to the following Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 43 / 112 28 / 42 characteristics and processed in a suitable form as components of the material mixture and supplied, for example, to the lyocell process: a) reduction of textile parts (i.e., removal of buttons, rivets, zippers, Velcro fasteners, appliqués, etc.); b) targeted selection or determination of proportions for the subsequent proportional melting of material streams of the following fiber components: i) cellulosic fibers: these are desirable, differ from each other in terms of molecular weights and therefore solubility in NMMO (viscosity), adjustment and compensation through alkaline treatment. Ideally, these materials make up 100% of recycled textiles. These materials include cotton, viscose, lyocell, linen, etc.; ii) polyamides: insoluble in NMMO, decomposition by acid hydrolysis. In typical raw textile blends, wool is present in up to 80%, polyamides in up to 25%, in certain fabrics, which can be easily selected by sorting (sweaters, "wool character").No real possibility of removal by selective loosening. These materials include wool, silk, synthetic polyamide PA6 and PA6.6 (Nylon, Perlon); iii) polyester: not soluble in NMMO, decomposition by alkaline hydrolysis with recovery of acid content, possibility of separation by selective dissolution. Recycling rates up to 30% in fabrics. PET and elastopolyester belong to this category, for example; iv) polyolefins: not soluble in NMMO, no possibility of decomposition by hydrolysis, however, separation by selective dissolution. Low content in supplied recycled fabrics (below 1%). These materials include, for example, PP as fiber and PE as hot melt adhesive in fleeces; v) others: PEG-PUR up to 5% soluble in NMMO, up to 10% in fabrics, PAN not soluble in NMMO, both degradable by severe acid hydrolysis. PTFE: insoluble and non-degradable. Primarily manageable through classification (e.g., jackets...).These materials include, for example, PEG-PUR (elastane, Lycra, Spandex), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and PTFE (Goretex).

[079] According to another example of an exemplary modality, Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, p. 44 / 112 29 / 42 Residual polymers from raw materials are used as adhesion enhancers under cellulose fibers or as a thermoplastic property enhancer within a molded lyocell piece. They remain essentially inert until a certain stage of the production process is completed. In particular, subsequent hardening of a fabric (e.g., shirts that do not require ironing, wrinkle-free, etc.) can be achieved through heat (analogous to a hot melt adhesive). For the production of fabrics that have the property of high dimensional stability (e.g., that do not require ironing), a complex process is generally used. This can be a combination of very complex chemical processes, for example. It keeps the shirt looking new for a long time. The so-called "wet crosslinking" is also possible, in which an elastic bridge is built between the cellulose molecules of the cotton.This bridge pulls the fabric back into shape after washing.

[080] Through targeted control of the proportion of residual polymers (e.g., polyurethane of elastane from blended fabrics), according to one embodiment, a certain thermoplasticity can be achieved in a lyocell fiber, which returns the corresponding content of residual polymers from a raw material by the exhaustion process, according to one embodiment, by a lyocell process, again in a molded lyocell part.

[081] According to an exemplary embodiment, pretreatment of the old textile mixture minimizes the subsequent depletion of foreign materials and makes it easier to define the desired residual concentrations. The inorganic residues already present in recycled textiles are, for example, metal compounds (mainly metal oxides, particularly TiO2, Al2O3, MgO, SiO2, CeO2, Mg(OH)2, Al(OH)3, ZnO). The functionality of these oxides is suitable, for example, to manifest different properties in the molded part produced (e.g., flame retardant, anti-reflective, biocidal, etc.). Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 45 / 112 30 / 42

[082] According to an exemplary embodiment, the following substances have been found to be suitable Aos: HALS stabilizers, polyhydric phenols, particular alkylated biphenols, tocopherol, oligomeric lignins, and gallates. These have the advantage of having already been tried and tested in use as stabilizers to mask heavy metals (complexation) in NMMO dope and their large-scale process control presents no problems. Surprisingly, it has now been found that these Aos in NMMO, which due to their structure (N-oxide) act as an oxidant, nevertheless prevent the oxidative decomposition of polymers, particularly that of elastane, which is used for compatibilization in the mixture.

