Lignin Separation Process Preventing Agglomeration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processes for separating lignins and sugars from paper pulp production liquor often result in lignin degradation and agglomeration, leading to poor quality pulp and inefficient separation.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the concentration of the liquor by evaporation, mixing with water in equal parts, stirring to achieve a stable suspension of lignins, and filtration using a filter press, which leverages the hydrophobic properties of lignins to prevent agglomeration and ensure effective separation without degrading the lignins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional separation processes are used to separate lignins and sugars, then separation is achieved, but lignin degradation and agglomeration occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical-chemical parameters of the extraction liquor by adjusting pH to alkaline conditions (pH 9-11) and controlling temperature (50-60°C), which modifies the properties of lignin and sugars to prevent agglomeration while enabling effective separation through filtration
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary substance (sodium hydroxide or other alkali) to adjust the pH of the extraction liquor, which acts as a mediator to prevent lignin-sugar agglomeration and enable stable suspension of lignin particles for effective separation
2Productivity
If filtration is performed without stable suspension, then separation can proceed, but clumping and blockages occur in filtration membranes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary action by creating a stable suspension of lignin particles in alkaline medium before filtration, which prevents clumping and blockages during the filtration process and ensures smooth operation of filtration membranes
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the pH parameter to alkaline conditions and controls temperature parameters to achieve stable suspension of lignin particles, which prevents harmful clumping and blockage phenomena during filtration
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 allows for the separation of individual lignin particles from sugars, preventing clumping and blockages, maintaining the physical and chemical characteristics of lignins, and achieving a stable suspension that is independent of temperature, resulting in high-quality lignin powder with minimal sugar content.
Implementation Method 1
the separation of the lignins and sugars is based on the hydrophobic property of the lignin
Implementation Method 2
stirring the mixture in order to produce a dispersion of the lignins in the mixture and to obtain a stable suspending of the lignins in the solution
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention provides a process for the separation of lignins and sugars from an extracted liquor, comprising, in the form of dry matter (DM), lignins and sugars, characterized in that it consists in: a) concentrating the extracted liquor, in order to obtain a liquor comprising dry matter in a proportion of between 60 and 70%; b) mixing the concentrated liquor with water in equal parts by weight; c) stirring the mixture in order to disperse the lignins and to obtain a stable suspending of the lignins; d) filtering the solution, in which process: the mixing is carried out by introducing the concentrated liquor into the water; the temperature of the solution, during the suspending, is between 50°C and 60°C.