Process for individualizing trichomes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10344428-B2
Application number	US-201715602187-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2017
Priority date	May 23, 2016
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

A process for individualizing (separating) trichome fibers from a trichome source, such as a leaf and/or a stem, and more particularly to a process for individualizing (separating) trichome fibers from a trichome source utilizing a chemical separation process are provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A process for individualizing a trichome fiber from a trichome source, wherein the process comprises the steps of:
a. contacting a trichome source with a chelating composition comprising a chelating agent and a surfactant to produce a soaked trichome source;
b. subjecting the soaked trichome source to a temperature of greater than 60° C.; and
c. removing one or more individualized trichome fibers from the soaked trichome source.

2. The process according to claim 1 wherein the trichome source is selected from the group consisting of: leaves, stems, and mixtures thereof.

3. The process according to claim 1 wherein the chelating composition is present at a level such that the trichome source is saturated.

4. The process according to claim 1 wherein the chelating agent is selected from the group consisting of: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid, nitriloacetic acid, N-(hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine-N,N′,N′-triacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, polyphosporic acid, and mixtures thereof.

5. The process according to claim 4 wherein the chelating agent comprises ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.

6. The process according to claim 4 wherein the chelating agent comprises ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid.

7. The process according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of: nonionic, anionic, cationic, zwitterionic, amphoteric, and mixtures thereof.

8. The process according to claim 7 wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises an alkoxylated alcohol surfactant.

9. The process according to claim 1 wherein the chelating composition comprises from about 1% to about 10% by weight of the chelating agent and from about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of the surfactant.

10. The process according to claim 1 wherein the chelating composition exhibits a pH of greater than 4.

11. The process according to claim 1 wherein the chelating composition exhibits a pH of less than 11.

12. The process according to claim 1 wherein the chelating composition exhibits a pH of greater than 4 but less than 11.

13. The process according to claim 1 wherein the trichome source is contacted with the chelating composition for at least 1 minute.

14. The process according to claim 13 wherein the trichome source is contacted with the chelating composition for at least 5 minutes.

15. The process according to claim 1 wherein the soaked trichome source is subjected to the temperature of greater than 60° C. for at least 5 minutes.

16. The process according to claim 15 wherein the soaked trichome source is subjected to the temperature of greater than 60° C. for at least 10 minutes.

17. The process according to claim 16 wherein the soaked trichome source is subjected to the temperature of greater than 60° C. for at least 15 minutes.

18. The process according to claim 1 wherein the step of removing one or more individualized trichomes from the soaked trichome source comprises the step of:
d. subjecting the soaked trichome source to a shear mixer to break the trichome source into a plurality of pieces.

19. The process according to claim 18 wherein the shear mixer is operated at a speed of from about 1 to about 300 rpm.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Mohammadi Khosrow Parviz
• Barnabas Freddy Arthur
• Waye Bryan Keith
• Graham Douglas Michael
• Nunes Raul Victorino
• Agerton Mark Lewis
• Diazrivera Kassandra Natale
• Ullman Alan Howard

Classifications

• D21B1/021

  by chemical means · CPC title

• D21H17/15

  Polycarboxylic acids, e.g. maleic acid · CPC title

• D21C5/00

  Other processes for obtaining cellulose, e.g. cooking cotton linters (obtaining fibres for spinning D01C); {Processes characterised by the choice of cellulose-containing starting materials} · CPC title

• D21H27/002 Primary

  Tissue paper; Absorbent paper (D21H21/22, D21H27/02, D21H27/20 take precedence; toilet paper A47K10/00; absorbent pads for physiological fluids A61L15/16; making on paper-making machines D21F11/00) · CPC title

• D21C1/10

  Physical methods for facilitating impregnation · CPC title