Abstract: Methods of treating wood and wood products include irradiating untreated wood having a first molecular weight with ionizing radiation to cause an increase in the molecular weight of a cellulosic component of the wood to a second, relatively higher molecular weight.

Abstract: A system for collecting ligno-cellulosic biomass over a large area to enable the commercial refining of biomass from 2,500 to in excess of 50,000 tons of biomass per day to produce ethanol or other products. The biomass is collected at a series of collection points and then transported through a network of conduit “loops” interconnecting each of the collection points and the central refining plant. The water used to transport the biomass, as a slurry, is recovered and sequentially recycled in the same pipeline system to push the biomass slurry around the system in a “loop.” The outgoing and return legs of each loop optionally are located adjacent each other.

Abstract: A system for collecting ligno-cellulosic biomass over a large area to enable the commercial refining of biomass from 2,500 to in excess of 50,000 tons of biomass per day to produce ethanol or other products. The biomass is collected at a series of collection points and then transported through a network of conduit “loops” interconnecting each of the collection points and the central refining plant. The water used to transport the biomass, as a slurry, is recovered and sequentially recycled in the same pipeline system to push the biomass slurry around the system in a “loop”.

Abstract: A method for producing extensible paper, comprising the following stages:feeding a mix of vegetable fibres to a kneader member,mixing the mix with water in the kneader,beating the fibres to obtain a pulp,transferring the beaten pulp into a flow chest,feeding the beaten pulp from the flow chest onto a paper web formation cloth with consequent reduction of the water percentage by gravity and vacuum,pressing the web, with consequent further reduction of its water content,initial drying of the paper web to a substantially constant moisture content of between 15% and 65%,compacting,final drying to a moisture content of between 15% and 4%, preferably 10%-8%,glazing,wherein:the beating stage is carried out by rubbing the fibres in a multistage unit to obtain a pulp having a degree of beating of at least 30.degree.

Abstract: A process for producing cellulose from vegetable raw materials containing same by reacting these with digesting agents is described, comprising a preliminary size reduction of said raw materials to give a pumpable material, and a heat treatment of said material, arranged in a thin layer and maintained in a state of high turbulence, with at least one digesting agent; the abovementioned treatment is preferably carried out in a turboreactor and produces a mixture of cellulose fibres and of spent digesting agent, from which cellulose fibres ready for the uses in the paper industry are obtained via subsequent washing and separation phases; the process described is particularly suitable for the production of cellulose from annual plants in high yields, in very short times and at costs substantially reduced as compared with known processes.

Abstract: An absorbent product containing sphagnum moss selected from the group of botanical sections consisting of PALUSTRIA, ACUTIFOLIA, RIGIDA, SUBSECUNDA and CUSPIDATA. The invention also extends to a novel method for manufacturing a highly absorbent structure and to a method for evaluating the liquid absorbent properties of a sphagnum moss composition.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a peat moss board suitable for use as an absorbent core in structures for absorbing body exudate. The method is characterized by conditioning a wet laid board to a specific water content and calendering the conditioned board at a predetermined pressure. The water content and the calendering pressure determine the density of the peat moss board in final form. The invention also extends to a peat moss board manufactured by the novel method.

Abstract: Dry laid board comprising peat moss is provided and made by harvesting peat moss having a degree of decomposition of H-1 value as measured by the Modified Von Post Scale, individualizing the harvested peat moss, drying the individualized peat moss and entraining the peat moss in a gas stream. The entrained peat moss is then condensed to form a low density peat moss containing board which is subsequently calendered for use in such products as dressings, diapers and sanitary napkins.

Abstract: A body fluid absorbent board and a method for making the same is provided with the board comprising peat moss having a particle size remaining on a 100 mesh screen and mechanical wood pulp fines having a Canadian Standard Freeness of from 60 to 500. The board has a dry density of from 0.03 to about 0.09 gm/cc and has surprising absorbent and structural integrity.

Abstract: The absorbent material is treated to increase its wettability in a substantive manner. This is accomplished by reacting a diepoxide compound with an absorbent material selected to have accessible hydroxyl groups and with a surfactant having functional end groups selected from the group consisting of primary amine or hydroxyl groups.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for forming a layer of material against one side of a movable conveyor from a slurry of a liquid and material by an electrostatic action, the improvement wherein a plurality of needle-like projections are disposed in the slurry to assist the electrostatic action in forming the layer of material from the slurry against the conveyor and the projections are always completely projected through the layer as the layer is being formed against the one side of the conveyor to the desired thickness thereof.

Abstract: An absorbent structure is provided comprising peat moss in combination with mechanical wood pulp, said wood pulp having a Canadian Standard Freeness of from about 30-600 and present in the ratios, by weight of wood pulp to peat moss, of greater than about 0.35. The absorbent structure, which may also contain other absorbent materials such as long-fibered chemical wood pulp, rayon or the like, exhibits improved absorbent properties in both liquid-holding capacity and liquid-retention capacity and maintains its structural integrity.

Abstract: A process for bleaching peat moss at acid pHs to produce a peat moss product of enhanced color and which substantially maintains its original structure.