Abstract: We have developed an environmentally-friendly new process for producing textile yarns. The process involves chemical modification of cellulose with subsequent dissolution of the chemically modified cellulose with chitosan or other amine group-containing compounds which yields a highly viscous gel. The chemical modification of cellulose employs a known process of periodate oxidation which we have modified to obtain fibers with a low degree of aldehyde groups (˜2 mmol/g cellulose) that still remain insoluble in water. After washing, the chemically modified fibers can be cross-linked with chitosan or other amine group-containing compounds to produce the viscous gel. The viscous gel can then be extruded through a syringe nozzle in the form of textile yarns.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus, which can be part of a pre-treatment system in a plant for the production of fuels, e. g. bio-ethanol, derived from plant biomass, e. g. first generation crops, such as grain, sugarcane and corn or second generation crops such as lignocellulosic biomass. The invention relates to an apparatus for processing, such as fluffing and mixing, at least two media, such as a solid, e. g. biomass, and a fluid, e. g. steam, so as to rendering the first medium susceptible to efficient receiving of energy and/or mass which is provided by localized release of the second medium. Although the description of the present invention focuses on biomass, it is envisaged that the invention is generally applicable to control the mixing of at least two media by crossing their stream of while dispersing at least one of them.

Abstract: Aqueous coating composition for optical brightening and shading of substrates comprising (a) at least one optical brightener of formula (I) in which the anionic charge on the brightener is balanced by a cationic charge composed of one or more identical or different cations selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkali metal cation, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, ammonium which is mono-, di-, tri- or tetrasubstituted by a C1-C4 linear or branched alkyl radical, ammonium which is mono-, di-, tri- or tetrasubstituted by a C1-C4 linear or branched hydroxyalkyl radical, ammonium which is, di-, tri- or tetrasubstituted by a mixture of C1-C4 linear or branched alkylradical and linear or branched hydroxyalkyl radical or mixtures of said compounds, R1 and R1? may be the same or different, and each is hydrogen, C1-C4 linear or branched alkyl, C2-C4 linear or branched hydroxyalkyl, CH2CO2?, CH2CH2CONH2 or CH2CH2CN, R2 and R2? may be the same or different, and each is C1-C4 linear or branched alkyl, C2-C4

Abstract: A method for alteration of the morphology of cellulose fibers, particularly softwood fibers, by (a) subjecting the fibers to a metal ion-activated peroxide treatment carried out at a pH of between about 1 and about 9, preferably between 3 and 7, and (b) subjecting the treated fibers to a refining treatment thereby converts SW fibers to HW-like fibers in many respects. The metal ion-activated peroxide treatment has been noted to act on pulp cellulose and hemi-cellulose, causing oxidation and oxidative degradation of cellulose fibers. The chemical treatment of the pulp, taken alone, is not sufficient to attain the desired modification of the morphology of the fibers, however, subsequent refining or like mechanical treatment of the chemically-treated fibers to achieve a given degree of refinement of the fibers requires dramatically less refining energy to achieve a desired end point of refinement and to impart other desirable properties to the pulp.

Abstract: The extent of delignification of chemical pulps by oxygen-containing chemicals, preferably hydrogen peroxide, is enhanced by demethylating the pulp prior to such oxidative delignification, to a degree of demethylation of at least about 30%, preferably at least about 50%. Demethylation may be achieved by chemical treatment of the already-formed pulp or by modification to the pulping process to result in demethylated pulp.

Abstract: Extraction of chlorine bleached kraft wood pulps with aqueous peracids at pH values of 7 or below, aqueous sulfites at pH values below 10 or with certain non-aqueous solvents provides extracted pulps having lower residual color and permits use of lesser quantities of alkali or chlorine dioxide in subsequent bleach steps to attain brightness and strength levels comparable to those attained with pulps treated by alkaline extraction at pH values of 10 or higher. At a comparable level of alkali and chlorine dioxide or hypochlorite application, extraction of chlorinated pulp with peracids provides bleached pulps with enhanced brightness.

