Methods of processing plant fiber, and related systems and compositions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10648131-B2
Application number	US-201514699357-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2015
Priority date	May 1, 2014
Publication date	May 12, 2020
Grant date	May 12, 2020

Abstract

The present invention relates to plant fiber processes (e.g., washing, drying, and/or grinding) that utilize recycle and/or make-up streams to use water resources efficiently and/or produce intermediate and/or final products with desired properties.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of cleaning plant fiber comprising:
a) providing a first plant fiber stream comprising grain fiber and one or more additional plant constituents including starch;
b) combining the first plant fiber stream with at least a first aqueous stream comprising water and one or more additional plant constituents to form a first mixture in a first tank, wherein the first mixture is subjected to agitation in the first tank;
c) providing the first mixture to a first separation apparatus;
d) separating a second aqueous stream from the first mixture in the first separation apparatus to form a second plant fiber stream comprising grain fiber;
e) recycling at least a first portion of the second aqueous stream so that it can be combined with the first plant fiber stream in the first tank;
f) after step (d), combining the second plant fiber stream with make-up water to form a second mixture in a second tank, wherein the second mixture is subjected to agitation in the second tank;
g) providing the second mixture to a second separation apparatus;
h) separating a third aqueous stream from the second mixture in the second separation apparatus to form a third plant fiber stream comprising grain fiber;
i) separating a first portion from the third aqueous stream and recycling the first portion so that it can be combined with the second plant fiber stream in the second tank;
j) separating a second portion from the third aqueous stream and recycling the second portion to form the first aqueous stream so that it can be combined with the first plant fiber stream in the first tank; and
k) adjusting a flow rate of the make-up water to adjust the concentration of grain fiber on a dry matter basis in the third plant fiber stream,
wherein the concentration of plant fiber on a dry matter basis in the third plant fiber stream is greater than the concentration of plant fiber on a dry matter basis in the first plant fiber stream, and
wherein the second aqueous stream is not combined with the second portion of the third aqueous stream at least prior to the separating the second portion from the third aqueous stream.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the grain fiber comprises corn bran fiber.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (d) comprises subjecting the first mixture to pressure to separate the second aqueous stream from the first mixture and/or step (h) comprises subjecting the second mixture to pressure to separate the third aqueous stream from the second mixture.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising combining the first mixture with one or more additional aqueous streams before combining the second plant fiber stream with the make-up water and the first portion of the third aqueous stream to form the second mixture.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the grain fiber in the third plant fiber stream has an amount of moisture; and further comprising:
a) providing the third plant fiber stream to a grinding apparatus and grinding the grain fiber in the third plant fiber stream;
b) combining the third plant fiber stream with a first gas stream having a temperature and humidity value to control the moisture content and temperature of the grain fiber in the third plant fiber stream during the grinding;
c) after said grinding, separating at least a portion of gas from the third plant fiber stream to form a recycled gas stream and a fiber product stream; and
d) using the recycled gas stream to form the first gas stream.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first gas stream is at a temperature that inhibits bacteria in the plant fiber.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first gas stream is at a temperature of 135 degrees F. or greater.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising combining the recycled gas stream with a second gas stream having a temperature and a humidity value to form the first gas stream.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the fiber product has a moisture content less than 12 percent.

10. The method of claim 5 , wherein the plant fiber in the third plant fiber stream is dried prior to step (a) to have the amount of moisture.

11. The method of claim 5 , wherein the third plant fiber stream is combined with the first gas stream so that the fiber product in the fiber product stream has substantially the same moisture content as the plant fiber in the third plant fiber stream prior to step (a).

12. The method of claim 5 , wherein the third plant fiber stream is combined with the first gas stream so that the fiber product in the fiber product stream has a lower moisture content than the plant fiber in the third plant fiber stream prior to step (a).

13. The method of claim 5 , wherein the third plant fiber stream is combined with the first gas stream so that the fiber product in the fiber product stream has a higher moisture content than the plant fiber in the third plant fiber stream prior to step (a).

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a second portion of the second aqueous stream is not returned to a washing process.

15. A method of cleaning plant fiber comprising:
a) providing a first plant fiber stream comprising a grain fiber and one or more additional plant constituents including starch;
b) combining the first plant fiber stream with at least a first aqueous stream comprising water and one or more additional plant constituents to form a first mixture in a first tank, wherein the first mixture is subjected to agitation in the first tank;
c) providing the first mixture to a first separation apparatus;
d) separating a second aqueous stream from the first mixture in the first separation apparatus to form a second plant fiber stream comprising grain fiber;
e) recycling at least a first portion of the second aqueous stream so that it can be combined with the first plant fiber stream in the first tank;
f) after step (d), combining the second plant fiber stream with at least a third aqueous stream comprising water to form a second mixture in a second tank, wherein the second mixture is subjected to agitation in the second tank;
g) providing the second mixture to a second separation apparatus;
h) separating a fourth aqueous stream from the second mixture in the second separation apparatus to form a third plant fiber stream comprising grain fiber;
i) recycling at least a first portion of the fourth aqueous stream so that it can be combined with the second plant fiber stream in the second tank;
j) recycling at least a second portion of the fourth aqueous stream to form the first aqueous stream so that it can be combined with the first plant fiber stream in the first tank,
(k) after step (i), combining the third plant fiber stream with make-up water to form a third mixture in a third tank, wherein the third mixture is subjected to agitation in the third tank;
(l) providing the third mixture to a third separation apparatus;
(m) separating a fifth aqueous stream from the third mixture in the third separation apparatus to form a fourth plant fiber stream comprising grain fiber;
(n) recycling at least a first portion of the fifth aqueous stream and combining it with the third plant fiber stream in the third tank;
(o) recycling at least a second portion of the fifth aqueous stream to form the third aqueous stream and combining it with the second plant fiber stream in the second tank; and
(p) adjusting the flow rate of the make-up water to adjust the concentration of the grain fiber on a dry matter basis in the fourth plant fiber stream,
wherein the concentration of plant fiber on a dry matter basis in the third plant fiber stream is greater than the concentra

Assignees

• Poet Res Inc

Inventors

• Redford Steven G

Classifications

• D21C11/00 Primary

  Regeneration of pulp liquors {or effluent waste waters} · CPC title

• D21C9/02 Primary

  Washing {; Displacing cooking or pulp-treating liquors contained in the pulp by fluids, e.g. wash water or other pulp-treating agents} · CPC title

• D21C11/0028

  Effluents derived from the washing or bleaching plants · CPC title

• D21C1/02

  with water or steam · CPC title