Cellulose Pulp Enzymatic Treatment and Polymer Dosage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processes for producing cellulose pulps often compromise physical resistance or drainage properties when attempting to improve them using enzymatic treatments.
Innovation Solution
A process that involves an enzymatic treatment step concomitantly with the dosage of a carbohydrate-based polymer in the cellulose pulp production, optimizing enzyme levels and reaction conditions to enhance surface area and physical strength without compromising drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If enzymatic treatment is applied to increase physical strength of cellulose fibers, then tensile strength and tear resistance are improved, but drainage capacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies controlled enzymatic treatment parameters (temperature, pH, treatment time, enzyme concentration) to modify fiber properties selectively. By optimizing these parameters, the treatment enhances hydrogen bonding and fiber flexibility to improve strength while limiting excessive modification that would compromise drainage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines enzymatic treatment with the addition of carbohydrates (such as starch or cellulose derivatives) to create a composite modification system. This combination allows the enzymes to work synergistically with the carbohydrate additives to enhance fiber strength through increased hydrogen bonding, while the controlled formulation prevents negative impact on drainage properties.
2Strength
If enzymatic treatment is applied to improve fiber flexibility and carboxylic groups, then physical strength increases, but fiber structure and drainage properties are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls treatment parameters including temperature (typically 20-80°C), pH levels, and treatment duration to achieve the desired modification of carboxylic groups and fiber flexibility without excessive degradation of the fundamental fiber structure that would compromise drainage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses carbohydrates (starch, cellulose derivatives) as intermediary substances that mediate between the enzymatic treatment and the fiber structure. These carbohydrates act as protective agents and bonding promoters that enable strength improvement while maintaining structural integrity and drainage capacity.
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 results in cellulose pulp with increased physical strength and maintained drainage resistance, translating to improved paper quality with enhanced tensile and tear indices.
Implementation Method 1
The enzymatic treatment comprises the use of enzyme or mixture of hydrolytic enzymes... responsible for the degradation of the fibrous cell wall
Implementation Method 2
An enzymatic treatment is carried out on the cellulose fibers in order to increase the number of reactive aldehyde groups on the surface of said fibers
Implementation Method 3
the increase of carboxylic groups or ligands allows the formation of greater number of hydrogen bonds
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an enhanced process for the production of cellulose pulps with increased quality and applicability of said pulps, especially their physical resistance properties and degree of resistance to drainage, through an enzymatic treatment step comprised in the production process of said cellulose pulp, concomitantly with the polymer dosage based on carbohydrates.