Lignocellulosic Fibrous Composites via Ruminant Digestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lignocellulosic composites face challenges in durability, absorbency, waste management, biodegradability, and sustainability, particularly in converting waste into resources while reducing air and water pollution.
Innovation Solution
Lignocellulosic fibrous composites processed by ruminant digestion and anaerobic digestion, incorporating solvents like water, and containing dried lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose, with added odor suppressants and indicators, are developed to enhance absorbency, durability, and sustainability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional lignocellulosic composites are used, then basic structural function is provided, but durability and absorbency are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by subjecting lignocellulosic fibers to ruminant digestion and anaerobic digestion processes, which fundamentally alter the chemical and physical parameters of the fibers. This digestion process modifies fiber structure, surface properties, and compositional characteristics, resulting in enhanced durability and absorbency while extending usage life of the composite materials.
2Quantity of substance
If waste materials are used directly, then resource availability is increased, but environmental pollution remains high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts harmful waste materials into beneficial resources through the digestion process. Animal manure and other organic wastes, which would otherwise contribute to air and water pollution, are transformed into cleaned lignocellulosic fibers with improved properties. The digestion process eliminates harmful components while retaining useful fibrous materials, thus converting a harmful input into a beneficial output that reduces pollution.
3Strength
If traditional composite materials are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but biodegradability and compostability are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The digestion process applied to the lignocellulosic fibers changes their chemical composition and physical structure in ways that simultaneously maintain structural integrity and enhance biodegradability. The controlled degradation during digestion creates fiber structures that retain strength for application purposes while becoming more susceptible to biological decomposition, thus improving compostability without sacrificing necessary mechanical properties.
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 composites exhibit improved absorbency, longer usage life, reduced odor, and enhanced compostability, contributing to sustainable biological systems by converting waste into a resource, thereby reducing environmental pollution and management costs.
Implementation Method 1
dried lignocellulosic fiber, wherein the dried lignocellulosic fiber has been processed by ruminant digestion and anaerobic digestion
Data Source
AI summary
A lignocellulosic fibrous composite having one or more solvents and a dried lignocellulosic fiber, wherein the dried lignocellulosic fiber has been processed by ruminant digestion and anaerobic digestion. A method for preparing a lignocellulosic fibrous composite is also disclosed including the steps of providing excrement from an animal which has undergone ruminant digestion, introducing the cow excrement into an anaerobic digester, modifying the cow excrement to a first wet product, and drying the first wet product to, in turn, generate a lignocellulosic fibrous composite.