Pelletized pulp

• US 6,217,625 B1
• Filed: 11/08/1999
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verso Paper Holding LLC (Verso Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Westvaco Corporation (Meadwestvaco Corporation)
• Inventors: McDermott, Eddy T., Oktela, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Medley, Margaret
• Assistant Examiner(s): Toomer, Cephia D.
• Application Number:
  US09/436,040
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 445/50, 445/95, 445/96, 445/97, 445/98
• US Class Current: 44/550
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/44 on vegetable substances
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel

Abstract

A pelletized cellulosic pulp product is produced from a delignified and bleached paper pulp raw material that is useful as a combustion material. The size, shape, density and glazed outer surface of the pelletized product contributes to controlled combustion of the pellets to support a smoldering burn in use.

Claims

1. Process for the preparation of a cellulosic pulp product designed for controlled combustion to support a smoldering burn consisting essentially of:

(a) selecting as the cellulosic pulp raw material a delignified and bleached paper pulp suitable for use in the manufacture of FDA approved paper products for food packaging;

(b) drying the cellulosic pulp raw material of step (a) to a moisture content of from about 14-18%; and

,

(c) subjecting the cellulosic pulp raw material of step (b) to a pelletizing process to form substantially cylindrically shaped pellets having a moisture content within the range of about 8-10%, a density of from about 570-640 Kg/m³, a length of from about 12-40 mm, and a diameter of from about 4-10 mm, wherein the pellets have a glazed outer surface to provide controlled combustion and a smoldering burn in use.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the pellets after pelletizing are subjected to a cooling step using streams of cool air to reduce the temperature of the pellets for bagging and a vacuum system to remove dust created during the pelletizing step.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein the pellets are further subjected to jets of cool air during the bagging step to substantially prevent the development of mold or mildew after bagging.

4. A pelletized combustion product prepared from a delignified and bleached paper pulp suitable for use in the manufacture of FDA approved paper products for food packaging consisting essentially of pellets having a generally cylindrical shape with a moisture content of about 8-10%, a density of from about 570-640 kg/m³, a length of from about 12-40 mm and a diameter of from about 4-10 mm wherein the pellets have a glazed outer surface to provide controlled combustion and a smoldering burn in use.