Abstract: A method for the production of alcohol and other bioproducts hemicelluloses extracted from biomass prior to thermal conversion of the biomass to energy. The process can be integrated with the host plant process to minimize the energy loss from extracting hemicelluloses. Also disclosed is a Stepwise enzymatic break down of cellulose fibers from a pulping operation which is performed with the redeployment of equipment and vessels contained within typical existing pulp and paper manufacturing mills. The preferred feedstock is highly delignified pulp from acid or alkaline pulping process or from bleaching stage.

Abstract: Processes disclosed are capable of converting biomass into high-crystallinity nanocellulose with low mechanical energy input. In some variations, the process includes fractionating biomass with sulfur dioxide or a sulfite compound and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; and mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form nanofibrils and/or nanocrystals. The total mechanical energy may be less than 500 kilowatt-hours per ton. The crystallinity of the nanocellulose material may be 80% or higher, translating into good reinforcing properties for composites. The nanocellulose material may include nanofibrillated cellulose, nanocrystalline cellulose, or both. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose material is hydrophobic via deposition of some lignin onto the cellulose surface. Optionally, sugars derived from amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose may be separately fermented, such as to monomers for various polymers.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of manufacturing nano pulp, wherein cellulose containing raw material is accelerated in a continuous gas and/or liquid flow, whereby the material is disintegrated and nano pulp is produced. The gas and/or liquid flow may be created by reduction of an elevated pressure in a reactor holding the cellulose containing raw material. The invention also relates to the nano pulp produced.

Abstract: Methods and systems for fractionating lignocellulosic biomass including hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, including exploding the biomass cells to devolatilize the biomass, hydrolyzing the hemicellulose to produce a liquid component including hemicellulosic sugars and a solid component including less than 10% hemicellulose, separating the liquid and solid components, vaporizing the cellulose in the solid component, and condensing the cellulosic sugar vapors. The methods and systems may vaporize the cellulose in a continuous steam reactor at a temperature of about 400-550° C. and a pressure of about 1-3 bara. Electromagnetic and/or electroacoustic treatment such as ultrasound and/or microwave treatment may be applied to the biomass immediately before or during cellulose hydrolysis.

Abstract: A biomass hydrothermal decomposition apparatus includes, a biomass feeder (31) that feeds biomass material (11) under normal pressure to under increased pressure, a hydrothermal decomposition device (42A) that allows the fed biomass material (11) to be gradually moved inside a device main body (42A) from either end thereof in a consolidated condition, and also allows hot compressed water (15) to be fed from an other end of a feed section for the biomass material into the main body (42A), so as to cause the biomass material (11) and the hot compressed water (15) to countercurrently contact with each other and undergo hydrothermal decomposition, and that elutes a lignin component and a hemicellulose component into the hot compressed water, so as to separate the lignin component and the hemicellulose component from the biomass material (11); and a biomass discharger (51) that discharges, from the side where the hot compressed water is fed into the device main body, a biomass solid residue (17) under increased pr

Abstract: A process for producing from a lignocellulosic raw material of (i) an intermediate product that is intended for the production of ethanol, containing polysaccharides, cellulose and hemicelluloses, and (ii) a product containing lignin in an aqueous solution without sulfur residue, this lignin could be precipitated. The process includes a step of pulping the raw material in an extruder at a temperature of between 60° C. and 180° C. and in the presence of a quantity of water that represents between 200% and 450% of the mass of said raw material and in the presence of a strong base at a concentration of between 0.5% and 4% relative to the volume of water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing furnish for a paper product, wherein the manufactured furnish contains fibril cellulose material. The method includes introducing first raw material to a system, which first raw material includes cellulose pulp, introducing second raw material to the system, which second raw material includes cellulose fibers that are oxidized by nitroxyl-mediated oxidation of hydroxyl groups of the cellulose, conveying the first raw material and the second raw material to a refiner, and refining and mixing the first raw material and the second raw material in the refiner in order to produce furnish including fibril cellulose material. In addition, this invention relates to a system for manufacturing furnish and to a paper product.

