Method and apparatus for separating lignocellulose particle fraction and lignin particle fraction, lignin particle composition, lignocellulose particle composition and their use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016333146-A1
Application number	US-201515110784-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 9, 2015
Priority date	Jan 13, 2014
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for separating lignocellulose particle fraction ( 3 ) and lignin particle fraction ( 4 ), in which crude lignin ( 1 ) formed from starting material ( 6 ) comprises lignocellulose particles and lignin particles. According to the invention, the method comprises adding stabilizing chemical ( 11 ) and/or hydrophobic chemical ( 12 ) into the crude lignin ( 1 ) in at least one step, and treating the crude lignin by separating the lignin particle fraction ( 4 ) and lignocellulose particle fraction ( 3 ) from each other in at least one separation step ( 2,8,9,10 ). Further, the invention relates to a lignocellulose particle fraction and a lignin particle fraction and their uses.

First claim

1 . A method for separating a lignocellulose particle fraction and a lignin particle fraction ( 4 ) from crude lignin, the method comprising:
adding a stabilizing chemical and/or a hydro-phobic chemical into the crude lignin in at least one step, and separating the lignin particle fraction and the lignocellulose particle fraction from the crude lignin in at least one separation step.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one separation step is more than one separation step.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one separation includes application of centrifugal forces, sedimentation, elutriation, aggregation, flotation, flocculation, screening, or any combination thereof.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the crude lignin is formed by hydrolysis.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing chemical is polysaccharide.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic chemical includes diesel oil, biodiesel oil, fuel oil, bio fuel oil, kerosene, biokerosene, other middle distillate fraction, or any combination thereof.

7 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the lignin particle fraction ( 4 ) and lignocellulose particle fraction ( 3 ) are separated from each other in the first separation step.

8 . The method according to claim 1 further comprising purifying the lignocellulose particle fraction in at least one purification step.

9 . The method according to claim 1 further comprising purifying the lignin particle fraction in at least one purification step.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
forming the crude lignin from a starting material; and circulating the lignocellulose particle fraction such that the lignocellulose particle fraction is combined with the starting material to form additional crude lignin.

11 . An apparatus for separating a lignocellulose particle fraction and a lignin particle fraction from crude lignin the system comprising:
at least one separating device for separating the lignin particle fraction and the lignocellulose particle fraction from the crude lignin in at least one separation step, at least one first feeding device for feeding the crude lignin into the at least one separating device; and at least one second feeding device for adding a stabilizing chemical and/or a hydrophobic chemical into the crude lignin in at least one step.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the the at least one separating device is at least two separating devices.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one separating device is configured to apply centrifugal forces, sedimentation, elutriation, aggregation, flotation, flocculation, screening, or any combination thereof.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a circulations means for circulating the lignocellulose particle fraction to combine it with starting material used to form the crude lignin.

15 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one dewatering device for dewatering the lignin particle fraction or the lignocellulose particle fraction.

16 . A lignin particle composition, comprising:
a lignin particle fraction of crude lignin, the crude lignin comprising lignocellulose particles and lignin particles, wherein the lignin particle fraction has been formed from the crude lignin by adding stabilizing chemical and/or hydrophobic chemical into the crude lignin in at least one step, and by separating the lignocellulose particle fraction from the lignin particle fraction in at least one separation step.

17 . A lignocellulose particle composition, comprising:
a lignocellulose particle fraction of crude lignin, the crude lignin comprising lignocellulose particles and lignin particles, wherein the lignocellulose particle fraction has been formed from the crude lignin by adding stabilizing chemical and/or hydrophobic chemical into the crude lignin in at least one step, and by separating the lignocellulose particle fraction from the lignin particle fraction in at least one separation step.

18 . (canceled)

19 . (canceled)

20 . (canceled)

21 . The lignin particle composition of claim 16 , further comprising activated carbon, carbon fiber, lignin composite, binder material, resin, phenolic component and/or dispersion agent.

22 . The lignocellulose particle composition of claim 17 , further comprising a composite, a wood composite, a wood-plastic composite, a resin, a wood based material, a wood based filler, a construction material, a building board, a glue board and/or another wood based board.

23 . A method for adsorbing oil or heavy metal, the method comprising contacting a material comprising oil or heavy metals with a lignin particle composition comprising a lignin particle fraction of crude lignin, the crude lignin comprising lignocellulose particles and lignin particles, wherein the lignin particle fraction has been formed from the crude lignin by adding stabilizing chemical and/or hydrophobic chemical into the crude lignin in at least one step, and by separating the lignocellulose particle fraction from the lignin particle fraction in at least one separation step, wherein the oil or heavy metal is adsorbed by the lignin particle composition.

Assignees

• Upm Kymmene Corp

Inventors

• Miettinen Mauno

Classifications

• D21H17/23

  Lignins · CPC title

• B01D21/00

  Separation of suspended solid particles from liquids by sedimentation ({separation of ores or the like by sedimentation B03B5/48 - B03B5/60} ; differential sedimentation B03D3/00; {purification of water, waste water, sewage or sludge C02F, e.g.} devices for separating or removing fatty or oily substances or similar floating material from water, waste water or sewage C02F1/40) · CPC title

• C08L97/02

  Lignocellulosic material, e.g. wood, straw or bagasse {(manufacture of articles made from lignocellulosic material by dry processes B27N)} · CPC title

• C08L97/005

  Lignin · CPC title

• C08L2205/02

  containing two or more polymers of the same C08L -group · CPC title