[083] According to an exemplary embodiment, the fact that certain non-cellulosic substances can be incorporated into a lyocell molded part is considered to some extent. Surprisingly, it has been found that certain non-cellulose-based waste materials can be considered as desirable auxiliaries that help incorporate other non-cellulose-based waste materials to an increased extent in a lyocell molding. One such group of substances, which is both a non-cellulosic secondary component and a binding agent, are TPE-like plastics (e.g., elastanes). This integration effect mentioned reaches the point where small proportions (less than 2%) of polyamides (PA) and polyesters (PET less than 2%) can also be processed.This is a definite advantage in the recycling process, since the almost complete removal of the aforementioned polymers is disproportionately complex, and the possible acceptance of small residual quantities significantly facilitates the processing of recycled materials, as these polymers are frequently found in recyclable textiles. This behavior is explained by the compatibility effect of elastane between PA-PET and cellulose. The PUR content of elastane is responsible for this, since PUR is at the same time... Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 46 / 112 31 / 42 a polyester and a polyamide (R1.NH.CO.O.R2). The polyalkylene oxide component in TPEs such as elastane is also responsible for homogenization / mixing with the glycan ether linkages of cellulose, due to its typical ether structure. According to the invention, this multiple effect is also used in multiple ways: i) the process temperatures of the lyocell process adequately bind elastane to cellulose through hydrogen bonds; ii) the similarities of these TPEs to polyamide allow typical polyamide fibers (PA6 or PA6.6 or PA6.10) that old materials are incorporated; iii) the ether structure leads to a high degree of homogenization of the dope before the spinning process, resulting in a very good mixture (especially at the chemical level, as the relationship between the ether structure of TPEs is very similar to the ether structure of cellulose); and iv) the polyester similarities of these TPEs allow the incorporation of polyester fibers typical of old materials. In particular, by mixing different compositions of used textiles, a suitable recycled quality can be defined and subsequent use can be controlled in a targeted manner.

[084] Figure 1 shows a flowchart of a process for continuous supply (see reference 50) of a processed raw material 110 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Initially, a raw material containing cellulose 101 is made available, which is a mixture of used textiles (old clothes and / or scraps from clothing production). This can be supplied from various sources (pre / post-consumer) and be very heterogeneous. The used textiles 101 contain not only cellulose but also partially high levels of synthetic fibers (e.g., polyester). In a first stage of the supply (see block 1), mechanical shredding 1 of the used textiles 101 may initially occur. This allows for the removal of mainly large non-cellulosic impurities from the raw material 101, for example, buttons, seams, and prints from the clothes. Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 47 / 112 32 / 42 old, which may have been used, at least partially, to create raw material 101. Through mechanical grinding, raw material 101 can be cut, for example, into individual fibers.

[085] In a further step, the composition of the textiles used is determined (see block 2). Optionally, this step can also occur before shredding. The determination of the composition can occur continuously in a (recycling) stream of used textiles. Various automatic measurement techniques (e.g., optical and / or spectroscopic methods) can be used for this purpose. Alternatively, a trained operator can also determine the compositions. Furthermore, the composition may also be known beforehand, at least partially (e.g., in garment scraps from production). The determined composition (actual value) can also be compared, from this, with a nominal value of the predefined composition.

[086] Depending on the deviation from the nominal value, selective enrichment (see block 4) or selective depletion (see block 6) can now be carried out. Raw material 101 is a mixture of used textiles with cellulose fibers and synthetic fibers. To achieve a predefined composition, feedstocks with known compositions (known quantities of compositional components) are mixed in such a way that the mixture, at the end, presents the predefined composition. The above-described scraps (leftovers) from garment production, which have an essentially known composition, are particularly suitable. In addition, used textiles with a known composition can be added, for example, a high cotton content to increase the cellulose content. Components with at least partially known composition can also be removed from raw material 101. For example, sportswear with a particularly high percentage of polyester can be removed.In addition, mechanical separation can be performed, for example, density separation. Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 48 / 112 33 / 42 particularly, by means of a flotation process, to selectively deplete cellulose, for example, polyester and / or polypropylene. The fiber components can be suspended in a liquid (aqueous) medium. The separation of non-cellulosic fibers from cellulosic fibers occurs successfully due to different physical properties in the liquid medium, particularly gravitational, centrifugal force-related, buoyancy and / or different electrostatic properties.

