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Method of producing level off DP microcrystallinecellulose and glucose from lignocellulosic material

  • US 4,645,541 A
  • Filed: 12/04/1985
  • Issued: 02/24/1987
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1984
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of producing level off DP microcrystalline cellulose and glucose from lignocellulosic material, comprising:

  • (a) packing the lignocellulosic material in a divided, exposed, moist form in a pressure vessel having a valved outlet,(b) with the valved outlet closed, rapidly filling the pressure vessel with steam at a pressure of 400-700 psi to bring, by means of the pressurized steam, substantially all of the lignocellulosic material to a temperature in the range 185°

    to 240°

    C. in less than 60 seconds to thermally soften the lignocellulosic material into a plastic condition, and(c) as soon as the said plastic condition has been attained, opening the valved outlet and explosively expelling the lignocellulosic material in the said plastic condition, from the pressure vessel through the outlet to atmosphere so that the said material issues from the outlet in particulate form with lignin therein rendered into particles substantially in the range 1 to 10 microns and separable from the cellulose and hemicellulose, the particulate lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose being together in dissociated form having the appearance of potting soil, a major portion of the lignin being soluble in methanol or ethanol and being thermoplastic, the cellulose being in the form of crystalline alpha cellulose microfibrils and suitable for digestion or conversion by micro-organisms and enzymes,(d) separating the cellulose in the particulate material from the lignin and hemicellulose,(e) soaking the separated cellulose in an acid solution of at least one acid selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid and sulfurous acid until the acid is distributed evenly throughout the cellulose, and then reducing the moisture content of the cellulose, leaving the cellulose impregnated with acid at a concentration in the range 0.05% to 2.0% of the weight of the cellulose,(f) packing the acid-impregnated cellulose into a pressure vessel having a valved outlet,(g) rapidly filling the pressure vesel with steam to a pressure in the range 300 psi to 700 psi to bring, by means of the pressurized steam, substantially all of the acid-impregnated cellulose to a temperature in the range of 185°

    -240°

    C. in less than 60 seconds, and thereby weaken by hydrolysis and thermal softening, the intramolecular bonds joining the glucose units to form the cellulose, then(h) opening the valved outlet, and explosively expelling the acid-impregnated cellulose from the pressure vessel through the outlet to atmospheric pressure, thereby breaking the intramolecular cross-links in the cellulose to depolymerize the hydrolysed, acid-impregnated cellulose to produce a mixture of cellulose and a glucose solution therefrom, and thereby rapidly reducing the temperature of the extruded material to below 100°

    C. to prevent further depolymerization of the cellulose and degradation of the glucose, and then(i) neutralizing the acidity of the glucose solution and residual cellulose.

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