Enzymatic Treatment of Fibrous Cellulosic Material for Low-Water Recycling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current recycling methods for fibrous cellulosic materials from industrial waste face challenges such as high water consumption, contamination of sewage water, production of uncontrolled homogeneous products, limited ability to create layered products, and energy-intensive processes, which hinder the efficient reuse of non-reusable cellulosic fibers.
Innovation Solution
An enzymatic treatment method that reduces water usage by maintaining low water content in the fibrous cellulosic material, allowing for dynamic stirring and enzyme distribution, and uses dense gases to enhance enzyme-substrate contact, enabling the production of rigid cellulosic products with improved mechanical properties without the need for filtering or additional additives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If conventional recycling methods are used for fibrous cellulosic material, then the material can be recycled, but large amounts of water are consumed and sewage water is produced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the water content parameter from high (conventional recycling) to low (20-80% water content range). This parameter change enables enzymatic treatment while reducing water consumption and avoiding sewage water production, yet still allows effective recycling of cellulosic materials
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical recycling systems with an enzymatic treatment system. Enzymes are used to treat the cellulosic material instead of mechanical processing, enabling treatment at low water content and eliminating the need for large water volumes required by traditional mechanical recycling methods
2Loss of energy
If conventional recycling methods are used, then cellulosic material can be processed, but energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces energy-intensive mechanical processing with enzymatic treatment. Enzymes catalyze the breakdown and treatment of cellulosic material, significantly reducing the energy required compared to conventional mechanical recycling methods while maintaining processing effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters to low water content (20-80%) and controlled temperature conditions, which enables enzymatic treatment to proceed efficiently with lower energy consumption than conventional high-water, high-energy mechanical processing
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional methods are used, then cellulosic material can be treated, but the products are uncontrolled homogeneous products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cellulosic material into different layers with differentiated properties. By processing material at low water content and using controlled enzymatic treatment, the process can create stratified products with distinct layers, each with specific characteristics, rather than uniform homogeneous products
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables creation of products with local quality variations through stratified layering. Different layers can have different properties (density, composition, structure) by controlling the enzymatic treatment and material composition at each layer, allowing localized optimization of product characteristics
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional methods are used, then cellulosic material can be processed, but filtering and additional additives are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the water content parameter to low levels (20-80%), which eliminates the need for filtering operations. At this water content range, the material can be processed directly without filtration, and additional additives are not required, simplifying the manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the filtering step from the conventional process. By operating at low water content, the process removes the need for filtering equipment and operations, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing complexity
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 method reduces energy consumption, minimizes water waste, and produces cellulosic products with mechanical properties comparable to those from virgin fibers, while allowing for the creation of stratified products with differentiated layers and improved resistance to moisture and deformation.
Implementation Method 1
an enzymatic treatment method for fibrous cellulosic material... applying an enzymatic treatment to a raw fibrous cellulosic material... enzymes are added to the raw fibrous cellulosic material to perform the enzymatic treatment
Implementation Method 2
uses dense gases to enhance enzyme-substrate contact
Data Source
AI summary
Enzymatic treatment method and system for fibrous cellulosic material and rigid cellulosic product, wherein the method comprises introduction of raw fibrous cellulosic material (1) in a stirrer (20); enzymatic treatment of the raw fibrous cellulosic material (1) for a specific period of time to obtain a treated cellulosic material, said enzymatic treatment including the addition of enzymes (11, 12, 13, 14) to the raw fibrous cellulosic material and the uniform distribution of said enzymes in the raw fibrous cellulosic material by stirring; drying the treated cellulosic material; wherein at least a proportion of the raw fibrous cellulosic material is derived from industrial waste.