Pulp Mixture Tensile Strength via Hemicellulose Adsorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for using hemicellulose from agricultural crops in industrial-scale pulp production are complex and inefficient, often requiring multiple process steps and resulting in waste, whereas a simpler method is needed to enhance pulp tensile index while utilizing agricultural residues effectively.
Innovation Solution
A process involving treating wood material with a liquor while introducing agricultural crop residues to derive hemicellulose fractions, which are then combined with the wood pulp, either before, during, or after the treatment, to create a pulp mixture with improved tensile properties, using the same processing equipment and liquor throughout, thus reducing unnecessary steps and waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If hemicellulose is pre-isolated from agricultural crop residue before pulping, then the tensile strength of the pulp is improved, but the number of process steps increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pulping of wood material with the treatment of agricultural crop residue into a single integrated process step. The agricultural residue is introduced to the pulping liquor along with the wood material, and both are treated simultaneously to release fibres and hemicellulose fractions. This merging eliminates the need for separate pre-isolation steps while still achieving the desired tensile strength improvement through hemicellulose adsorption onto the pulp fibres.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple process steps are used to treat agricultural crop residue separately, then hemicellulose can be effectively derived, but the productivity decreases and loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The agricultural crop residue is pre-treated in a separate step to derive the hemicellulose fraction and residue liquor before being introduced to the wood pulping process. This preliminary action ensures that the hemicellulose is readily available for adsorption onto the pulp fibres during the main pulping operation, maintaining high productivity while still achieving effective hemicellulose derivation.
3Quantity of substance
If agricultural crop residue is treated separately before pulping, then hemicellulose can be derived, but the loss of time and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the treatment of agricultural crop residue with the wood pulping process into a single operational step. The residue is introduced to the pulping liquor simultaneously with the wood material, and both undergo the same treatment conditions. This eliminates sequential processing time while maintaining effective hemicellulose derivation through the combined action of lignin removal and hemicellulose solubilization.
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 results in a pulp mixture with enhanced tensile index, reduced strength loss during drying, and efficient utilization of agricultural residues, achieving improved tensile properties compared to reference samples with only wood fibers, suitable for industrial-scale production.
Implementation Method 1
at least part of the non-wood hemicellulose is sorbed on the wood fibres
Implementation Method 2
treating the wood material in the first liquor in order to release wood fibres
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for forming a pulp mixture, the process comprising the steps of: a) providing a wood material and a first liquor, b) treating the wood material in the first liquor in order to release wood fibres, c1 ) introducing an agricultural crop/ residue before or during the treatment of the wood material, and during the treatment deriving a first fraction comprising hemicellulose from the agricultural crop/ residue, and/or c2) introducing a suspension of a first fraction comprising hemicellulose and a residue liquor derived from agricultural crop/ residue by a liquor treatment, the introduction being done before, during or after the treatment of the wood material. The invention further relates to a pulp mixture comprising 1-30% originating from agricultural crop/ residue and 70-99% originating from wood material. The pulp mixture comprises non-wood hemicellulose and at least part of the non-wood hemicellulose is sorbed on the wood fibres.