Bleaching and shive reduction process for non-wood fibers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for non-wood fiber processing are inadequate in removing residual shive particles, which affect the appearance and commercial value of paper products, and do not sufficiently bleach fibers to achieve high brightness levels required for commercial products.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of oxygen gas as a scouring agent to increase the brightness and reduce shive content in non-wood fibers, either alone or in combination with organic acids, during the scouring process, which can include radial circulation of the scouring liquor to enhance the removal of impurities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If mechanical removal of shive is applied to the level required for high value products, then shive content is reduced, but fiber breakage increases and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical shive removal systems with a chemical treatment system using oxygen gas and organic acids. The chemical treatment dissolves and removes shive particles without the physical forces that cause fiber breakage, thereby maintaining fiber strength while achieving low shive content for high-value products
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of shive removal from mechanical force to chemical reaction. By using oxygen gas and organic acids to chemically dissolve shive, the process achieves effective shive removal without the fiber damage inherent in mechanical methods, resolving the contradiction between shive content reduction and fiber strength preservation
2Illumination intensity
If conventional bleaching processes are applied, then some brightness improvement is achieved, but brightness level remains insufficient for commercial products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs oxygen gas as a strong oxidizing agent to achieve superior bleaching效果. The oxygen gas, combined with organic acids, creates a powerful oxidation environment that effectively removes chromophores and impurities, delivering the high brightness levels required for commercial paper products while maintaining fiber integrity
3Loss of substance
If retting process is used to remove pectin-containing material, then gum removal is achieved, but production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the biological retting process with a chemical treatment using oxygen gas and organic acids. This substitution accelerates the removal of pectin-containing materials and gum substances by using chemical dissolution rather than slow biological degradation, significantly reducing production time while achieving thorough impurity removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanism of pectin removal from biological fermentation to chemical oxidation and dissolution. By using oxygen gas and organic acids, the process achieves rapid and complete removal of pectin-containing materials without the time-consuming retting step, resolving the contradiction between thorough gum removal and production efficiency
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 process significantly increases fiber brightness, reduces shive content, and maintains fiber strength, allowing for the production of high-value fibers from lower-quality raw materials, potentially eliminating the need for additional mechanical removal steps and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
exposing the mixture to a scouring liquor and a scouring agent comprising oxygen gas
Implementation Method 2
scouring the scouring mixture by, for example, radially circulating the scouring liquor throughout the scouring mixture in a chamber
Implementation Method 3
pectin is a carbohydrate polymer, which includes partially-methylated poly-galacturonic acid with free carboxylic acid groups present as calcium salts. Pectin is generally insoluble in water or acid, but may be broken down, or hydrolyzed, in an alkaline solution
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a method for scouring and increasing the brightness of non-wood fibers. The method comprises forming a mixture of non-wood fibers, exposing the mixture to a scouring liquor and a scouring agent comprising oxygen gas to form a scouring mixture, and scouring the scouring mixture by radially circulating the scouring liquor throughout the scouring mixture to provide scoured fibers.