Abstract: The chemical components of lignocellulosic material which have been dissociated by a steam explosion process can be extracted from the mixture of components using a solvent extraction process. The solvents are water, alcohol and a mild caustic in that order, or the alcohol step can be by-passed and only water and caustic are used. The caustic is a stronger solvent and it will extract the alcohol solubles along with the caustic only solubles. The eluant from the these extractions contains a range of lignin derived substances, which have different applications, such as thermoplastic and thermosetting characteristics. This invention describes a method for partitioning these lignin components into reproducible fractions having definable characteristics for particular applications. For instance, many copolymer applications require a thermosetting only fraction of the lignin. Other applications require a thermoplastic only lignin.

Abstract: The chemical components of lignocellulosic material that have been dissociated by a stream explosion process can be extracted from the mixture of components using a solvent extraction process. The dissociated lignocellulosic material is put in a column and the substances which are soluble in water, alcohol and caustic are leached out of the mixture by solvent extraction with relatively small volumes of those solvents. No agitation is used. Substantially pure cellulose remains in the column and it can be bleached before removal from the column.

Abstract: A process for the separation of the fibres from each other in lignocellulosic (straw, bagasse, wood) composites, and at the same time to dissociate the Lignin and the Xylan in the middle lamella and the primary wall of the lignocellulosic material, to enable a simple non reactive solvent extraction of the middle lamella and primary wall components while substantially retaining the structural integrity of the fibre bundle, sometimes referred to as the S2 layer, which is the strength member of the lignocellulosic fibre. The purpose of this process is to produce a fibre suitable to replace conventional Chemical Thermal Mechanical Pulp, for paper or as a carrier for high absorbency Cellulose in diaper and similar absorbent material applications, and at the same time to recover the chemical components of the middle lamella and the primary wall of the fibre, as co-products in a marketable, chemically reactive form.

Abstract: Dissociated lignocellulosic material produced by a process of explosive depressurization is molded into products of widely varying densities. Various fibrous and woody materials can be incorporated into the molded product to give a wide range of nailing and strength characteristics. Color, water repellent, preservative and fire retardant materials can be mixed with the material before molding. Other aggregates can be bound into the molded product which can contain fire enhancement materials for fuel.

Abstract: Microcrystalline cellulose has many applications in the pharmaceutical, food, paper and structural composite industries. Level off DP (Degree of Polymerization) microcrystalline cellulose is made up of a chain of about 250 glucose molecules in the form of microcrystal. In nature, several microcrystals are hinged together and surrounded by amorphous cellulose to form a cellulose microfibril. If the amorphous cellulose is removed, the resultant product is called level off DP (Degree of Polymerization) microcrystalline cellulose. When lignocellulosic material is processed according to applicant's earlier processes (Canadian Pat. Nos. 1,096,374 and 1,141,376), the dissociated material is partitioned by removing the lignin and the xylan leaving a low DP (320) cellulose fraction.