Biomass Cooking Ternary System for High-Whiteness Pulp

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biomass separation methods in the pulp and paper industry do not fully utilize hemicellulose and lignin, and require a complex and energy-intensive bleaching process to achieve high-whiteness paper pulp.

Innovation Solution

A method using a ternary system comprising organic acid, small aromatic nucleophilic organic molecules, and hydrogen peroxide to cook and separate biomass, resulting in direct production of high-whiteness cellulose pulp without additional bleaching, and extraction of hemicellulose saccharides and high-activity lignin.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional biomass separation methods are used, then cellulose pulp can be obtained, but residual lignin and chromophore groups remain requiring additional bleaching processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewhiteness of cellulose pulpVSAvoidcomplexity of bleaching process
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating whiteness improvement mechanisms into the cooking process itself. The cooking liquor system (organic acid + small aromatic nucleophilic organic molecule + hydrogen peroxide) pre-treats the biomass to reduce chromophore groups and residual lignin before separation, so that the cellulose pulp requires no additional bleaching process to achieve high whiteness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies extraction by using the cooking liquor system to selectively remove lignin and chromophore groups from the biomass during the cooking process. The organic acid facilitates lignin dissolution, while hydrogen peroxide oxidizes and removes chromophore groups, effectively extracting unwanted components before pulp formation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If conventional biomass separation methods are used, then cellulose pulp can be obtained, but hemicellulose and lignin are not fully separated and utilized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveutilization efficiency of biomass componentsVSAvoidunutilized hemicellulose and lignin
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by completely separating the three main biomass components (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) into distinct streams through the cooking liquor system. Cellulose remains as solid pulp, hemicellulose dissolves in the cooking liquor for recovery, and lignin is removed with the cooking residue, enabling independent utilization of each component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies discarding and recovering by transforming what were previously discarded byproducts (hemicellulose and lignin) into valuable products. Hemicellulose is recovered from the cooking liquor as a useful substance, and lignin is recovered from the cooking residue for high-value applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Manufacturing precision

If bleaching process is added to improve whiteness, then high-whiteness paper pulp can be obtained, but energy and water consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewhiteness of paper pulpVSAvoidenergy consumption of bleaching process
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the need for energy-intensive bleaching by performing whiteness improvement actions during the cooking process itself. The cooking liquor system (especially hydrogen peroxide) pre-oxidizes and removes chromophore groups, so the cellulose pulp achieves high whiteness without requiring additional bleaching energy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Manufacturing precision

If bleaching process is added to improve whiteness, then high-whiteness paper pulp can be obtained, but chemical and water usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewhiteness of paper pulpVSAvoidchemical and water consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs all necessary chemical treatments (lignin removal, chromophore group oxidation, whiteness improvement) during the initial cooking process using the ternary system. This eliminates the need for additional chemicals and water that would be required in separate bleaching stages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method significantly reduces residual lignin and chromophore groups in cellulose pulp, improving its whiteness and purity, while also enhancing the extraction efficiency of lignin and hemicellulose, facilitating their high-value utilization.

Implementation Method 1

cooking and separating a biomass raw material by using a cooking liquor consisting of organic acid, small aromatic nucleophilic organic molecule and hydrogen peroxide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

cooking and separating a biomass raw material by using a cooking liquor consisting of organic acid, small aromatic nucleophilic organic molecule and hydrogen peroxide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 3

extracting highly active lignin and/or hemicellulose from the extracting solution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExtraction: Liquid-Liquid Extraction

Data Source

PatentUS12221747B2Method for separating biomass components by ternary system
Publication Date: 2025.02.11 QILU UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (SHANDONG ACADEMY OF SCIENCES)

AI summary

A method for separating biomass components by a ternary system, which relates to a technical field of biomass separation, and includes the following steps of: cooking and separating a biomass raw material by using a cooking liquor consisting of organic acid, small aromatic nucleophilic organic molecule and hydrogen peroxide to obtain solid residue and extracting solution, washing and screening the solid residue to obtain paper pulp, and separating and extracting lignin and/or hemicellulose from the extracting solution. This cooking system could effectively minimize the content of residual lignin and other compounds with chromophore groups in the obtained pulp, directly producing the high-whiteness pulp with excellent performance without additional bleaching process. In addition, the hemicellulose saccharides and high-activity lignin can be also obtained, so that the method has an important significance for realizing high value and industrialization of biomass resource utilization.