Abstract: Bleached wood pulp is treated with a sulphite after bleaching and before or during flash drying to reduce the formation of nodules of agglomerated wood pulp fibres in the dried pulp, particularly in short fibre pulp from hard woods such as birch and eucalyptus. The sulphite is preferably added to the bleached pulp in the form of an aqueous solution of an alkali metal sulphite for example a 0.4 to 5 percent by weight solution of sodium sulphite. The process of the invention is particularly suitable for drying pulp which is at an acid pH due to residual acids remaining on the pulp from the bleaching process, for example pulp bleached by treatment with chlorine dioxide.

Abstract: A process is provided for the processing of certain organic agricultural foodstuff by-products normally having little commercial value to produce a cellulosic product suitable for human consumption or use in various products. The process of the present invention is characterized by subjecting a variety of certain agricultural by-products having little commercial value, such as, for example, soy bean hulls, to a series of separate steps utilizing certain chemical treating to effect a solubilizing and removal of the non-cellulosic components of the by-product agricultural material to produce residue solids which consist essentially of cellulose. The cellulose residue solids are subjected to specified purification procedures and thereafter dried to produce a short, fine fibered cellulose which may be processed to a fine powdered state suitable for use as a component part in a wide variety of edible or otherwise useable products by humans, an example of such a product being a low calorie bread.

Abstract: A dissolving pulp suitable for preparing rayon having a degree of polymerization of greater than about 800 can be produced using bagasse by a sodium hydroxide-sodium sulfite digestion at a ph of about 10.5 to 11.5 and preferably about 10.8 to 11.2 and a caustic-sulfite weight ratio of 1:1 to 1:3 followed by a bleaching sequence of DcEDH or DcEDD. This results in a high purity low silica content fiber which has undergone very little degradation.

Abstract: A process for delignifying lignocellulosic pulps, which comprises the steps of (a) impregnating a lignocellulosic pulp slurry with a water-soluble manganous salt having a manganous ion concentration of from about 1% to about 10%, by weight of oven-dried pulp; (b) mixing the impregnated pulp slurry with an amount of alkali equal to the stoichiometric quantity of alkali required to precipitate the soluble manganous ion as insoluble manganous hydroxide; (c) aerating the pulp slurry with an oxygen-containing gas without further addition of alkali and in the absence of alkali for a period of time sufficient to oxidize substantially all of the manganous hydroxide to manganic hydroxide; (d) treating the pulp slurry with sufficient sulfuric acid to lower the slurry pH to at least about 3, thus releasing soluble manganic ions to oxidize the pulp lignins; (e) separating the effluent containing manganous ions from the pulp slurry with a non-alkaline wash; and then (f) extracting the oxidized lignins from the pulp slurry

Abstract: Paper pulp is prepared from dicotyledonous plants by stirring said plants in an alkaline solution in the presence of a surfactant and stain inhibiting agent to obtain a stock containing a woody core fraction and a bark fraction containing bast fibers, separating said fractions and then cooking and bleaching the bark fraction in an alkaline solution containing an oxidizing agent and an alkyl sulfate surfactant.

Abstract: A pulping process which includes the steps of oxidizing vegetable materials with an oxidizing chemical selected from the group comprising Cl.sub.2, Cl.sub.2 O,ClO.sub. 2, Mg(ClO).sub.2, Mg(ClO.sub.2).sub.2 Mg.(ClO.sub. 3).sub.2 and mixtures thereof, extracting the oxidized materials with Mg(OH).sub.2 thereby to delignify and bleach the materials and treating the waste liquor from the oxidation, extraction and washing steps by combustion or thermal decomposition thereby to regenerate the chemicals necessary for the oxidation and extraction steps. The process of the invention produces semi-bleached or completely bleached pulp of high strength with high yield while eliminating the problem relating to environmental pollution.

Abstract: Plant material containing hemicellulose and lignin is prehydrolyzed in the presence of steam and the vapors of a dilute acid solution having a pH of 1.5-3.5 at a temperature of 105.degree. C to 135.degree. C for 7-20 minutes to hydrolyze the hemicellulose into pentoses and hexoses and to leave a fibrous material and a liquid, said liquid containing said pentoses and hexoses. The liquid is separated from the fibrous material, and the pentoses and hexoses are recovered from the liquid. The fibrous material is digested with white liquor at a temperature of 105.degree. C to 135.degree. C.