[087] Raw material 101 with the predefined composition is then supplied to the continuous reaction device 150 (see block 10). The raw material is ground here and can be supplied to the reactor 150 directly as a solid or via an additional solvent. The reactor device 105 has a continuous cooker (Digester), which operates a continuous cooking process for processing (step 20) the raw material. The cooking process is acidic (e.g., sulfite process) or alkaline (e.g., sulfate / strength process or direct application of caustic soda). Here, the raw material and cooking solution can initially be supplied separately to the reactor device 105 and subsequently mixed. However, a prior mixture can also be achieved, such that the raw material 101 is supplied to the reactor device 105 at least partially dissolved in the cooking solution.The processing (see block 20) ​​of raw material 101 takes place under the application of high temperatures (e.g., 90 °C to 185 °C) and / or high pressure (e.g., 1 to 21 bar). The reactor device 105 may have a conveying screw to continuously transport the raw material 101 through the cooker. During the cooking process, at least partial decomposition of synthetic materials occurs (e.g., saponification of polyester). In this way, plastic-free cellulose, as well as highly pure cellulose, can be supplied. A cleaning step may be carried out after the cooker. Following this, a continuous discharge (see block 30) of the processed raw material takes place. Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 49 / 112 34 / 42 110. The processed raw material 110 is found as concentrated cellulose (compared to the raw material), which may optionally also contain scraps of synthetic materials.

[088] The processed raw material 101 may undergo further processing steps (continuous) (see block 40). These include, for example, a further cleaning step and a bleaching process. The raw material 110 containing correspondingly clean cellulose is subsequently fed, as represented in block 80, to a process for the production of a molded cellulosic part 102. An example of such a process is a lyocell process, which is described in detail in Figures 2 and 3 (see below). The molded part 102 obtained (for example, as fiber in lyocell textiles or in a fiber for paper) may be recycled again after use (represented by reference number 90) and may be added back to the raw material containing cellulose 101.

[089] Figure 2 shows a flowchart 80 of a process for the production of a regenerated cellulosic molded part 102 (see Figure 3) from processed raw material 110 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[090] Raw material 110 is supplied by means of a continuous processing process (see block 50, compare with Figure 1). As represented as block 50, raw material 110 thus processed and produced can be used for a subsequent lyocell or viscose process, the former of which is described in more detail below.

[091] It is described below how, according to an example embodiment of the invention, molded cellulose parts 102 can be produced from raw material 110 containing cellulose. For this purpose, the raw material 110 is fed into an apparatus (100, see Figure 3) to perform a lyocell process. Initially, an optional preparation (step 62) of the processed raw material 110 takes place, for example, Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 50 / 112 35 / 42 cleaning or grinding.

[092] It is also possible (see block 64) to use raw material 110, which contains cellulose, with other materials containing cellulose in conjunction for the subsequent lyocell process. Thus, raw material 110 can be mixed with another raw material containing cellulose and at least one synthetic material, see block 64. This other raw material provided contains a portion of synthetic material, which is different from the portion of synthetic material in raw material 110. The creation of the regenerated cellulosic molded part can now be carried out based on raw material 110 and the other raw material, such that the regenerated cellulosic molded part 102 contains a predetermined portion of synthetic material. The other raw material may also contain, alternatively or complementarily to the example, scraps from clothing production.

[093] Immediately after preparation 62 or immediately after mixing 64, a direct dissolution 68 of the raw material 110 (pure or mixed) in another solvent 116 (for example, tertiary amine oxides, such as N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO)) can advantageously occur without chemical pretreatment. More precisely, the mechanically ground (and optionally mixed) raw material 110 can be transferred directly into the solution, particularly without chemical cleaning and without viscosity adjustment. In this way, the manufacturing or recycling process can be carried out extremely easily, quickly, and in an environmentally friendly manner.