Abstract: Methods and systems for fractionating lignocellulosic biomass including hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, including exploding the biomass cells to devolatilize the biomass, hydrolyzing the hemicellulose to produce a liquid component including hemicellulosic sugars and a solid component including less than 10% hemicellulose, separating the liquid and solid components, vaporizing the cellulose in the solid component, and condensing the cellulosic sugar vapors. The methods and systems may vaporize the cellulose in a continuous steam reactor at a temperature of about 400-550° C. and a pressure of about 1-3 bara. Electromagnetic and/or electroaccoustic treatment such as ultrasound and/or microwave treatment may be applied to the biomass immediately before or during cellulose hydrolysis.

Abstract: A process for treatment of fibers is disclosed. The treatment comprises simultaneously and continuously macerating the fibers and exposing the fibers to superheated steam, ammonia gas and ethylenediamine gas. The treatment is carried out in a chamber where the fibers are subjected to the mechanical rubbing and crushing action of a plurality of rotating pins against channels disposed on the chamber interior wall. The treatment results in improved fiber water holding capacity and improved conversion efficiency in the production of ethanol from the treated fibers.

Abstract: An omnibus process of pulping and bleaching lignocellulosic materials in which a charge of a lignocellulosic material is biopulped and/or water extracted prior to pulping and bleaching. The lignocellulosic material may be mechanically pulped and bleached in the presence of an enzyme that breaks lignin-carbohydrate complexes. The aqueous extract in embodiments including a water extract step is separated into acetic acid and hemicellulose sugar aqueous solutions.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a paper making part for a loudspeaker has freedom of adjusting a characteristic and a sound quality, and has a higher productivity. Accordingly, a fibrillating step of a paper making material is achieved by an explosive crushing step. Alternatively, the step is achieved by a mixing step of a paper making material and a liquid, a material micro-fabricating step of applying a pressure to a mixed solution obtained by the mixing step so as to pass through an orifice and thereafter run into a device wall, and a paper making step including the micro-fabricated material.

Abstract: A method of producing a modified pulp comprising treating wood chips in an extraction process to remove hemicellose to form treated wood chips; and subjecting said treated wood chips to chemical or semichemical pulping to form a modified Kraft pulp wherein the amount of hemicellulose contained in the modified Kraft pulp is from about 5 to about 10% by dry weight of the modified pulp.

Abstract: Self-cleaning apparatus and methods are disclosed for handling viscous fluids, such as thick solid-liquid slurries of lignocellulosic biomass and its components, under high pressure, using an array of retractable valves.

Abstract: To provide a fine fibrous cellulosic material capable of producing a saccharide in a high yield by hydrolysis; to provide a process for producing the fine fibrous cellulosic material from a cellulosic material; and to provide a process for producing the saccharide using the fine fibrous cellulosic material. The present invention is the fine fibrous cellulosic material containing cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, which the fine fibrous cellulosic material has a width of 1 ?m or less and a length of 5,000 ?m or less and is used for glycation reaction by hydrolysis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cellulose nonwoven fabric containing cellulose fibers having a maximum fiber diameter of not more than 1500 nm and a crystallinity determined by solid state NMR techniques of not less than 60%. The porosity of the cellulose nonwoven fabric is not less than 40% and not more than 99%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for pretreating a cellulosic material, methods for degrading or converting a cellulosic material, methods for producing a fermentation product, and methods of fermenting a cellulosic material under anaerobic conditions.

Abstract: 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 fibers, 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 fibers.

Abstract: A composition for anti-microbial effect in a water system such as a pulp and paper processing line with an aqueous slurry. The composition comprises a free chlorine-generating biocide comprising a chlorine source, urea, and an alkali in a concentration sufficient to provide a pH greater than 10, and typically at least pH 11.

