Method for extracting fibers by taking faeces of Asiatic elephant as raw material

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for extracting fibers by taking Asian elephant faeces as a raw material, which comprises the following steps: (1) collecting Asian elephant faeces blocks, and placing the faeces blocks on a special net rack; (2) a high-pressure water gun is used for dispersing excrement blocks, so that fibers in the excrement are left on the net rack; (3) naturally exposing and drying the fibers for the first time; (4) irradiating the fibers with ultraviolet rays to sterilize; (5) spraying a titanium dioxide dispersion liquid on the surface of the fiber to decompose peculiar smell; (6) washing the fibers with alcohol to sterilize and remove impurities; (7) naturally exposing and drying the fibers for the second time; (8) drying in an oven; and (9) crushing the fibers to required particle sizes. According to the method, the Asian elephant faeces are used as raw materials to extract the fibers, waste biological resources are fully utilized, and the environmental burden is reduced. Through high-pressure washing and multi-step drying treatment, the extraction efficiency is remarkably improved. The measures of ultraviolet sterilization, peculiar smell degradation by titanium dioxide, alcohol washing and the like are adopted, so that the cleanliness and the application safety of the fibers are ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for providing fiber, in particular to a method for extracting fiber by taking Asian elephant feces as raw material, and belongs to the technical field of waste resource utilization. Background Art

[0002] As an important basic material, fiber is widely used in papermaking, textiles, composite materials manufacturing and other fields. However, the development and utilization of traditional fiber resources face many challenges in terms of cost and environmental protection. With the increasing reduction of natural fiber resources, how to efficiently develop alternative raw materials has become an urgent need.

[0003] Elephants are the largest terrestrial mammals in existence and are also well-known wild animals. The elephants that exist today are mainly Asian elephants and African elephants. There are some significant differences in the food and feces of Asian elephants and African elephants, mainly due to their different habitats and eating habits.

[0004] Asian elephants mainly live in tropical rainforests and tropical monsoon climate zones, and their diet consists mainly of leaves, barks, bamboos, fruits, grasses and small plants. As the food consumed by Asian elephants consists mainly of bamboos and barks, their feces often contain coarser fibers, larger fecal particles and slightly lower water content. Asian elephant feces are rich in undigested plant fibers, making them suitable as raw materials for fiber extraction.

[0005] African elephants live in the savannah and grassland areas of Africa, and their diet includes various grasses, leaves, bark, fruits and shrubs. African elephants have a wider range of food choices because the vegetation in their habitat is richer in species. The food consumed by African elephants contains more grass and succulent plants, resulting in their feces with finer fibers, more water and relatively loose. African elephant feces are not suitable as a raw material for extracting fiber.

[0006] Almost every large zoo in China has Asian elephants. Asian elephants are large in size, eat a lot, and produce a lot of feces. Zoos usually set up a large activity area to keep Asian elephants in captivity to collect their feces. Based on this, a method for extracting fiber using Asian elephant feces as raw material has been developed, which is not only conducive to maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of Asian elephant activity areas, but also can efficiently utilize waste biological resources, bringing social and economic benefits.

[0007] The invention patent application with application number 201710518524.3 and titled "An Environmentally Friendly Manuscript Paper and Its Preparation Method" discloses a method for preparing environmentally friendly manuscript paper using elephant dung as raw material. First, soak the elephant dung in alkali solution, stir to disperse the lumps, and soak for 5 to 10 hours. The alkali solution uses sodium hydroxide solution. The separated fibers are placed in a cleaning tank for cleaning, and then a suspending agent is added and allowed to stand for 10 to 15 hours to separate the upper fibers. The above steps are repeated many times to obtain fiber slurry. Finally, the fiber slurry is bleached, and the bleaching agent is FAS pulp bleaching agent.

[0008] There are many problems with the above preparation method. The residual liquid of feces is alkaline and needs to be neutralized with acid before it can be discharged, which has a high treatment cost. A large amount of wastewater is generated when the fiber is washed, and this patent does not disclose how to treat this wastewater. The suspending agent is used many times and in large amounts. A single disinfectant may not be able to kill all microorganisms from elephant feces. The additives added in the preparation process include alkali solution, disinfectant, suspending agent, and bleaching agent, which are corrosive or toxic. The fiber extracted by this method may have unpleasant odors such as fecal odor.

