Fibrous materials and composites

• US 7,980,495 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2010
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• 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
• Application Number:
  US12/769,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20100267097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 241/25, 241/24.19, 241/24.29
• US Class Current: 241/24.19
• 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 of making a fuel, the method comprising:

mechanically treating a fiber source to provide a first fibrous material;

passing the first fibrous material through a first screen having an average opening size of about 1.59 mm or less to provide a second fibrous material; and

combining the second fibrous material with a microorganism, the microorganism utilizing the second fibrous material to produce a fuel selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alcohols, organic acids, hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1, 4-butane diol, glycerin, and mixtures thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, γ

-hydroxybutyric acid and mixtures thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane, propane, isobutene, pentane, n-hexane, and mixtures thereof

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sterilizing the second fibrous material prior to combining with the microorganism.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the sterilizing is performed by exposing the second fibrous material to a radiation source.

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

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the cellulosic or lignocellulosic material is selected from the group consisting of wood, grasses, rice hulls, bagasse, cotton, jute, hemp, flax, bamboo, sisal, abaca, straw, corn cobs, coconut hair, and paper.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein utilizing the second fibrous material comprises fermenting a low molecular weight sugar derived from the second fibrous material.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the microorganism comprises a yeast.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the microorganism hydrolyzes the second fibrous material to provide a hydrolyzed material.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the hydrolyzed material comprises one or more low molecular weight sugars.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1, 4-butane diol, glycerin, and mixtures thereof.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, γ

-hydroxybutyric acid and mixtures thereof.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane, propane, isobutene, pentane, n-hexane, and mixtures thereof.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising sterilizing the second fibrous material prior to combining with the microorganism.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the sterilizing is performed by exposing the second fibrous material to a radiation source.

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

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the cellulosic or lignocellulosic material is selected from the group consisting of wood, grasses, rice hulls, bagasse, cotton, jute, hemp, flax, bamboo, sisal, abaca, straw, corn cobs, coconut hair, and paper.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising combining the hydrolyzed material with a microorganism and allowing the combination to ferment.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the microorganism combined with the hydrolyzed material comprises a yeast.

22. The method of claim 11 wherein the microorganism comprises a bacterium or an enzyme.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein mechanically treating comprises shearing.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein mechanically treating comprises grinding or milling.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the microorganism comprises a bacterium or an enzyme.