Abstract:
A chip screening system has a primary screening station (22) for dividing an incoming flow (10) of chips into a first acceptable fraction (28) and a second fraction (30) having acceptable chips and also both oversized and overthick chips. The second fraction is directed to a second screening station (50) where the incoming flow will again be fractionated into an acceptable flow (56) being screened primarily according to thickness and a second fraction (60) being composed of oversized and overthick chips. The second fraction is then directed to a size reducing station (66).
Abstract:
Improved displacement washing process for recovering processing chemicals from a porous medium, particularly wood pulp. The effective mobility of a displacing solution, typically a more dilute solution of the chemical sought to be recovered, is reduced such that it is less than the mobility of the solution to be recovered. In a pulp mill washing system, consumption of wash water may be reduced 0.6 tons of water per ton of pulp produced without reducing chemical recovery. Conversely, chemical effluent from the washer could be reduced by 50% without increasing wash water requirement. Mobility is proportional to the permeability of the porous medium with respect to the solution of interest and inversely proportional to the viscosity of that solution. Mobility of the wash solution relative to the solution to be displaced is preferrably reduced by the addition of a soluble, high molecular weight polymer, greater than 10 , until the ratio of the mobility of the wash solution to that of the chemical rich solution is in the range of 0.05-2.0, preferably within the range 0.2-1. As examples, copolymers of acrylamide and acrylic acid, carboxypolymethylene, polyacrylic acid and deacetylated chitin have been found to be effective in reducing mobility. The presence of 6-10 ppm of a copolymer of acrylamide and acrylic acid of MW greater than 10 in the wash solution of a brownstock washer can double the efficiency of the washer.
Abstract:
Cross-linked cellulose fibers having free pendant carboxylic acid groups are disclosed. The fibers include a polycarboxylic acid covalently coupled to the fibers, and are cross-linked with a cross-linking agent having a cure temperature lower than the cure temperature of the polycarboxylic acid. Methods for producing the fibers and for producing a fibrous sheet incorporating the fibers are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A unitary absorbent layer composed of cross-linked cellulosic fibers and a binder is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the binder is a bicomponent binding fiber. In combination with one or more other layers in an absorbent article, the unitary absorbent layer can rapidly acquire, distribute, temporarily store, and then release the acquired liquid to other liquid retention layers. Methods for forming the unitary absorbent layer are also disclosed.
Abstract:
The invention relates to paper and similar products made with at least a portion of the papermaking furnish being essentially water insoluble carboxyethyl cellulose fibers. A cationic additive material, such as a polyamide epichlorohydrin wet strength resin or cationic starch, is also required. From 2-100 % of the modified fiber is used in conjunction with a usual papermaking fiber. The D.S. of the carboxyethylated fiber is in the range of about 0.01-0.3, preferably about 0.025-0.10. A notable feature of paper products made with the fiber/cationic additive system is an improved ratio of wet to dry tensile and burst strengths compared with sheets made from unmodified fiber.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a process for making reduced odor individualized, crosslinked fibers which includes the steps of providing cellulosic fibers, contacting the fibers with a solution containing a C2-C9 polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agent, mechanically separating the fibers into substantially individual form, drying the fibers and reacting the crosslinking agent with the individualized fibers to form intrafiber crosslink bonds. The individualized cellulosic fibers are then contacted with a strong alkaline solution and strong oxidizing agent to reduce the odor and increase the brightness. Preferably, the crosslinking agent is citric acid, and preferably, between about 1.0 weight % and about 12.0 weight % of the crosslinking agent reacts to form the intrafiber crosslink bonds. Preferably, the alkaline solution is an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, and preferably, about 0.09 weight % of the sodium hydroxide, on a dry fiber weight basis, is applied to the crosslinked fibers. Preferably, the oxidizing agent is hydrogen peroxide, and preferably, about 0.04 weight % of the hydrogen peroxide, on a dry fiber weight basis, is applied to the crosslinked fiber. The reduced odor individualized, crosslinked fibers are useful in a variety of absorbent structure applications.
Abstract:
The invention is a method of ordering plant embryos so that a specified end of the embryo is always oriented in a predetermined direction. The embryos are preferably first fairly rapidly desiccated to about 15 % moisture content. They are then suspended in a benign liquid flotation medium having a density in the range of about 1.059-1.104 g/cm . The density must be adjusted empirically so that a predominant number of viable embryos will float and nonviable embryos will sink. In at least the case of conifer somatic embryos, they will float with the end bearing the latent cotyledons upward. After sufficient separation time in the flotation medium the oriented embryos are swept by a flowing liquid stream into a conduit. They enter cotyledon end first and are then carried to a delivery point without losing that orientation. Here they are separated from the transporting medium. The embryos, still positioned cotyledon end first, may then be picked up by robotic or other means for further processing, such as insertion into an artificial seed.
Abstract:
The invention is a method of making a wet formed, sheeted, readily reslurriable sheeted crosslinked cellulose and the products made by the method. Crosslinked wood pulp fibers tend to be quite brittle. If crosslinked while in sheeted form, the sheets cannot be readily defibred, either in a wet or dry state, without serious fiber degradation. The sheet products of the present invention can be easily redispersed or repulped in water without significant fiber breakage. The present products are made by including within the sheet, while still in wet form, a debonding or softening agent which is preferably added before the latent crosslinking reactant. Most preferably the debonder is added prior to the headbox of a paper machine and the crosslinking reactant is applied near theend of the forming wire or at the press section. The treated sheet is dried conventionally. Crosslinking may occur entirely during drying or during a period of additional heating, usually at a temperature in excess of 100 DEG C for a short period of time. Conventional debonding agents and crosslinking reactants are suitable. The softening agent apparently reduces or prevents adhesive bonding between adjacent fibers caused by polymer formation external to the fibers under reaction conditions.
Abstract:
Polyether-reinforced fiber-based materials, and methods for their manufacture, are disclosed. A representative material is a sheetlike ply having on one or both faces thereof a polyether-impregnated stratum extending depthwise into the ply thickness dimension no greater than about one-half the ply thickness dimension so as to leave a portion of the ply thickness dimension unimpregnated with polyether. The materials can comprise plural superposed plies wherein at least one ply has at least one polyether-impregnated stratum, such as polyether-reinforced corrugated paperboard. The polyether-reinforced materials have excellent compression strength and foldability. Each polyether-reinforced stratum is made by controllably applying a low-viscosity liquid mixture of an epoxy resin and a hardener, wherein the epoxy resin is substantially non-prepolymerized, to a fibrous web surface, then curing the resin mixture. The polyether-reinforced materials can be folded after curing and are useful for making cartons and other products.
Abstract:
A suspension of bacterial cellulose having a reticulated structure has been conditioned to remain in suspension when the suspension is under shear so that it may be coated on a substrate. The suspension of bacterial cellulose is homogenized and thereafter filtered to provide a bacterial cellulose component having a size no greater than 125 microns. This allows a process for applying bacterial cellulose as a coating on a substrate on a substantially continuous basis, either by roll coating or spraying. It also provides a coated product in which the bacterial cellulose is substantially uniform, taking into account the normal discontinuities of roll coating and spray coating.