Abstract: A refiner steam separation system according to the present invention includes a blowline for transporting a mixture of fiber material from a refiner to an inlet of a steam separator. Waste steam is discharged from the separator through a waste steam outlet. Cleaned fiber material is discharged from the separator through an exit, which prevents a substantial portion of the waste steam from passing through the exit. A relay pipe communicates with the exit and a dryer duct, and transports cleaned fiber material therebetween. A resin input communicates with the relay pipe, and supplies resin therein. The resin is mixed with the cleaned fiber material prior to the cleaned fiber material being dried in the dryer duct. The present invention is also directed to a method of reducing VOC emissions generated during refining cellulosic fibrous material.

Abstract: A method for producing pulp by extracting hemicellulosic materials from lignocellulosic materials using water in an extraction stage, wherein the extraction stage is either a single extraction or a double extraction process; treating the lignocellulosic materials with an oxidizing agent in a treatment stage, wherein the treatment stage is selected from the group consisting of a second extraction process, an agent impregnation process, and a first pretreatment process; treating the lignocellulosic materials with a reducing agent in the treatment stage, wherein the treatment stage is selected from the group consisting of the second extraction process, the agent impregnation process, and a second pretreatment process; and then subjecting the lignocellulosic materials to a modified Kraft pulping process to produce pulp.

Abstract: A process for treatment of fibers is disclosed. The treatment comprises simultaneously and continuously macerating the fibers and exposing the fibers to superheated steam, ammonia gas and ethylenediamine gas. The treatment is carried out in a chamber where the fibers are subjected to the mechanical rubbing and crushing action of a plurality of rotating pins against channels disposed on the chamber interior wall. The treatment results in improved fiber water holding capacity and improved conversion efficiency in the production of ethanol from the treated fibers.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a paper making part for a loudspeaker has freedom of adjusting a characteristic and a sound quality, and has a higher productivity. Accordingly, a fibrillating step of a paper making material is achieved by an explosive crushing step. Alternatively, the step is achieved by a mixing step of a paper making material and a liquid, a material micro-fabricating step of applying a pressure to a mixed solution obtained by the mixing step so as to pass through an orifice and thereafter run into a device wall, and a paper making step including the micro-fabricated material.

Abstract: A method for the production of fermentable sugars and high viscosity cellulose from lignocellulosic material in a batch or continuous process is provided. Lignocellulosic material is fractionated in a fashion that cellulose is removed as pulp, cooking chemicals can be reused, lignin is separated for the production of process energy, and hemicelluloses are converted into fermentable sugars, while fermentation inhibitors are removed. High yield production of alcohols or organic acids can be obtained from this method using the final reaction step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer for use as a bleach activator, comprising the monomer units where n is an integer from 1 to 4 and R is a branched or unbranched, saturated hydrocarbyl radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, to processes for the preparation and to the use thereof as laundry detergents, cleaning compositions and disinfectant compositions, and also in textile bleaching and paper bleaching.

Abstract: In this patent, fibers have been successfully extracted from various natural occurring materials using a series of chemical, biological and mechanical methods. Moreover, these fibers can be conjugated onto certain polymer chains via coupling agent and chemical modification. Consequently, the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the polymers can be dramatically elevated with the incorporation of these fibers. The intended polymers include conventional plastics (epoxy resins, polyesters and polyolefins etc.), rubbers (natural rubbers and thermoplastic rubbers etc.) and biodegradable polymers. Apart from the enhancement of mechanical properties and thermal stability, the incorporation of natural fibers can reduce the production cost of the materials and meet the demand of environmental protection.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for decreasing lignin content and for increasing the level of fermentable carbohydrates in plants by down-regulation of the NST transcription factor. Nucleic acid constructs for down-regulation of NST are described. Transgenic plants are provided that comprise reduced lignin content. Plants described herein may be used, for example, as improved biofuel feedstock and as highly digestible forage crops. Methods for processing plant tissue and for producing ethanol by utilizing such plants are also provided.