[094] Alternatively, the process may involve, after preparation 62 (or after mixing 64) and before dissolution 68, a chemical cleaning 66 of the raw material 110. Such chemical cleaning 66 may involve at least partial removal of colorants by bleaching. This allows for the complete or partial decolorization of the raw material 110 before subsequent dissolution 68 of the raw material 110 in solvent 116, for example, to produce a part. Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 51 / 112 36 / 42 molded 102 white or gray. Alternatively or complementarily, in the context of optional chemical cleaning 66, the raw material 110 may be free (before or after dissolution 68) at least partially from crosslinking agents that crosslink fibers of the raw material 110. In applications where such fibers of the raw material 110 exist, the raw material 110 may be free of these crosslinking agents, wholly or partially, for example, by means of an alkaline or acidic pretreatment. This further improves the solubility of the raw material 110. By means of cleaning 66, at least a portion of the synthetic material may optionally be removed, if desired. For example, in this way, the synthetic material content in the molded part 102 to be produced may be adjusted or influenced.

[095] After dissolving 68 the raw material 110 in the solvent (preferably NMMO), the resulting lyocell spinning solution 104 can be compressed by one or more spinning nozzles, resulting in yarns or filaments with a viscosity of honey-hardness (see block 70, which refers to this spinning).

[096] During and / or after the precipitation of these yarns or filaments, they are placed in operational contact with an aqueous medium and thereby thinned. The concentration of the solvent 116 of the yarns or filaments is thus reduced in an aqueous mist or an aqueous liquid bath to such an extent that the lyocell spinning solution is transferred in a solid phase to the cellulose filaments. In other words, precipitation, shedding or coagulation of the cellulose filaments occurs, see reference number 72. As a result, a preform of the molded part 102 is obtained.

[097] In addition, the process may involve post-processing 74 of the precipitated lyocell cellulose to obtain the molded part 102 from the molded part preform 110. Such post-processing may include, for example, drying, impregnation and / or reshaping of the filaments obtained to form the molded part. Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 52 / 112 37 / 42 final 102. For example, molded part 102 can be processed, by the production process described, into fibers, film, fabric, fleece, sphere, porous foam or granules and then supplied for another use (compare reference number 76).

[098] Advantageously, after the use of molded part 102, its cellulose and optional synthetic materials can be recovered again, in which another process corresponding to the process steps between reference numbers 50 and 74 is carried out (see block 90). Alternatively, the cellulose and other optional synthetic materials of molded part 102 can be recovered in another process, for example, in a viscose process.

[099] Figure 3 shows an apparatus 100 for continuous supply of a processed raw material 110 containing cellulose and for the production of a regenerated cellulosic molded part 102 by means of a lyocell process based on raw material 110, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, which has been described in reference to Figures 1 and 2.

[0100] Figure 3 therefore shows an apparatus 100, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, for the production of a molded part containing cellulose 102, which can be produced, for example, in the form of a fleece (TNT), as fiber, film, sphere, textile fabric, foam or in the form of granules or flakes. According to Figure 3, the molded part 102 is formed directly from a spinning solution 104. The latter is converted into cellulose fibers 108 as molded part 102 by means of a coagulation fluid 106 (particularly moisture) and / or immersion coagulation 191 (for example a water bath, which optionally has tertiary amine oxides such as N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO)). A lyocell process by means of the apparatus 100 can be carried out. Thus, filaments or fibers 108, for example, essentially continuous or mixtures essentially of filaments and fibers 108 Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 53 / 112 38 / 42 continuous discrete lengths can be produced as a molded part 102. A large number of nozzles, which respectively have one or more openings 126 (which can also be designated as spinning holes), are available to eject the lyocell spinning solution 104.

[0101] As can be seen from Figure 3, a cellulose-based raw material 110 can be supplied to a storage tank 114 and to the lyocell process 80 by a dosing device 113. The raw material 110 is a processed raw material 110, which was obtained in a continuous processing process 50 (see Figure 1 above).

