Methods for liberating trichome fibers form portions of a host plant

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10309057-B2
Application number	US-201615378430-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2016
Priority date	Dec 18, 2015
Publication date	Jun 4, 2019
Grant date	Jun 4, 2019

Abstract

Improved processes for liberating trichome fibers from non-seed portions of a trichome-bearing host plant are provided. The processes include one or more steps for disassociating trichome fibers that are already separated from leaves, stems, and still-attached fibers so that the separated trichome fibers can be collected and not lost through a waste stream.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for liberating individualized trichome fibers from a non-seed portion of a host plant, the method comprising the steps of:
a. providing an initial mass of material comprising a plurality of leaves and stems of a host plant, at least some of which comprising attached trichome fibers;
b. milling the leaves and stems to separate trichome fibers from the same, wherein the milled leaves and stems, and separated trichome fibers define a feed stock;
c. entraining a pressurized fluid stream with the feed stock;
d. thereafter directing the pressurized fluid stream against a fluid flow resistor to disassociate at least some of the separated trichome fibers from the milled leaves and stems to create a refined feed stock;
e. thereafter subjecting the refined feed stock to one or more air classifiers; and
f. collecting material from the one or more air classifiers to define an end mass of material;
g. wherein a yield of trichome fibers, as defined by the end mass of material divided by the initial mass of material, is greater than 15%.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mass of material is derived from a plant in the Stachys genus.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the end mass of material comprises an L* color value of greater than about 70%.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the end mass of material comprises a b* color value of less than about 15%.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the end mass of material comprises trichome fibers having a length that is less than 100 microns.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
h. washing the end mass of material to increase its L* color value and/or b* color value.

7. A method for liberating individualized trichome fibers from a non-seed portion of a host plant, the method comprising the steps of:
a. providing an initial mass of material comprising a feedstock comprising leaves, stems, attached trichome fibers, and separated trichome fibers;
b. disassociating at least some of the separated trichome fibers from the leaves, stems, and still attached trichome fibers to create a refined feedstock wherein the step of disassociating comprises entraining pressured fluid with the feedstock and directing the entrained pressurized fluid against a plate;
c. thereafter subjecting the refined feed stock to one or more air classifiers; and
d. collecting material from the one or more air classifiers to define an end mass of material;
e. wherein a yield of trichome fibers, as defined by the end mass of material divided by the initial mass of material, is greater than 15%.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the mass of material is derived from a plant in the Stachys genus.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein step b. comprises communicating the feedstock through a venturi mechanism.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the end mass of material comprises an L* color value of greater than about 70%.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the end mass of material comprises a b* color value of less than about 15%.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least some of the end mass of material comprises trichome fibers having a length that is less than 100 microns.

13. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of:
f. washing the end mass of material to increase its L* color value and/or b* color value.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Mohammadi Khosrow Parvis
• Kreider Scott Christopher

Classifications

• D21B1/34

  Kneading or mixing; Pulpers · CPC title

• B32B29/005

  next to another layer of paper or cardboard layer · CPC title

• D21H11/12 Primary

  Pulp from non-woody plants or crops, e.g. cotton, flax, straw, bagasse · CPC title

• D21H27/30

  Multi-ply (for surface covering D21H27/18; making on paper-making machines D21F9/00, D21F11/00) · CPC title

• D21B1/06 Primary

  by dry methods · CPC title