Citrus Peel Cellulose Extraction Process
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for natural cellulose fibers, particularly for textile production, is strained by the limited availability of arable land and the high environmental and economic costs associated with traditional wood-based production methods, necessitating a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative.
Innovation Solution
A process for producing cellulose yarn from citrus fruits, specifically utilizing waste materials like orange peels, which involves chemical extraction using hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide in chlorine-free conditions to obtain high-purity alpha cellulose that can be spun into filaments, thereby reducing waste disposal costs and environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If cellulose is extracted from wood pulp, then purified cellulose capable of being processed to filament yarns can be obtained, but the cost of production is high and environmental repercussions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts cellulose from an alternative source (citrus fruit peel) rather than from the conventional wood pulp source. This extraction approach obtains high-purity alpha-cellulose (90-95% purity) while using abundant agricultural waste material, thereby reducing production costs and avoiding the environmental issues associated with wood pulp processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes citrus fruit peel, an abundant agricultural waste product, as the raw material source. This disposable waste material is far cheaper than wood pulp and its utilization eliminates the need for dedicated cellulose crop cultivation, significantly reducing raw material costs while maintaining high cellulose purity
2Manufacturing precision
If cellulose is extracted from wood pulp, then purified cellulose capable of being processed to filament yarns can be obtained, but environmental repercussions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts citrus fruit peel waste, which is currently discarded as harmful waste requiring disposal costs, into a valuable raw material for cellulose production. This transforms an environmental burden into an economic and environmental benefit, eliminating waste disposal issues while producing high-purity cellulose
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers cellulose from citrus fruit peel that would otherwise be discarded as waste. This recovery process extracts high-purity alpha-cellulose from the peel material, converting waste into a valuable resource and eliminating the environmental repercussions of waste disposal
3Quantity of substance
If natural cellulose fiber is produced from cotton, then textile demand can be met, but arable land is severely reduced and food crisis occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses citrus fruit peel, an agricultural by-product from the food industry, as a dual-purpose resource. The same citrus crops that produce food (juice, fruit) also generate peel waste that can be converted into cellulose fiber, thereby meeting textile demand without requiring dedicated arable land for cellulose production
4Productivity
If conventional chlorine-containing extraction methods are used, then cellulose can be extracted from raw material, but toxic organochlorine is formed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the extraction process by using hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide instead of conventional chlorine-containing agents. This parameter change maintains effective cellulose extraction while eliminating the formation of toxic organochlorine compounds, thereby improving extraction efficiency without generating harmful waste
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
This process provides a sustainable and economically viable method for producing cellulose yarn, utilizing abundant waste citrus materials, with significantly reduced water and pesticide usage compared to cotton production, and produces high-purity alpha cellulose that can integrate with conventional cellulose production methods.
Implementation Method 1
The process of the present invention comprises treating a raw material derived from citrus fruits with hydrogen peroxide in basic conditions
Implementation Method 2
said hydrogen peroxide is added to the raw material in a solution with sodium hydroxide. Preferably, said solution comprises from 1 v/v % to 3 v/v % hydrogen peroxide, more preferably it comprises about 2 v/v % hydrogen peroxide. The pH of the solution is preferably adjusted with a base, more preferably with sodium hydroxide, to a pH of 10 to 13
Implementation Method 3
the process of the present invention further comprises treating with hydrogen peroxide, in the presence of acids, the product obtained after treatment with hydrogen peroxide in basic conditions
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a process for producing spinnable cellulose at least in part from citrus fruits, such as oranges and lemons. In a preferred embodiment, cellulose is extracted from citrus fruits, discarded by the citrus fruits plantations and/or from parts of citrus fruits, waste of the industrial processing of citrus fruits derivatives. Cellulose is extracted from the entire peel of citrus fruits, which includes both albedo and flavedo, or only from albedo. Preferably, cellulose is obtained by chemical extraction, preferably in the absence of chlorine, comprising the treatment of raw materials derived from citrus fruits with hydrogen peroxide under basic conditions. Cellulose obtained by the process of the present invention is optionally mixed with cellulose obtained by different processes, for example with cellulose extracted from wood.