Microfibrillated Cellulose from High-Lignin Kraft Pulp
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current microfibrillated cellulose production processes require complex chemical and mechanical treatments to reduce lignin content to less than 5% in weight, leading to high energy consumption and costs. Additionally, these processes often result in paper products with limited mechanical strength properties.
Innovation Solution
A process for producing microfibrillated cellulose from high-yield Kraft pulp with a total lignin content of 5% to 30% by weight, involving mechanical defibration without the need for extensive lignin reduction treatments, thereby reducing energy consumption and production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional delignification and bleaching processes are used to reduce lignin content to less than 5% by weight, then the microfibrillated cellulose can be produced, but the energy consumption and production costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the target lignin content parameter from the conventional <5% to a higher range of 5-30%, demonstrating that acceptable microfibrillated cellulose can be produced without extensive delignification and bleaching processes, thereby reducing energy consumption and production costs
2Manufacturing precision
If extensive chemical and mechanical treatments are applied to reduce lignin content, then delignified pulp is obtained, but the mechanical strength properties of the resulting paper products are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the target lignin content parameter from the conventional <5% to a higher range of 5-30%, demonstrating that acceptable microfibrillated cellulose can be produced without extensive delignification and bleaching processes, thereby reducing energy consumption and production costs
3Manufacturing precision
If delignification and bleaching processes are used, then conventional microfibrillated cellulose is obtained, but the process complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the target lignin content parameter from the conventional <5% to a higher range of 5-30%, demonstrating that acceptable microfibrillated cellulose can be produced without extensive delignification and bleaching processes, thereby reducing energy consumption and production costs
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 process achieves lower energy consumption and production costs while producing microfibrillated cellulose with enhanced papermaking ability, resulting in paper products with increased mechanical strength properties compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
mechanically defibrating the pulp selected in step a) until obtaining a microfibrillated cellulose suspension
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(c)
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for the production of microfibrillated cellulose from a high-yield pulp, comprising the steps of selecting a Kraft pulp with a total lignin content of 5% to 30° by weight and its defibration until obtaining a suspension of microfibrillated cellulose with a minimum fine content of 15° by weight. Other aspects of the present invention correspond to the microfibrillated cellulose obtainable by the process and the Kraft pulp and paper products comprising the microfibrillated cellulose. The process described allows the production of microfibrillated cellulose with lower energy consumption and the microfibrillated cellulose has increased papermaking ability, resulting in paper products with increased mechanical strength properties.