Electrostatic Dewatering of Microfibrillated Cellulose Slurries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for dewatering microfibrillated cellulose slurries are energy-intensive and often result in hornification, limiting their use in applications requiring high solids content, as they are inefficient due to the strong fiber bonds and small fiber size, making mechanical dewatering ineffective.
Innovation Solution
Applying an electric field to induce liquid flow and separate water from microfibrillated cellulose, potentially combined with ultrasound, evaporation, freeze drying, or de-hornification additives, to achieve efficient dewatering without hornification, allowing for higher dry content and maintaining fiber properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If drying techniques (freeze drying, spray drying, supercritical) are used to remove water from microfibrillated cellulose slurry, then water content is reduced, but energy consumption increases and hornification occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal drying mechanisms with electrostatic field-based water removal. Electret-charged articles create electric fields that attract and remove water droplets from the slurry surface without thermal input, eliminating the need for energy-intensive heating while achieving effective dewatering
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electret-charged articles as intermediary elements between the slurry and the environment. These articles serve as mediators that capture water droplets through electrostatic attraction and transport them away from the slurry, enabling water removal without direct thermal or mechanical intervention
2Quantity of substance
If drying techniques are used to remove water from microfibrillated cellulose slurry, then water content is reduced, but hornification occurs causing irreversible fiber bonding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal drying with electrostatic field-based water removal. By using electret-charged articles to attract and remove water droplets through electrostatic forces, the process eliminates thermal exposure that causes hornification while achieving effective dewatering through non-thermal mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The electret-charged articles possess permanent electrostatic charges that enable them to automatically attract and capture water droplets without requiring external energy input or chemical additives. The system uses the inherent properties of the electret materials to perform water removal while preserving fiber integrity
3Quantity of substance
If mechanical treatments are used to remove water from microfibrillated cellulose slurry, then water removal is attempted, but efficiency is low due to small fiber size and strong fiber bonds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical dewatering methods with electrostatic field-based water removal. Electret-charged articles create electric fields that directly attract water droplets without requiring mechanical disruption of the slurry structure, overcoming the limitations of small fiber size and strong fiber bonds that hinder mechanical dewatering
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts water from the slurry using electrostatic attraction rather than mechanical forces. Electret-charged articles selectively capture water droplets from the slurry surface and transport them away, separating water from the microfibrillated cellulose without requiring mechanical breakdown of the fiber network
4Object-affected harmful factors
If chemical additives are used to prevent hornification, then fiber bonding is limited, but additional chemicals and processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical hornification prevention with physical electrostatic field-based water removal. By using electret-charged articles to remove water before hornification can occur, the process eliminates the need for chemical additives while maintaining fiber dispersibility and preventing irreversible bonding
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electret-charged articles as intermediary elements that physically prevent hornification by removing water droplets before they can facilitate fiber bonding. These articles serve as mediators that control the water-fiber interaction through electrostatic forces without requiring chemical modification of the system
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 significantly improves dewatering efficiency, prevents hornification, and maintains the swelling and bonding capabilities of microfibrillated cellulose, enabling its use in various applications with improved properties and reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting the slurry to an electric field inducing the liquid of the slurry to flow
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for dewatering a slurry comprising microfibrillated cellulose wherein the process comprises the following steps of, providing a slurry comprising microfibrillated cellulose and liquid, subjecting the slurry to an electric field inducing the liquid of the slurry to flow and separating the liquid from the microfibrillated cellulose. The invention also relates to microfibrillated cellulose dewatered according to the process.