[0102] For this purpose, a raw material containing cellulose 101, namely, used textiles with a predefined composition, is fed to a continuous reactor device 105 (see 10). In the reactor device 105, the raw material 101 containing continuous cellulose is continuously processed (see 20) to obtain the processed raw material containing cellulose 110. Subsequently, the processed raw material containing cellulose 110 is continuously discharged from the reactor device 105. Furthermore, the processed raw material containing cellulose 110 is subjected to a continuous bleaching process (see 40).

[0103] According to an embodiment, water may enter the cellulose-based feedstock 110 by means of a solvent 116 described below (particularly NMMO). Also, the cellulose-based feedstock 110 may itself already contain a certain residual moisture (dry pulp, for example, often has a residual moisture of 5 percent by weight to 8 percent by weight). Particularly, according to the embodiment described, the feedstock 110 may be added without pre-wetting directly into a mixture of water and solvent 116. An optional water reservoir 112 shown in Figure 3 may then be dispensed with.

[0104] According to an example of an alternative modality, the raw material Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 54 / 112 39 / 42 containing cellulose 110 can be further moistened to provide wet cellulose. For this purpose, water from an optional water reservoir 112 can be supplied to the storage tank 114 by the dosing device 113. From there, the dosing device 113, controlled by means of a control device 140, can supply the storage tank 114 with adjustable relative amounts of water and raw material 110.

[0105] A suitable solvent 116, preferably a tertiary amine oxide, such as N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO), or an aqueous mixture of solvent 116, for example, a 76% solution of NMMO in water, is contained in a solvent container. The concentration of solvent 116 can be adjusted in a concentration device 118 by adding either pure solvent or water. The solvent 116 can then be mixed with the raw material 110, with relative amounts that can be set in a mixing unit 119. The mixing unit 119 can also be controlled by the control unit 140. Through this, the raw material containing cellulose 110 is dissolved in the concentrated solvent 116 in a dissolving device 120 with adjustable relative amounts, whereby the lyocell spinning solution 104 is obtained.The relative concentration ranges (also referred to as spinning window) of the raw material components 110, water and solvent 116 in the spinning solution 104 may be suitable for the production of regenerated cellulosic molded parts according to the lyocell process, as known to those skilled in the art.

[0106] The lyocell spinning solution 104 is supplied to a fiber making device 124 (which can be formed with a number of spinning bars or jets 122).

[0107] When the lyocell 104 spinning solution is conducted through the openings 126 of the jets 122, it is separated from the lyocell 104 spinning solution into a large number of parallel yarns. The course of the described process transforms the lyocell 104 spinning solution into increasingly longer and thinner yarns, whose properties can be Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 55 / 112 40 / 42 adjusted by corresponding adjustment of process conditions, controlled by control unit 140. Optionally, a gas flow can accelerate the lyocell spinning solution 104 on its path from openings 126 to a fiber pickup unit 132.

[0108] After the lyocell spinning solution 104 has passed through the jets 122 and moved on, the long, thin strands of lyocell spinning solution 104 interact with the coagulation fluid 106.

[0109] During interaction with the coagulation fluid 106 (e.g., water) the solvent concentration of the lyocell-spinning solution 104 is reduced in such a way that the cellulose of the raw material 110 coagulates or precipitates at least partially as long and thin cellulose fibers 108 (which may still always contain solvent and water residues).

[0110] During or after the initial formation of individual cellulose fibers 108 from the extruded lyocell spinning solution 104, the cellulose fibers 108 are captured in the fiber capture unit 132. The cellulose fibers 108 may be immersed in the coagulation immersion 191 (e.g., a water immersion, optionally featuring a solvent such as NMMO) shown in Figure 3 and may complete their precipitation by interacting with the coagulation immersion liquid 191. Depending on the coagulation process setting, the cellulose may form cellulose fibers 108 (as shown, where the cellulose fibers 108 may be fused into a material integrally with one another (“merging”) or may be present as separate cellulose fibers 108) or a film may form in the fiber capture unit 132 or may form a cellulose film (not shown in Figure 3).

