Papermaking Additives Using Fermented Supernatant for Deinking

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Solution Overview

Problem

The pulp and paper industry faces challenges in improving productivity and efficiency while reducing energy consumption and environmental impact, due to the high volume of paper production and extensive use of natural resources, with existing methods relying on toxic chemicals and generating significant waste.

Innovation Solution

The use of treated fermented microbial supernatant and nonionic surfactants as papermaking additives, which are biodegradable and non-toxic, to enhance fiber separation, remove impurities, and deink pulp, thereby improving the paper production process without sacrificing fiber integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional toxic chemicals are used for fiber separation and deinking, then productivity and efficiency are improved, but environmental harm and toxicity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepaper production efficiencyVSAvoidtoxicity to humans and environment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of oxidative degradation into a beneficial deinking mechanism. Oxidizing agents that would normally damage fiber strength are applied in controlled conditions where they selectively remove ink while minimizing fiber degradation, thus converting a harmful chemical effect into a useful deinking function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes multiple process parameters including pH control (maintaining alkaline conditions), oxidation-reduction potential management, and sequential addition timing of chemicals. These parameter changes enable the use of stronger oxidizing agents for deinking while controlling their harmful effects on fiber strength, thereby improving deinking efficiency without sacrificing fiber integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If extensive chemical treatment is applied to remove impurities and deink, then paper quality is improved, but energy consumption and waste generation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepaper qualityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary mechanical pretreatment (refining, screening, and classification) to prepare the pulp for chemical deinking. This preliminary action removes easily detachable ink and contaminants mechanically, reducing the amount of chemical treatment needed subsequently and thereby lowering overall energy and chemical consumption while maintaining deinking effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic or sequential chemical treatment stages rather than continuous intensive treatment. The process alternates between oxidation phases (for ink removal) and reduction/stabilization phases (to prevent fiber degradation), allowing controlled impurity removal with reduced overall chemical and energy input compared to sustained intensive treatment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Object-generated harmful factors

If traditional deinking methods are used, then ink removal is effective, but fiber strength is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink contaminationVSAvoidfiber strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces reducing agents as intermediary substances that protect fiber strength during the oxidative deinking process. These reducing agents act as mediators by scavenging excess oxidizing agents and preventing them from attacking fiber cellulose, thereby enabling effective ink removal while preserving fiber integrity through chemical mediation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful oxidative degradation into a beneficial selective deinking mechanism. By controlling oxidation-reduction conditions, the process exploits oxidative reactions to break down ink molecules while using reducing agents to protect fiber structures, thus converting a harmful chemical effect into a selective and beneficial deinking function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 papermaking additive compositions increase fiber separation, surface area, and remove impurities and ink effectively, leading to higher quality paper products with reduced environmental impact and energy usage, while being safe for humans and the environment.

Implementation Method 1

nonionic surfactants

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension reduction: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

enhance fiber separation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWetting: Wetting

Implementation Method 3

cellulose digesting enzyme

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 4

treated fermented microbial supernatant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentUS12258708B2Papermaking additive compositions and methods and uses thereof

Publication Date: 2025.03.25 NEOZYME INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

The present specification discloses papermaking additive compositions, articles of manufacture, containers or kits comprising such compositions, and methods and uses to increase separation of cellulose fibers from a pulp, to remove one or more impurities and/or one or more contaminates from a pulp and/or a paper material and to remove an ink from a pulp and/or a paper material.