Abstract: A process for the production of acetylated wood elements, a cooling system and a wood acetylation plant are described. A process for the production of acetylated wood elements comprises acetylating wood elements and cooling the acetylated wood elements wherein the cooling comprises supplying liquid water to the acetylated wood elements to provide wetted wood elements and exposing the wetted wood elements to a gas flow.

Abstract: A process for the production of acetylated wood elements, a cooling system and a wood acetylation plant are described. A process for the production of acetylated wood elements comprises acetylating wood elements and cooling the acetylated wood elements wherein the cooling comprises supplying liquid water to the acetylated wood elements to provide wetted wood elements and exposing the wetted wood elements to a gas flow.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for continuous acetylation of wood elements. The acetylation is conducted with an acetylation medium at a pressure of at least 1.5 barg in a substantially oxygen free environment. Alternatively, the method includes the steps of: (a) feeding wood elements in a substantially oxygen free environment to a continuous acetylation reactor, and (b) treating the wood elements with an acetylation medium in the continuous acetylation reactor under wood acetylation reaction conditions, at a pressure of at least 1.5 barg. The process can acetylate wood elements to a high acetyl content in an efficient way, without compromising on the quality of the material. The acetylated wood elements can be used in the production of medium density fibreboards with superior qualities such as dimensional stability and durability.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the acetylation of wood comprising treating the wood with an acetylation medium under wood acetylation reaction conditions and drying the acetylated wood, wherein the drying comprises at least two steps, wherein the wood is first dried with a first drying medium and then with a second drying medium.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for continuous acetylation of wood elements. The acetylation is conducted with an acetylation medium at a pressure of at least 1.5 barg in a substantially oxygen free environment. Alternatively, the method includes the steps of: (a) feeding wood elements in a substantially oxygen free environment to a continuous acetylation reactor, and (b) treating the wood elements with an acetylation medium in the continuous acetylation reactor under wood acetylation reaction conditions, at a pressure of at least 1.5 barg. The process can acetylate wood elements to a high acetyl content in an efficient way, without compromising on the quality of the material. The acetylated wood elements can be used in the production of medium density fibreboards with superior qualities such as dimensional stability and durability.

Abstract: Disclosed is the integration of the production of acetic anhydride from ketene, and the acetylation of wood using acetylation fluid comprising acetic acid and acetic anhydride. The invention involves recirculating acetylation fluid recovered from wood acetylation to a unit for the production of acetic anhydride from acetic acid and ketene. The acetic anhydride product stream can, in turn, be directly used as a wood acetylation fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the acetylation of wood, wherein the wood is impregnated with acetylation fluid and heated in stages. It is thereby secured that an acetylation reaction is conducted at a temperature above the boiling temperature of the acetylation fluid, at a stage where the impregnated wood is largely devoid of free acetylation fluid (i.e., acetylation fluid not retained in the wood matrix or in capillaries). Preferably, the process is conducted in a plant having conveyors, such as transportation screws, in the zones in which the separate heating steps are conducted.

Abstract: Disclosed is the integration of the production of acetic anhydride from ketene, and the acetylation of wood using acetylation fluid comprising acetic acid and acetic anhydride. The invention involves directly using raw acetic anhydride as obtained in the production thereof from ketene, as a wood acetylation fluid.

Abstract: A process for the production of acetylated wood elements, a cooling system and a wood acetylation plant are described. A process for the production of acetylated wood elements comprises acetylating wood elements and cooling the acetylated wood elements wherein the cooling comprises supplying liquid water to the acetylated wood elements to provide wetted wood elements and exposing the wetted wood elements to a gas flow.

Abstract: Disclosed is the integration of the production of acetic anhydride from ketene, and the acetylation of wood using acetylation fluid comprising acetic acid and acetic anhydride. The invention involves combining acetic acid obtained from distillation of acetylation fluid with a residual aqueous acetic acid stream as obtained from ketene production.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the continuous impregnation of wood elements, such as wood chips. The method comprises the subsequent steps of subjecting the wood elements to vacuum, to contact with acetylation fluid, and to impregnation pressure. Preferably, the process is conducted in a plant having conveyors, such as transportation screws, in suitable positions between the zones in which the subsequent process steps are conducted. The impregnation method is used in connection with the acetylation of the wood elements, and preferably is followed by a continuous acetylation process conducted in an acetylation reaction zone downstream of the zone where the impregnation is conducted.

Abstract: Disclosed is the integration of the production of acetic anhydride from ketene, and the acetylation of wood using acetylation fluid comprising acetic acid and acetic anhydride. The invention involves recovering acetylation fluid from wood acetylation, and sending this to an acetic anhydride distillation unit belonging to the acetic anhydride production plant.