Method for producing microcrystalline cellulose
First Claim
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1. A process for the production of microcrystalline cellulose consisting essentially of(i) introducing a cellulose source material in divided form into a pressurizable reactor;
- (ii) subjecting the cellulosic material in the reactor to a steam explosion treatment, by contacting the cellulosic material with pressurized steam at a temperature of at least about 170°
C. for a period of time sufficient to hydrolyze the cellulosic material, the temperature and time being sufficient to provide a depolymerized cellulosic material containing microcrystalline cellulose having a true level off degree of polymerization of about 100 to about 400, and thereafter explosively releasing the steam pressure when the level off degree of polymerization is reached;
(iii) extracting the steam exploded cellulosic material to remove hemicellulose and to remove lignin; and
(iv) recovering microcrystalline cellulose that is substantially colloidal in particle size and that is essentially free of fibrous cellulose.
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Abstract
A method for producing microcrystalline cellulose by the steps of subjecting a cellulose source material to steam explosion treatment, extracting the steam treated cellulosic material to remove hemicellulose and lignin, and recovering microcrystalline cellulose that is substantially colloidal in particle size and essentially free of fibrous cellulose.
89 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A process for the production of microcrystalline cellulose consisting essentially of
(i) introducing a cellulose source material in divided form into a pressurizable reactor; -
(ii) subjecting the cellulosic material in the reactor to a steam explosion treatment, by contacting the cellulosic material with pressurized steam at a temperature of at least about 170°
C. for a period of time sufficient to hydrolyze the cellulosic material, the temperature and time being sufficient to provide a depolymerized cellulosic material containing microcrystalline cellulose having a true level off degree of polymerization of about 100 to about 400, and thereafter explosively releasing the steam pressure when the level off degree of polymerization is reached;(iii) extracting the steam exploded cellulosic material to remove hemicellulose and to remove lignin; and (iv) recovering microcrystalline cellulose that is substantially colloidal in particle size and that is essentially free of fibrous cellulose. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A process for the production of microcrystalline cellulose consisting essentially of
(i) introducing a cellulose source material in divided form into a pressurizable reactor; -
(ii) subjecting the cellulosic material in the reactor to a steam explosion treatment, by contacting the cellulosic material with pressurized steam at a temperature of at least about 170°
C. for a period of time sufficient to hydrolyze the cellulosic material, the temperature and time being sufficient to provide a depolymerized cellulosic material containing microcrystalline cellulose having a true level off degree of polymerization of about 100 to about 400, and thereafter explosively releasing the steam pressure when the level off degree of polymerization is reached;(iii) extracting the steam exploded cellulosic material to remove hemicellulose and to remove lignin; (iv) attriting the steam exploded and extracted cellulosic material under high shear; and (v) recovering microcrystalline cellulose that is substantially colloidal in particle size and that is essentially free of fibrous cellulose. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A process for the production of microcrystalline cellulose consisting essentially of
(i) introducing a cellulose source material in divided form into a pressurizable reactor; -
(ii) subjecting the cellulosic material in the reactor to a steam explosion treatment, by contacting the cellulosic material with pressurized steam at a temperature of at least about 170°
C. for a period of time sufficient to hydrolyze the cellulosic material, the temperature and time being sufficient to provide a depolymerized cellulosic material containing microcrystalline cellulose having a true level off degree of polymerization of about 100 to about 400, and thereafter explosively releasing the steam pressure when the level off degree of polymerization is reached;(iii) extracting the steam exploded cellulosic material to remove hemicellulose and to remove lignin; (iv) coprocessing the steam exploded and extracted cellulosic material under high shear with a hydrocolloid or a surfactant; and (v) recovering microcrystalline cellulose that is substantially colloidal in particle size and that is essentially free of fibrous cellulose. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A process for the production of microcrystalline cellulose consisting essentially of
(i) introducing a cellulose source material in divided form into a pressurizable reactor; -
(ii) subjecting the cellulosic material in the reactor to a steam explosion treatment, by contacting the cellulosic material with pressurized steam at a temperature of at least about 170°
C. for a period of time sufficient to hydrolyze the cellulosic material, the temperature and time being sufficient to provide a depolymerized cellulosic material containing microcrystalline cellulose having a true level off degree of polymerization of about 100 to about 400, and thereafter explosively releasing the steam pressure when the level off degree of polymerization is reached;(iii) extracting the steam exploded cellulosic material to remove hemicellulose and to remove lignin; (iv) attriting the steam exploded and extracted cellulosic material under high shear; (v) coprocessing the steam exploded and extracted cellulosic material under high shear with a hydrocolloid or a surfactant, such coprocessing being carried out either concurrently with the attrition step or after the attrition step; and (vi) recovering microcrystalline cellulose that is substantially colloidal in particle size and that is essentially free of fibrous cellulose. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification