Microfibrillated Cellulose High Solids Organic Solvent

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for producing microfibrillated cellulose face challenges in increasing dry solids content due to gel structure issues, leading to irreversible changes and loss of properties when dried, especially with water-soluble cellulose derivatives.

Innovation Solution

A method involving mechanical treatment of cellulose derivatives in a liquid phase with an organic solvent to produce microfibrillated cellulose with a dry solids content greater than 30 weight-%, allowing for easy dewatering and redispersion while maintaining original properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If MFC suspension is dried to increase solids content, then transport and storage costs decrease, but severe hornification occurs due to hydrogen bonding leading to irreversible changes in cellulose fibrils

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolids contentVSAvoidredispersibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical parameter of the liquid phase by replacing water with an organic solvent. This parameter change prevents hydrogen bonding between cellulose fibrils during drying, thereby avoiding hornification and maintaining redispersibility while enabling high solids content (≥30 wt%). The organic solvent creates a different solvation environment that preserves fibril structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The organic solvent acts as an intermediary substance between cellulose fibrils during the drying process. It prevents direct interaction between fibrils that would otherwise lead to hydrogen bonding and hornification. The solvent mediates the drying process to achieve high solids content without compromising the ability to redisperse.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If dewatering is performed on MFC suspension to increase solids content, then transport efficiency improves, but gel structure causes problematic dewatering and loss of original properties

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport efficiencyVSAvoiddewatering ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical-chemical parameter of the liquid phase from water-based to organic solvent-based. This parameter change fundamentally alters the dewatering behavior, eliminating gel structure formation and enabling easy separation of the liquid phase. The organic solvent creates a system where dewatering proceeds without the problematic gelation that occurs in aqueous systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If water-soluble cellulose derivatives are used as starting material, then processing ease improves, but increasing solids content becomes especially problematic due to water solubility and gel formation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing easeVSAvoidsolids content

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of trying to remove water from water-soluble cellulose derivatives (the conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by replacing water with an organic solvent. This inversion transforms the problem: rather than dealing with water removal and gel formation, the system uses an organic solvent that enables both easy processing and high solids content achievement through simple liquid phase separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 method effectively increases the solids content of microfibrillated cellulose without losing its properties, facilitating easier transport and storage, and achieving high solids content even with water-soluble cellulose derivatives.

Implementation Method 1

severe hornification occurs due to hydrogen bonding, which leads to unwanted and irreversible changes in the cellulose fibrils

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrogen bonding:

Implementation Method 2

mechanically treating the suspension comprising cellulose derivative and obtaining microfibrillated cellulose

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS10329359B2Method for producing microfibrillated cellulose and microfibrillated cellulose

Publication Date: 2019.06.25 KEMIRA OY

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for producing microfibrillated cellulose, where a suspension comprising cellulose derivative in a liquid phase which comprises an organic solvent is provided. The suspension of cellulose derivative is mechanically treated and microfibrillated cellulose is obtained. At least a part of the liquid phase from the microfibrillated cellulose is separated and microfibrillated cellulose with a dry solids content of >30 weight-% is obtained.