Bleaching trichomes to remove proteins

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12215461-B2
Application number	US-202318495794-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2023
Priority date	Jun 29, 2018
Publication date	Feb 4, 2025
Grant date	Feb 4, 2025

Abstract

A process for bleaching trichome fibers individualized from a trichome source, such as a leaf and/or a stem, is disclosed. The process of bleaching degrades trichome associated protein. Further, the bleaching processes improves the color of the trichomes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A process of treating individualized trichomes to remove proteins, whereby the process comprises:
a. selecting a trichome containing biomass;
b. individualizing the trichomes from the biomass, wherein the trichomes have a protein content;
c. wetting the trichomes;
d. reacting the trichomes with a reactant comprising at least one of a chlorite, a peroxide, and a peracid at a pH greater than about 8;
e. removing the trichomes from the reaction; and
f. measuring the protein content of the reacted trichomes.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the peracid is peracetic acid.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein peracetic acid is generated by reacting N,N,N′,N′-Tetraacetylethylenediamine with hydrogen peroxide.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the reacting step d is maintained above 20° C.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the pH of the reacting step d is maintained above 5.0.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the reaction of the reacting step d is for greater than 1 minute.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the biomass is from Stachys byzantina.

8. A process of treating individualized trichomes to remove proteins, whereby the process comprises:
a. selecting a trichome containing biomass;
b. individualizing the trichomes from the biomass, wherein the trichomes have a protein content;
c. wetting the trichomes;
d. reacting the trichomes with a first reactant;
e. reacting the trichomes with a second reactant;
f. removing the trichomes from the second reaction; and
g. measuring the protein content of the reacted trichomes.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the trichomes are removed from the first reaction before reacting with the second reactant.

10. The process of claim 8 wherein the peracid is peracetic acid.

11. The process of claim 8 wherein the peracetic acid is generated by reacting N,N,N′,N′-Tetraacetylethylenediamine with hydrogen peroxide.

12. The process of claim 8 wherein the first reactant, the second reactant, or both reactants comprise sodium chlorite.

13. The process of claim 12 wherein hydrogen peroxide is included in the reaction.

14. The process of claim 12 wherein the temperature is maintained above 20° C.

15. The process of claim 8 wherein the biomass is from Stachys byzantina.

16. The process of claim 8 wherein at least one of the first and second reactants comprise a peracid and a peracid activator.

17. The process of claim 8 wherein the individualized trichomes have a Hunter Color value of L* greater than 87.

18. The process of claim 17 wherein the individualized trichomes have a Hunter Color value of b* less than 17.

19. The process of claim 8 wherein protein present in the individualized trichomes is reacted with the first and second reactants so as to break down the protein via oxidation, yielding individualized trichomes.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Green Phillip Richard
• Nunes Raul Victorino
• Geary Nicholas William
• Mohammadi Khosrow Parviz

Classifications

• D21C9/163

  with peroxides · CPC title

• D21C9/14

  with ClO2 or chlorites · CPC title

• D21C9/10

  Bleaching {; Apparatus therefor} · CPC title

• D21C9/166 Primary

  with peracids · CPC title

• D21C9/16 Primary

  with per compounds · CPC title