Abstract: A device and a method for dilution of cellulose pulp of a consistency of between 20% and 45%. The cellulose pulp is arranged to fall down in a pulp chute during an addition of dilution liquid. The dilution is performed to a consistency in the range of 6-18%, above a level of established diluted pulp in a bottom of a pulp chute. A central distribution device with nozzles for addition of dilution liquid to the falling pulp above the level of established diluted pulp in the bottom of the pulp chute is arranged in the center of the pulp chute. The nozzles of the distribution device are fed with dilution liquid via a pipe that is arranged at least partly through the pulp chute.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes of delignifying lignocellulose-containing material, wherein the lignocellulose-containing material is treated with a delignification catalyst and a lignin solubilizing agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating pectin-containing ligno-cellulosic raw materials in a high-yield pulping process utilizing one or more treatment stages at alkaline conditions. The invention provides a method for controlling the alkaline treatment step, wherein the alkali is applied at a low temperature treatment stage before one or more consecutive treatment stages at the same or higher temperature. The present invention also provides pulp, paper, board or tissue obtained with said method.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition of matter and a method, which enhance the process of mechanically pulping paper precursors. The composition of matter includes a small quantity of a reducing agent and a source of alkali. When added to the pulped material, e.g., wood chips, before or during mechanical pulping, the composition reduces the energy cost of the operation. In addition, not only does the composition also does not reduce the brightness of pulp, the composition can also enhance the effectiveness of subsequent bleaching processes.

Abstract: A method for mitigating the costs of establishing a biomass-based pellet manufacturing plant includes identifying an existing pulp processing plant, obtaining permission to access and convert the pulp processing plant, and converting the pulp processing plant for manufacture of biomass-based pellets. Converting the pulp processing plant may include installing a pellet mill in the pulp processing plant, re-routing output from a pulp digester, such that the output enters the pellet mill, and bypassing unnecessary equipment. Biomass-based pellets may be manufactured in the converted pulp processing plant by liberating lignin from biomass-based feedstock via pulp digester and pelletizing the biomass-based feedstock and the liberated lignin to form the biomass-based pellets.

Abstract: A composition for anti-microbial effect in a water system such as a pulp and paper processing line with an aqueous slurry. The composition comprises a free chlorine-generating biocide comprising a chlorine source, urea, and an alkali in a concentration sufficient to provide a pH greater than 10, and typically at least pH 11.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for enhancing a refiner's production rate and/or reducing the specific energy consumption for a freeness target through the use of lubricant(s) or carrier(s)/frictionizer(s), respectively.

Abstract: A process for the production of a paper pulp, comprising preparing the pulp from a raw material derived from a plant of the Araceae family.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a paper making part for a loudspeaker has freedom of adjusting a characteristic and a sound quality, and has a higher productivity. Accordingly, a fibrillating step of a paper making material is achieved by an explosive crushing step. Alternatively, the step is achieved by a mixing step of a paper making material and a liquid, a material micro-fabricating step of applying a pressure to a mixed solution obtained by the mixing step so as to pass through an orifice and thereafter run into a device wall, and a paper making step including the micro-fabricated material.

Abstract: This invention relates to pulp reactivity enhancement. In particular, the invention relates to a method of producing an alkali cellulose which includes steps of providing a pulp and subjecting the pulp to an alkaline treatment to produce the alkali cellulose in the presence of a spacer capable of entering the holes in the interfibrillar spaces of the cellulose fibres. The spacer enters the holes in the interfibrillar spaces of the cellulose fibres, particularly those created by the removal of hemi-cellulose, reducing the tendency for collapse to occur, for example during the subsequent pressing step. Examples of suitable spacers are polyethylene glycols, polyvinyl alcohols and polyacrylates.

Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To provide a fiber accumulating apparatus capable of suppressing the deviation of the weight of an absorbent body by stabilizing the profile of the absorbent body; a manufacturing method for the absorbent body using the fiber accumulating apparatus; and an absorbent article having the absorbent body manufactured by the method. [MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS] This fiber accumulating apparatus comprises a fiber accumulating drum (1) having a perforated body (10) that accumulates an absorbent body raw material (S) on its surface by suction from the internal side. The perforated body (10) has a large number of sucking pores (10a), (10a), . . . formed therein and comprises a perforated plate (10A) making up the surface and a flow-adjuster (10B) that is disposed on the internal side of the perforated plate (10A) and flow-adjusts an air flow. The perforated plate (10A) and flow-adjuster (10B) are integrally constructed.

Abstract: Provided is a nanofiber sheet that sufficiently refined by fibrillation and has high crystallinity of cellulose fiber and can realize a fiber-reinforced composite material exhibiting high transparency, a high elastic modulus, a low coefficient of linear thermal expansion, and high heat resistance and being high in flatness and smoothness. This nanofiber sheet includes crystalline cellulose as the main component and a lignin in an amount of from 10 ppm to 10 wt %. When a fiber/resin composite material obtained by impregnating the nanofiber sheet with tricyclodecane dimethacrylate, subjecting the impregnated product to UV-curing at 20 J/cm2, and heating the cured product in vacuum at 160° C. for two hours includes 60 wt % of the cured tricyclodecane dimethacrylate and 40 wt % of nanofiber, the following physical characteristics (i) to (iii) are satisfied: (i) the parallel light transmittance of light of a wavelength of 600 nm at a sheet thickness of 100 ?m is 70% or more; (ii) the Young's modulus is 5.

Abstract: A method for the production of a tissue paper web, which is produced from a pulp suspension comprised of fibers, the pulp suspension having a refining degree of less than 21°SR and being of such condition that it is possible to produce from said pulp suspension a laboratory sheet according to TAPPI 205 SP 95 (Rapid Köthen) whose breaking length measured according to TAPPI 220 and TAPPI 494 at least a specific refining degree (RDspecific) is greater than or equal to the value resulting from 0.55 (km/SR)*(RDspecific?10°SR), whereby the specific refining degree is selected from a refining range from 15°SR to less than 21°SR, in particular 15°SR to 19°SR.

Abstract: High absorbency lyocell fibers are obtainable by hydrothermal treatment. The fibers can be treated with water at temperatures of at least 60° C. to provide lyocell fibers that can be formed into a random fibrous plug having a mass of 2 g, a density of 0.4 g/cm3, and a diameter of 25 mm which has a GAT Absorbency (at 15 min.) of at least about 3.7 g/g.

Abstract: A process for bleaching mechanical wood pulp is provided comprising subjecting the wood pulp to at least one bleaching stage with one or more bleaching agents in the presence of one or more optical brightening agent, wherein the bleaching agents are selected from the group consisting of oxidative bleaching agents other than chlorine based bleaching agents such as chlorine dioxide, elemental chlorine or a combination thereof, reductive bleaching agents or any combination of two or more thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing minerals from a cellulosic biomass. For example, the biomass may be prewashed with an acid solution and rinsed with water to remove minerals prior to acid saccharification. The removal of minerals may reduce overall acid requirements, and decrease pretreatment costs.

Abstract: The present invention refers to gene expression cassettes encoding enzymes involved in the metabolic pathway for the biosynthesis of hemicelluloses, cellulose and/or uronic acids, and to a method for genetic transformation of plant cells through the introduction of one or more gene expression cassettes from the present invention, and the overexpression and repression of these genes in plants. More particularly, the present invention refers to a method for introducing expression cassettes in plants. Additionally, the present invention refers to genetically modified plants. The present invention also refers to the attainment of the genetically modified plant, its derived plants and seeds, as well as the wood, paper and cellulose from this plant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biopulping method, and more particularly to a biopulping method for non-woody fiber plants. A biopulping method for a non-woody fiber plant is provided. It includes steps of providing a culture solution, adding a non-woody fiber plant to the culture solution, adding a microorganism suspension to the culture solution, fermentatively culturing the culture solution for preparing a pulp solution, boiling the pulp solution, pulping the pulp solution, and screening the pulp solution for isolating the paper pulp from the pulp solution.

