Abstract: The description relates to a method of producing bioethanol by separating lignin from a crushed lignocellulose biomass and obtaining cellulose and, if required, hemicellulose and additionally processing the cellulose or the mixture of cellulose and hemicellulose to form sugars and subsequently form bioethanol. The method is characterized in that crushed lignocelluloses biomass is treated with an alkanolamine for extracting the lignin therein, the lignin solution is separated, the residue containing cellulose/hemicellulose is converted to sugars without drying, and the sugars are fermented to obtain bioethanol. The raw cellulose (cellulose/hemicellulose), owing to its high reactivity, can easily be converted into sugar, which can be fermented to form bioethanol.

Abstract: The description relates to a method of producing bioethanol by separating lignin from a crushed lignocellulose biomass and obtaining cellulose and, if required, hemicellulose and additionally processing the cellulose or the mixture of cellulose and hemicellulose to form sugars and subsequently form bioethanol. The method is characterised in that crushed lignocelluloses biomass is treated with an alkanolamine for extracting the lignin therein, the lignin solution is separated, the residue containing cellulose/hemicellulose is converted to sugars without drying, and the sugars are fermented to obtain bioethanol. The raw cellulose (cellulose/hemicellulose), owing to its high reactivity, can easily be converted into sugar, which can be fermented to form bioethanol.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for separating xylose from lignocelluloses rich in xylan, particularly wood, and for obtaining pulp, characterized by the following steps: (1) pretreating wood chips through mechanical destruction of the original structure; (2) impregnating the obtained wood mass with diluted mineral acid; (3) carrying out prehydrolysis of the obtained wood mass modified by the process under the influence of steam at an elevated temperature to hydrolyze the obtained hemicelluloses; and (4) removing the hemicelluloses from the residual pulp by washing, filtering and/or centrifuging while obtaining an aqueous solution rich in xylose. The combination of method steps according to the invention makes it possible to achieve high ?-cellulose contents with very low proportions of xylose, that is, highly pure chemical pulp qualities, while at the same time enabling a virtually quantitative separation of the valuable xylose.

Abstract: A method has been developed for making regenerated cellulose yarn. The method includes the steps of spinning a solution derived from cellulose or a cellulose derivative in a molten state through at least one extrusion die, then regenerating the cellulose by treating the resulting yarn, wherein a silylated cellulose derivative is prepared by reaction with a silylating agent; the silylated cellulose is extracted from the synthesis reaction medium; then spun through at least an extrusion die; and the resultant yarn treated with a desilylation agent to regenerate the cellulose and a siloxane. The resulting cellulose yarns or fibers may be used for making woven or knitted textile surfaces or non-woven surfaces. Said yarns or fibers are also useful as reinforcing fibers in elastomeric materials and more particularly, in tires.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the treatment of solids with pressurized liquid gases, in particular liquid ammonia, with which the to be treated solid is fed into a pressure reactor at atmospheric pressure. Subsequently the pressurized liquid gas is fed to the pressure reactor and after a pre-set dwell time the resultant liquid gas/solid mixture is expanded explosion-like into an expansion tank. With this at least two reactors are operated in a time-staggered manner. Furthermore an apparatus is described for the treatment of solids with pressurized liquid gases, which comprises at least two parallel arranged pressure reactors for the alternating taking in of a solid and a liquid gas, which each have inlet and outlet openings for the solid provided with shut-off elements as well as each at least one inlet opening for the liquid gas, at least one expansion tank which is connected to the respective pressure reactors, and conveying means for feeding the solid as well as the liquid gas.

Abstract: The invention concerns reactive cellulose, i.e. cellulose having in particular a very low degree of crystallinity obtainable with a high degree of purity. Said novel reactive cellulose is particularly used as raw material for making cellulose ethers. The invention is characterized in that the reactive cellulose is substituted by organic groups according to a degree of substitution, DS, of less than 0.2, preferably between 0.04 and 0.2.

Abstract: A method for processing guar endosperm in which guar splits are brought into contact with an amount of liquid ammonia at least sufficient to wet the guar splits at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure and at a temperature of at least 25° C. The remaining available guar split/liquid ammonia system volume is increased in an explosion like manner by reducing the pressure by at least about 5 bars resulting in the sheaths of the guar splits being torn open to result in a product that can be processed more easily, such as by grinding.

Abstract: The process for activating polysaccharides consists of contacting the polysaccharide with liquid ammonia at an initial pressure which is higher than atmospheric pressure and at a temperature of at least approximately 25.degree. C., the amount of liquid ammonia being sufficient at least for wetting the surface of the polysaccharide starting material which is then expanded. The volume available for the polysaccharide/liquid ammonia system is enlarged in the manner of an explosion by lowering the pressure by at least 5 bar. The process is particularly suitable for activating cellulose, guar gum, starch and chitin. The process enables cellulose to be modified in a novel manner. The activated polysaccharides display higher reactivity and improved elimination of reagents during acylation, alkylation, silylation, xanthogenation and carbomoylation with largely homogeneous reaction processes.

Abstract: Described are molded bodies comprising bond material based on cellulose acetate as a bonding agent and reinforcing natural cellulose fibers or natural cellulose-containing fibers. These components are characterized by the fact that the cellulose acetate has a degree of substitution (DS) of approximately 1.2 to 2.7 and the molded bodies have a Vicat temperature of at least approximately 160.degree. C. and the ratio of the weight of cellulose acetate to the natural cellulose fibers or natural cellulose-containing fibers is approximately 10:90-90:10. These molded bodies are produced by mixing cellulose acetate with the natural cellulose fibers or the natural cellulose-containing fibers in a ratio by weight of approximately 90:10-10:90, in particular 15:85-85:15, in the total moisture content is adjusted to at least approximately 3% by weight, with respect to the total amount of the cellulose acetate in the mixture, and this mixture is molded at a temperature of approximately 220.degree. to 280.degree. C.

Abstract: The process for the treatment of cellulose for activation for subsequent chemical reactions by bringing the cellulose in contact with liquid ammonia at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure in a pressure vessel and subsequent expansion by rapid reduction of the pressure to atmospheric pressure, is carried out by using a cellulose pulp of an alpha-cellulose content of at least 92 mass %, letting the ammonia act on the pulp at room temperature or at a temperature higher than room temperature, after the expansion, removing the ammonia then still remaining in the pressure vessel except for a minimum content at which the state of activation reached by the action of the ammonia is still maintained and finally replacing the residual ammonia still needed to maintain the state of activation by another swelling or inclusion agent.

Abstract: There are described filaments on the basis of a cellulose acetate soluble in acetone, the degree of polymerization (DP) of the cellulose acetate being between about 110 and 210 and the degree of substitution (DS) preferably between about 2.2 and 2.7. Optically isotropic spinning solutions can be obtained, the cellulose acetate concentration of which is about 35 to 47 mass-%. When such an optically isotropic spinning solution is spun, in particular by dry spinning, filaments are obtained in a profitable manner because the costs connected with the recovery of the acetone can be appreciably lowered, without impairing the desirable properties of the filaments, which are suitable in particular for the production of cigarette filter tow.