Abstract: Dense, tramp material, is efficiently separated in a comminuted cellulosic fibrous material feed system, for example in a chemical cellulose digester feed system, in a simple but effective matter. By merely utilizing a generally vertical conduit and a slurry flow within it (which may be augmented by high speed liquid introduction), that is caused to turn in a radiused path, centrifugal force allows separation of the tramp material into a cavity beneath the radius transition without requiring any mechanical element to engage the slurry. Appropriate purges, baffles, and discharge mechanisms may be provided. Alternatively, a tramp material separator may be built into an otherwise conventional metering screw in a digester feed system, or one or more centrifugal separators can be provided downstream of the slurry pump in a chip slurry transport system or digester feed system.

Abstract: Dense, tramp material, is efficiently separated in a comminuted cellulosic fibrous material feed system, for example in a chemical cellulose digester feed system, in a simple but effective matter. By merely utilizing a generally vertical conduit and a slurry flow within it (which may be augmented by high speed liquid introduction), that is caused to turn in a radiused path, centrifugal force allows separation of the tramp material into a cavity beneath the radius transition without requiring any mechanical element to engage the slurry. Appropriate purges, baffles, and discharge mechanisms may be provided. Alternatively, a tramp material separator may be built into an otherwise conventional metering screw in a digester feed system, or one or more centrifugal separators can be provided downstream of the slurry pump in a chip slurry transport system or digester feed system.

Abstract: Dense, tramp material, is efficiently separated in a comminuted cellulosic fibrous material feed system, for example in a chemical cellulose digester feed system, in a simple but effective matter. By merely utilizing a generally vertical conduit and a slurry flow within it (which may be augmented by high speed liquid introduction), that is caused to turn in a radiused path, centrifugal force allows separation of the tramp material into a cavity beneath the radius transition without requiring any mechanical element to engage the slurry. Appropriate purges, baffles, and discharge mechanisms may be provided. Alternatively, a tramp material separator may be built into an otherwise conventional metering screw in a digester feed system, or one or more centrifugal separators can be provided downstream of the slurry pump in a chip slurry transport system or digester feed system.

Abstract: Biomass, such as bagasse, is pre-hydrolyzed, to ultimately effect hydrolysis of hemicellulose to sugars. Biomass is mixed with a mineral acid solution to form a slurry having a consistency of about 8 to 12% so that the acid solution properly wets the biomass. Then the slurry is dewatered to about 35 to 50% consistency, and is heated to reaction temperature (e. g. about 320.degree. F.) by direct contact with steam in the vapor phase of a vertical pressurized reactor, having a pressure of about 40 psig. A fluffer is preferably provided in the top of the reaction vessel. After a reaction time of about 30 minutes, the biomass is diluted and cold blown out of the bottom of the reactor. Pressate from the dewatering has acid added to it and is heated by indirect heat exchange with a sugar solution obtained by washing of the biomass discharged from the reactor, and is then mixed with the biomass as the acid solution.