Fibrous materials and composites

• US 7,708,214 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2006
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
• Inventors: Medoff, Marshall
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BENA B
• Application Number:
  US11/453,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20070045456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 241/73, 241/28, 241/30
• US Class Current: 241/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/081 Gamma radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/082 X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/087 Particle radiation, e.g. electron-beam, alpha or beta radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 19/0056 specially adapted for specific materials not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 23/10 with separator arranged in discharge path of crushing or disintegrating zone
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 23/14 with more than one separator
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 13/08 by using wave energy or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 17/0042 for shaping parts, e.g. multilayered parts with at least one layer containing regenerated plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 17/0412 to large particles, e.g. beads, granules, flakes, slices
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 2017/0224 Screens, sieves
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 2017/0476 Cutting or tearing members, e.g. spiked or toothed cylinders or intermeshing rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 9/08 by agglomerating smaller particles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/003 characterised by the choice of material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/02 of articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles B29C35/0227 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0001 characterised by the choice of material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0005 using fibre reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/022 characterised by the choice of material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/07 Flat, e.g. panels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 67/24 characterised by the choice of material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/0029 Perfuming, odour masking or flavouring agents
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/0032 : Pigments, colouring agents or opacifiyng agents
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/06 : containing reinforcements, fillers or inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/065 : containing impurities
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/12 : of short lengths, e.g. chopped filaments, staple fibres or bristles
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/16 : Fillers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/25 : Solid
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2201/00 : Use of cellulose, modified cellulose or cellulose derivatives, e.g. viscose, as reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0059 : Degradable
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 97/02 : Lignocellulosic material, e.g. wood, straw or bagasse manufacture of articles made from lignocellulosic material by dry processes B27N
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/00 : Preparation of compounds containing saccharide radicals ketoaldonic acids C12P7/58
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/02 : Monosaccharides 2-ketogulonic acid C12P7/60
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/14 : produced by the action of a carbohydrase (EC 3.2.x), e.g. by alpha-amylase , e.g. by cellulase, hemicellulase
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 2203/00 : Fermentation products obtained from optionally pretreated or hydrolyzed cellulosic or lignocellulosic material as the carbon source ethanol C12P7/10
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/10 : substrate containing cellulosic material
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/20 : using bio-feedstock
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/52 : Mechanical processing of waste for the recovery of materials, e.g. crushing, shredding, separation or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/62 : Plastics recycling; Rubber recycling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49801 : Shaping fiber or fibered material

Abstract

Fibrous materials, compositions that include fibrous materials, and uses of the fibrous materials and compositions are disclosed. For example, the fibrous materials can be operated on by a microorganism to produce ethanol or a by-product, such as a protein or lignin.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

passing a first fibrous material that has been prepared by shearing a cellulosic or lignocellulosic fiber source through a first screen having an average opening size of 1.59 mm or less ( 1/16 inch;

0.0625 inch) to provide a second fibrous material having a BET surface area greater than 0.25 m²/g and a porosity greater than 25 percent.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fiber source has been subjected to cutting prior to shearing the fiber source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the shearing was performed with a rotary knife cutter.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising shearing the sheared and screened fibrous material.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising shearing the sheared and screened fibrous material, and passing the resulting fibrous material through the first screen.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising shearing the sheared and screened fibrous material, and passing the resulting fibrous material through a second screen having an average opening size less than the first screen.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the shearing of the fiber source and the passing of the first fibrous material through the first screen are performed concurrently.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein an average length-to-diameter ratio of fibers of the second fibrous material is greater than 8/1.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a standard deviation of a length of fibers of the second fibrous material is less than 60 percent of an average length of fibers of the second fibrous material.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a ratio of an average length-to-diameter ratio of fibers of the first fibrous material to an average length-to-diameter ratio of the second fibrous material is less than 1.5.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the fiber source comprises a cellulosic material or a lignocellulosic material.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first screen has an average opening size of 0.79 mm or less ( 1/32 inch, 0.03125 inch).

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the BET surface area is greater than 0.4 m²/g.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the BET surface area is greater than 1.0 m²/g.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising combining the second fibrous material with bacterium and/or enzyme.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the fibrous material is passed through a second screen before combining the fibrous material with the bacterium and/or enzyme.