[0009] Technical personnel in this field are committed to developing a new energy-saving and environmentally friendly method to efficiently extract clean and safe fibers from Asian elephant feces, achieving zero burden on the ecological environment. Summary of the invention

[0010] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a clean and efficient method for extracting fiber from Asian elephant feces. The present invention optimizes the steps and parameters to extract high-quality fiber, thereby solving the problems of complex process, waste of resources and environmental pollution in the prior art.

[0011] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a method for extracting fiber using Asian elephant feces as raw material, comprising the following steps:

[0012] Collect Asian elephant dung blocks and place them on a special mesh rack;

[0013] Use a high-pressure water gun to break up the feces so that the fibers in the feces remain on the mesh;

[0014] The fiber is dried by natural exposure for the first time;

[0015] UV rays irradiate the fibers to kill bacteria;

[0016] Spray titanium dioxide dispersion on the fiber surface to break down odors;

[0017] Rinse the fibers with alcohol to kill bacteria and remove impurities;

[0018] The fiber is dried by natural exposure for a second time;

[0019] The fibers are comminuted to the desired particle size.

[0020] In some embodiments, the mesh size of the grid is about 2 cm.

[0021] In some embodiments, a container for collecting feces water is provided under the grid.

[0022] In some embodiments, the water pressure of the high-pressure water gun ranges from 10 to 100 MPa, and the water flow rate ranges from 2 to 20 liters per second.

[0023] In some embodiments, the ultraviolet light intensity is 0.2 to 2 W / cm2.

[0024] In some embodiments, the ratio of titanium dioxide dispersion is in the range of titanium dioxide: water = 1:100 to 1:500 by weight.

[0025] In some embodiments, the titanium dioxide dispersion is sprayed on the fiber surface and then allowed to stand for 24 hours.

[0026] In some embodiments, the alcohol is 75% alcohol by volume.

[0027] In some embodiments, after the fibers are dried by natural exposure for the second time, they are transferred to an oven at 80° C. for drying to reduce the moisture content to below 5%.

[0028] In some embodiments, the fibers are crushed into 40-80 meshes by a crusher.

[0029] Beneficial effects of the invention: This method uses Asian elephant feces as raw material, fully utilizes waste biological resources, and reduces environmental burden. Through high-pressure washing and multi-step drying treatment, the fiber extraction efficiency is significantly improved. Ultraviolet sterilization, titanium dioxide degrading odor and alcohol washing are adopted to ensure the cleanliness and application safety of the fiber. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 It is a process flow chart of extracting fiber using Asian elephant feces as raw material in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 2 This is the original morphological diagram of Asian elephant feces used in the present invention.

[0032] Figure 3 This is a morphological diagram of crude fibers extracted using the method of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Asian elephants are large herbivores. The large amount of plant food they consume is only partially decomposed during the digestion process, so a large amount of plant fiber is retained in the excrement. Each adult Asian elephant excretes about 50 to 100 kilograms of feces a day, and the crude fiber content in each kilogram of feces is 20% to 40%. By extracting fiber from Asian elephant feces, 10 to 40 kilograms of crude fiber can be obtained from each Asian elephant. Asian elephants are social animals. Each zoo raises two or more, and the total output is dozens to hundreds of kilograms. A pack of A4 paper (500 sheets) weighs about 2.5 kilograms. Therefore, the fiber produced by elephants in a single zoo each year is enough to supply a small paper mill.

[0034] This patent uses scientific methods to extract fiber from Asian elephant feces, reducing the burden of feces on the environment and providing raw materials for the paper industry. It has the advantages of environmental protection, high efficiency and economy. This process realizes the high-value utilization of waste resources and provides a new sustainable source of raw materials for the fiber industry, which has broad application prospects and important social value.

[0035] The process of extracting fiber from Asian elephant feces is as follows: Figure 1 As shown, it mainly includes the following steps:

[0036] 1. Feces collection and preliminary treatment

[0037] Asian elephant feces Figure 2 As shown in the figure, the diameter of a single feces block is 20 to 35 cm and the weight is 1 to 2 kg (depending on the water content). From the naked eye observation in the figure, it can be seen that the feces of Asian elephants contain a large amount of incompletely digested crude fiber.

[0038] Collect the Asian elephant feces blocks and evenly place them on a special grid, and lay the feces blocks in a single layer. The special grid is made of stainless steel wire, and the grid aperture is controlled at about 2 cm to effectively support the feces blocks and ensure smooth fiber separation. If the aperture is too small, it is easy to be blocked; if the aperture is too large, more fibers will be lost and the extraction efficiency will be reduced.

