Process for producing differentiated cellulose fibers comprising an enzymatic treatment in association with an acid step
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing cellulose fibers do not effectively enhance flexibility and carboxylic groups, which are crucial for improving the mechanical strength and paper manufacturing processes, often relying on enzymatic treatments that lack significant impact on fiber properties when not combined with acid steps.
Innovation Solution
A process that combines at least one enzymatic treatment with an acid step, including hydrolytic enzymes like cellulases and xylanases, to increase the number of carboxylic groups and enhance fiber flexibility, thereby improving tensile strength and drainage, allowing for better paper production characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If only enzymatic treatment is applied to cellulose fibers, then chemical reagent consumption is reduced and effluent quality is improved, but fiber flexibility and carboxylic groups number are not significantly enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines enzymatic treatment with acid treatment in a sequential process. The enzymatic step (using cellulases and/or xylanases) is followed by an acid treatment step, creating a synergistic effect that simultaneously improves effluent quality while significantly enhancing fiber flexibility and carboxylic groups number, thereby resolving the contradiction between environmental benefits and fiber property enhancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by adjusting pH levels between treatment stages. The enzymatic treatment occurs at near-neutral pH, followed by acid treatment at lower pH, which triggers different chemical reactions. This parameter change enables the system to achieve both effluent improvement and fiber property enhancement at different stages of the process.
2Quantity of substance
If acid treatment is applied to remove hexenuronic acid, then hexenuronic acid removal is improved, but fiber flexibility and carboxylic groups enhancement are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies enzymatic treatment as a preliminary action before acid treatment. The enzymes pre-process the fiber structure, creating conditions that enhance the subsequent acid treatment effectiveness. This preliminary enzymatic action, followed by acid treatment, achieves both hexenuronic acid removal and fiber flexibility enhancement simultaneously.
3Productivity
If conventional paper manufacturing processes are used, then production efficiency is maintained, but paper mechanical strength and structural strength are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes in the form of adding enzymatic and acid treatment stages with specific pH conditions and retention times. These parameter modifications enhance fiber properties (flexibility and carboxylic groups) without significantly impacting production efficiency, thereby improving paper mechanical strength while maintaining productivity.
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 combination of enzymatic and acid treatments significantly increases the mechanical strength and flexibility of cellulose fibers, leading to improved paper properties such as increased tensile strength and better drainage, which can reduce production costs and enhance paper quality.
Implementation Method 1
The enzymatic treatment is carried out with hydrolytic enzymes, such as cellulases and/or xylanases
Implementation Method 2
at least one acid step, optionally, between the enzymatic treatment steps
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention refers to a process for producing cellulose of market eucalyptus fibers having distinct features through the use of at least one enzymatic treatment with hydrolytic enzymes, such as for example, xylanases, cellulases or mixtures thereof, in association to at least one acidic treatment step. These treatments may be applied into different steps of the fibers process producing, wherein all of them happen before drying.