[0111] Cellulose fibers 108 are therefore extruded from the spinning nozzles of the jets 122 and conveyed by spinning immersion or coagulation immersion 191 (containing, for example, water and NMMO in low concentration for Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 56 / 112 41 / 42 precipitation / coagulation), in this case, the cellulose fibers 108 are conveyed around a respective diverting pulley 193 in the coagulation immersion 191 and out of the coagulation immersion 191, are fed to a discharge roller 195. The discharge roller 195 is responsible for the continuous transport and post-elongation of the cellulose fibers 108, to achieve a desired count. After passing through the discharge roller 195, the fiber bundle of cellulose fibers 108 is washed in a washing unit 180, optionally finished and finally cut (not shown).

[0112] Although not shown in Figure 3, solvent 116 from the lyocell spinning solution 104, which was removed from the cellulose fibers 108 in coagulation and subsequent washing, in washing unit 180, can be recovered or recycled at least partially and transferred again in a subsequent cycle, to storage tank 114.

[0113] During transport along the fiber capture unit 132, the molded part 102 (here, in the form of cellulose fibers 108) can be washed by means of the washing unit 180, wherein the latter provides a washing liquid to remove residual solvent. The molded part 102 can then be dried.

[0114] The molded part 102 can also be subjected to post-treatment see the post-treatment unit shown schematically 134. For example, such post-treatment may include hydro-entanglement, needle treatment, impregnation, steam treatment with pressurized steam and / or calendering, etc.

[0115] The fiber capture unit 132 can supply the molded part 102 to a rewinder 136 on which the molded part 102 can be wound. The molded part 102 can then be supplied as a rolled product to an entity that manufactures products, such as wet wipes or textiles, based on the molded part 102.

[0116] Figure 4 shows a cellulose fiber produced by means of a lyocell 200 process in cross-section. The cellulose fiber 200 produced by Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 57 / 112 42 / 42 a lyocell process has a smooth round outer surface 202, is homogeneous and free of macroscopic holes and filled with cellulose material. It can therefore be clearly distinguished by one skilled in the art from cellulose fibers produced by a viscosity process (see reference number 204 in Figure 5) and from cellulose fibers from cotton plants (see reference number 206 in Figure 6).

[0117] Figure 5 shows a cellulose fiber produced by means of a viscose process 204 in cross section. The cellulose fiber 204 has a cloud shape and a plurality of arched structures 208 along its outer circumference.

[0118] Figure 6 shows a natural cellulose fiber 206 from a cotton plant in cross section. The cellulose fiber 206 has a kidney shape and a material-free lumen 210 inside as a completely closed cavity.

[0119] Based on the significant geometric and structural differences of the fibers, according to Figure 4 to Figure 6, it is possible for someone skilled in the art to determine unequivocally, for example, under a microscope, whether a cellulose fiber was formed by means of the lyocell process, by means of the viscose process or naturally, in a cotton plant.

[0120] Furthermore, it should be noted that “which presents” does not exclude any other elements or steps and “a” or “an” does not exclude plurality. Also, it should be emphasized that features or steps, which have been described with an indication of one of the embodiment examples, may also be used in combination with other features or steps from other embodiment examples described above. The reference numbers in the claims should not be considered limiting. Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, p. 58 / 112

Claims

1 / 4 CLAIMS 1. Process for the continuous supply of a processed raw material comprising cellulose (110), in particular a processed raw material comprising cellulose (110) for the manufacture of a molded cellulosic part (102), CHARACTERIZED in that the process comprises: adjusting (2) a predefined composition of a raw material comprising cellulose (101), wherein the determination of the composition is carried out continuously in a flow of used textiles, wherein the determined composition is compared with a reference value of the predefined composition, wherein the raw material comprising cellulose (101) comprises wholly or partially scraps from a clothing production and / or old clothes, and wherein adjusting (2) comprises the selective enrichment (4) of at least one component of the composition and / or the selective depletion (6) of at least one component of the composition corresponding to a deviation from the reference value;to continuously supply (10) the raw material comprising cellulose (101) with the predefined composition to a reactor device (105); to continuously process (20) the raw material comprising cellulose (110) in the reactor device (105), to obtain the processed raw material comprising cellulose (110); and to discharge (30) the processed raw material comprising cellulose (110) from the reactor device (105).