[0039] (2) High-pressure water gun flushing

[0040] Use a high-pressure water gun to disperse the feces on the grid and separate the plant fibers from the feces. As an efficient cleaning tool, the performance parameters of the high-pressure water gun directly determine the scope of application and cleaning effect. When dealing with special scenarios such as Asian elephant feces, the appropriate pressure, water flow and nozzle configuration should be selected according to needs, while paying attention to operational safety and equipment maintenance to achieve the best use effect.

[0041] The pressure of the high-pressure water gun used to wash the Asian elephant feces is 10-100 MPa, and the water flow rate is 2-20 liters / second to ensure separation efficiency and fiber integrity. Preferably, the water pressure is 20 MPa and the water flow rate is 5 liters / second. With the continuous impact of the high-pressure water gun, feces and fine fibers fall under the grid with the flowing water, and long and thick fibers remain on the grid, waiting for subsequent processing steps.

[0042] A water container is set under the grid to collect the feces produced during the flushing process, and the feces can be reused in agriculture. If the amount of Asian elephant feces to be processed is small, when the water container is full, the feces can be transferred to another place in time. If the amount of Asian elephant feces to be processed is large, a reservoir can be set up, and a special grid can be placed above the reservoir. After the feces are precipitated in the reservoir, the upper layer of sewage and the lower layer of sludge can be disposed of separately. The sewage flows out through the sewage pipe, and the sludge can be dug out regularly. Both the sewage and sludge can be used as fertilizers for crops.

[0043] (III) First natural drying

[0044] Asian elephant feces are rich in microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and viruses. These microorganisms mainly come from the elephant's intestinal microbiome, food residues and the external environment. Asian elephants are herbivores, and their digestive systems are adapted to the decomposition of cellulose and other plant components. The bacterial community in Asian elephant feces mainly comes from the elephant's gastrointestinal tract, which helps decompose plant fiber and other organic matter.

[0045] After the bacteria leave the Asian elephant's body with the feces, they will continue to grow and multiply in the outside world, further decomposing the fibers in the feces. Fresh feces must be collected and processed as soon as possible to slow down the above decomposition process. With the flushing of the high-pressure water gun, most of the bacteria flow away with the feces, and the remaining bacteria remain on the fiber surface. There are also common harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli in the feces. If not handled in time, it is easy to pollute the environment and water sources.

[0046] In humid and warm conditions, bacteria multiply in large numbers. In order to slow down this process, the fiber needs to be dried. Spread the fiber after high-pressure water gun washing and expose it to the sun for 8 to 12 hours to reduce the moisture content and prepare for subsequent processing.

[0047] (IV) Ultraviolet sterilization

[0048] After the fiber is exposed to the sun and dried, the bacterial reproduction process slows down, but the bacteria still exist in large quantities and need to be killed as soon as possible. This patent uses an ultraviolet device to disinfect and sterilize the dried fiber. The principle of ultraviolet sterilization is mainly based on the destructive effect of ultraviolet rays on the DNA or RNA of bacteria, thereby making the bacteria lose their ability to reproduce or die directly. Ultraviolet sterilization is a physical method that does not require the use of chemicals, so no chemical residues will be produced.

[0049] After being exposed to the sun and dried, the fibers are spread out and laid flat on the floor of the sterilization room. A large ultraviolet lamp is installed on the top of the sterilization room to emit ultraviolet rays. Ultraviolet rays have poor penetration and can only kill bacteria within the direct range. They are ineffective for blocked areas, so the fibers can only be laid in a thin layer on the floor. An improved approach is to set up multi-layer mesh racks in the sterilization room and lay the fibers flat on each layer of racks, with a large distance between the two layers of racks. At the same time, reflective film, such as high-gloss aluminum film, is laid on the floor and walls of the sterilization room. After being reflected by the reflective film, ultraviolet rays can reach more fiber surfaces and effectively kill bacteria on the fiber surface.

[0050] For efficient sterilization, the ultraviolet light intensity is controlled at 0.2 to 2 watts per square centimeter, and the irradiation time is 30 minutes. Preferably, a high-power LED ultraviolet lamp is used, and the power range of a single unit is 50 to 200 watts. If a traditional fluorescent lamp ultraviolet light is used, the power needs to be greater than 1000 watts.

[0051] (V) Titanium dioxide dispersion treatment

[0052] The Asian elephant's digestive system is inefficient, with only about 40% of food being completely digested. The remainder is excreted with feces, which still contain a large amount of organic matter that provides a rich matrix for microbial decomposition.