Abstract: There is provided an endoglucanase enzyme, which is useful for reducing fuzz of regenerated cellulose-containing fabrics, improving the touch and appearance, color clarification, localized variation in color, reducing stiffness and using it as components of a detergent, as well as deinking waste paper and improving freeness of paper pulp. A cDNA coding for the endoglucanase enzyme NCE5 was cloned and its DNA sequence and amino acid sequence derived from it were determined.

Abstract: Systems and methods by which to subject cellulosic fibers to alkaline treatment are provided. The systems and methods of the invention include equipment, such as nanofiltration units and slurry concentrators, which result in a lowered overall consumption of alkaline solution during alkaline treatment. The systems and methods of the invention further allow the components of hemicaustic streams produced by such alkaline treatments to be utilized in higher value end uses.

Abstract: The invention relates to soluble highly branched glucose polymers having a reducing sugar content of less than 1%, characterized in that they have a level of ?-1,6 glucoside bonds greater than 10%, preferably of between 12 and 30%, a Mw value of between 0.35×105 and 2×105 daltons, and an osmolality having a value of between 1 and 15 mOsm/kg. The invention also relates to their method of production and their applications in the Paper-Carton, Textiles, Cosmetics, and particularly Pharmaceutical and Food industries, and still more particularly in the fields of enteral and parenteral nutrition, peritoneal dialysis as a glycemia inhibiting and/or regulating agent, as an energy source during physical activities and as a digestion regulating agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the dosage of a binding agent. The invention relates to the manufacture of core board in particular, wherein fibres are bound together by supplying a slurry containing a binding agent, such as starch to the suspension, which has been fed onto the wire, or to the web being formed. According to the invention, the binding agent slurry is fed from feeding units installed above the wire (1), such as jet pipes (10), which are arranged sequentially at different points in the direction of travel of the wire. The jet pipes (10) can be separately adjustable, and they can be used to feed the binding agent throughout the couching of fibres onto the wire to provide an even distribution of binding agent in the direction of thickness.

Abstract: The invention relates to a feed arrangement for feeding chips to chip bins (1) in the production of cellulose pulp in continuous digesters (16), in which the chip bin is constituted by a greatment vessel having a top and a bottom, in which the chips are fed into the top (13) of the treatment vessel and fed out via the bottom of the treatment vessel using suitable lock members (10, 11). Distribution devices (4a, 4b) for the addition of steam are disposed in the treatment vessel so as to heat the chips to a level above 80° C., preferably around 100° C., when the chips are fed out via the bottom of the treatment vessel. By virtue of the fact that the chips are fed into the treatment vessel via at least one liquid lock (30) and the treatment vessel is otherwise sealed off, the quantity of driven-off gases from the chip bin is reduced to a minimum, at the same time as an effective utilization of available energy is obtained.

Abstract: A hammermill for singulating cellulosic fibers from a wet pulp sheet includes a cylindrical housing, a feed slot with a breaker bar positioned therein and a rotor mounted for rotation in the housing. Feed rolls are provided to feed a sheet of pulp into the feed slot upstream of the breaker bar. A plurality of hammers are mounted on the rotor. Air is introduced into the hammermill housing tangentially downstream from the second feed slot. An air outlet is positioned tangentially on the housing downstream from the air inlet to allow air and singulated fibers to escape. A process for producing singulated fibers includes wetting a fiber sheet, milling the fibers in the hammermill, and drying the fibers. The singulated fibers have a low knot content.