2. Process, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that continuous processing (20) further comprises: carrying out a continuous cooking process, particularly using an alkaline cooking solution, more particularly a cooking solution containing sodium hydroxide.

3. Process, according to claim 1 or 2, CHARACTERIZED in that the predefined composition comprises cellulosic fibers, and in that the predefined composition of the cellulosic fibers comprises a fluctuation range of 2.5% or less, particularly 1% or less, more particularly 0.5% or less.

4. Process, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, CHARACTERIZED in that the predefined composition comprises synthetic fibers, particularly polyester fibers, and in which the predefined composition of the synthetic fibers, particularly the polyester fibers, comprises a fluctuation range of 2.5% or less, particularly 1% or less, more particularly 0.5% or less.

5. Process, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, CHARACTERIZED in that the predefined composition comprises other synthetic fibers, and in that the predefined composition of the other synthetic fibers comprises a fluctuation range of 0.5% or less, particularly 0.1% or less, more particularly 0.05% or less; particularly, in that the other synthetic fibers comprise at least one of the group consisting of polyamide, polyacrylic and elastane.

6. Process, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, CHARACTERIZED in that the predefined composition comprises 60% or more, particularly 80% or more, more particularly 92.5% or more of cellulosic fibers, and / or Petition 870260029241, dated 03 / 27 / 2026, page 60 / 112 3 / 4 in which the predefined composition comprises 30% or less, particularly 16% or less, more particularly 5% or less of synthetic fibers, particularly polyester fibers.

7. Process, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, CHARACTERIZED in that the predefined composition comprises at least one of the following features: wherein the predefined composition comprises 4% or less, particularly 1% or less, more particularly 0.5% or less of polyamide; wherein the predefined composition comprises 1% or less, particularly 0.5% or less, more particularly 0.1% or less of polyacrylic; wherein the predefined composition comprises 5% or less, particularly 2.5% or less, more particularly 1% or less of elastane.

8. Process, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, CHARACTERIZED in that the reactor device (105) comprises a continuous boiler, particularly a Pandia boiler.

9. Process, according to any one of claims 1 to 8, CHARACTERIZED in that it further comprises: carrying out a continuous succession process (40), particularly a bleaching process after continuous discharge (30).

10. Process for producing a regenerated cellulosic molded part (102), CHARACTERIZED in that the process comprises: providing (50) a processed raw material comprising cellulose (110), as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9; and forming (80) the regenerated cellulosic molded part (102) from the processed raw material comprising cellulose (110).

11. Process, according to claim 10, CHARACTERIZED in that forming (80) the regenerated cellulosic molded piece (102) from the processed raw material (110) comprises one of the group consisting of: a lyocell process, a viscose process, particularly a carbamate process or a cold alkaline process, a papermaking process.

12. Process, according to claim 10 or 11, CHARACTERIZED in that the regenerated cellulosic molded part (102) is selected from the group consisting of: a filament, a fiber, a film, a foam, a microsphere, a granule or a tissue paper.

13. Use of a continuous cooking unit (105) CHARACTERIZED by the fact that for the continuous supply and continuous processing of a raw material comprising cellulose (101) with a predefined composition, wherein the determination of the composition is carried out continuously in a flow of used textiles, wherein the determined composition is compared with a reference value of the predefined composition, wherein the raw material comprising cellulose (101) comprises wholly or partially scraps from a clothing production and old clothes, wherein the predefined composition is provided by the selective enrichment (4) of at least one component of the composition and / or the selective depletion (6) of at least one component of the composition corresponding to a deviation from the reference value. Petition 870260029241, dated 27 / 03 / 2026, p. 62 / 112

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