[0053] After Asian elephants excrete feces, the organic matter in the feces will be quickly decomposed by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. During the decomposition process, some compounds with strong odors will be released, such as: sulfide (such as hydrogen sulfide, rotten egg smell), ammonia (pungent smell), volatile fatty acids (sour smell). To eliminate the above various sources of odor, we must find a way to decompose the odor compounds.

[0054] This patent uses titanium dioxide dispersion to decompose the above-mentioned odorous compounds. The technical principle of titanium dioxide (TiO2) deodorization is mainly based on its photocatalytic effect. Under ultraviolet light (UV-A, wavelength range is 320-400nm), titanium dioxide exhibits excellent catalytic activity and can produce active oxygen species, thereby achieving the effect of sterilization and degradation of organic pollutants. Active oxygen species include hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and superoxide radicals (·O2-), both of which are strong oxidants, which cause odorous compounds to be oxidized and decomposed, thereby inhibiting the production of odor in fibers.

[0055] Titanium dioxide is the best choice for photocatalyst, because titanium dioxide itself can be used as a filler for paper to increase the whiteness of paper. The fiber produced by this patent is mainly used as a raw material for papermaking, so the titanium dioxide remaining on the surface of the fiber is harmless.

[0056] The ratio of titanium dioxide dispersion is titanium dioxide: water = 1:100 to 1:500, and the optimal ratio is titanium dioxide: water = 1:200. Spray the titanium dioxide dispersion evenly on the fiber surface. If there are fewer fibers to be processed, the titanium dioxide dispersion can be loaded into an agricultural sprayer and then sprayed manually. If there are more fibers to be processed, an atomizing spray device is installed on the top of the sterilization chamber to improve work efficiency.

[0057] After spraying, let it sit for 24 hours and turn on the UV light at the same time to use the photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide to remove fiber odors, and the UV light to further sterilize.

[0058] (6) Alcohol rinse

[0059] After the dual sterilization of ultraviolet rays and titanium dioxide, there are very few microorganisms on the fiber surface. The odorous compounds are oxidized by active oxygen substances to generate other substances, which remain on the fiber surface as impurities and need to be removed with a solvent. Preferably, use 75% volume concentration of alcohol to rinse the fiber to remove residual impurities and microorganisms. After rinsing with alcohol, gently spin dry to reduce alcohol residue.

[0060] Alcohol is a high-quality solvent with strong dissolving power and wide applications. The main component of alcohol is ethanol. Ethanol molecules have both polar and non-polar properties and can dissolve many types of substances. The polar part (-OH: hydroxyl) can interact with polar compounds (such as water, inorganic salts, sugars, etc.) through hydrogen bonds to dissolve these substances. The non-polar part (ethyl chain: C2H5) can interact with non-polar molecules (such as fats, essential oils, organic molecules, etc.) to dissolve them. Therefore, alcohol can dissolve the residual moisture and various impurities on the fiber.

[0061] Alcohol has a strong dehydrating ability and can penetrate the cell wall or cell membrane of bacteria, react with the protein molecules in the bacteria, and destroy its tertiary structure and hydrogen bonds. Protein denaturation causes the enzyme system of bacteria to be inactivated, thereby inhibiting its metabolic activity and causing cell death. Alcohol with a volume fraction of 75% contains an appropriate amount of water. This proportion of water enhances the penetration of alcohol into the cell wall and cell membrane of bacteria, making it easier for alcohol to enter the interior of bacteria. High concentration (volume fraction of 95%) alcohol will quickly form a protein coagulation layer on the surface of bacteria, which in turn reduces the permeability of alcohol and cannot completely kill bacteria. On the other hand, high concentration (such as 95%) alcohol evaporates too quickly and may not be able to fully contact with bacteria, affecting the bactericidal effect. 75% alcohol has a moderate evaporation rate and can act on bacteria for a longer time, thereby enhancing the bactericidal effect.

[0062] (VII) Second natural drying

[0063] After being treated with 75% alcohol by volume, alcohol and a small amount of water (from the 75% alcohol) remain on the fiber surface. Spread the fiber flat and expose it to the sun for 6 to 10 hours to completely evaporate the alcohol and further reduce the water content, achieving basic drying.

[0064] (8) Oven drying

[0065] After being basically dried, the fiber is sent to the oven and dried at 80℃ for 3 hours to reduce the moisture content to below 5%, achieving complete drying and improving the storage stability of the fiber. It is first dried naturally for the second time and then dried in the oven instead of directly in the oven, in order to reduce energy consumption and avoid the potential safety hazards caused by the volatilization of alcohol in the oven.

[0066] At this point, the fiber extracted from Asian elephant dung has a clean surface, without any odors such as feces, but only the smell of the fiber itself, such as wood and hay, making it suitable for use as a raw material for papermaking.

[0067] (IX) Fiber crushing

[0068] If used as papermaking raw material, the dried fiber is finally crushed into 40-80 meshes using a crusher.

[0069] Fibers extracted from Asian elephant feces have a wide range of application potentials, including but not limited to the following areas. Papermaking industry: The extracted fibers can be used as pulp raw materials to produce environmentally friendly paper products. Composite materials: The extracted fibers can be used as reinforcing materials to prepare lightweight, high-strength composite materials. Horticulture and agriculture: Used as fillers in soilless cultivation substrates to provide a good growth environment for plants. The particle size of the fiber can be adjusted according to the above different application requirements.

[0070] The patented method of extracting fiber from Asian elephant feces has the following advantages:

[0071] 1. Environmental protection

[0072] Make full use of the plant fiber resources in Asian elephant feces to achieve efficient resource conversion, reduce waste accumulation, reduce environmental pollution, and achieve resource recycling.

[0073] 2. Efficiency

[0074] By optimizing the steps of high-pressure water washing, natural exposure, oven drying, etc., the fiber extraction efficiency and quality are significantly improved. The entire process does not emit harmful chemicals, and the manure water can be reused, reducing the burden on the surrounding environment. It is easy to operate and suitable for large-scale production.

[0075] 3. High product cleanliness

[0076] The combined application of ultraviolet disinfection, titanium dioxide dispersion spraying, and alcohol rinsing ensures that the fiber surface is free of harmful microorganisms and odor, meeting the safety requirements of a variety of industrial applications.

[0077] The preferred specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above. It should be understood that a person skilled in the art can make many modifications and changes based on the concept of the present invention without creative work. Therefore, any technical solution that can be obtained by a person skilled in the art through logical analysis, reasoning or limited experiments based on the concept of the present invention on the basis of the prior art should be within the scope of protection determined by the claims.

Claims

1. A method for extracting fiber using Asian elephant feces as raw material, characterized in that: The steps include: Collecting Asian elephant feces blocks and placing the feces blocks on a special mesh rack; Using a high-pressure water gun to disperse the feces blocks, so that fibers in the feces remain on the mesh frame; The fiber is dried by natural exposure for the first time; irradiating the fibers with ultraviolet light to sterilize them; Spraying a titanium dioxide dispersion on the fiber surface to decompose odor; Rinse the fibers with alcohol to sterilize and remove impurities; The fiber is dried by natural exposure for a second time; The fibers are comminuted to a desired particle size.

2. A method for extracting fiber using Asian elephant feces as raw material according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mesh aperture of the grid is about 2 cm.

3. The method for extracting fiber from Asian elephant feces as raw material according to claim 1, characterized in that: A container for collecting feces and water is arranged under the grid.

4. The method for extracting fiber from Asian elephant feces as raw material according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water pressure range of the high-pressure water gun is 10-100 MPa, and the water flow rate range is 2-20 liters / second.

5. The method for extracting fiber from Asian elephant feces as raw material according to claim 1, characterized in that: The illumination intensity of the ultraviolet rays is 0.2 to 2 watts per square centimeter.

6. The method for extracting fiber from Asian elephant feces as raw material according to claim 1, characterized in that: In terms of weight, the ratio of the titanium dioxide dispersion is in the range of titanium dioxide: water = 1:100 to 1:

500.

7. The method for extracting fiber from Asian elephant feces as raw material according to claim 6, characterized in that: The titanium dioxide dispersion was sprayed on the fiber surface and then allowed to stand for 24 hours.

8. The method for extracting fiber from Asian elephant feces as raw material according to claim 1, characterized in that: The alcohol used has a volume concentration of 75%.

9. The method for extracting fiber from Asian elephant feces as raw material according to claim 1, characterized in that: After the fiber is dried by natural exposure for the second time, it is transferred to an oven at 80° C. for drying to reduce the moisture content to below 5%.

10. The method for extracting fiber from Asian elephant feces as raw material according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fibers after the second natural exposure drying are crushed into 40-80 meshes by a crusher.

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