Process for producing fibrillated cellulose material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016355857-A1
Application number	US-201415104991-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 18, 2014
Priority date	Dec 18, 2013
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for producing a fibrillated cellulose material. In the invention fibrillated cellulose is produced enzymatically by using a low energy demanding mechanical mixer such as plough share mixer, to enhance the fibrillation. Enzymes and process conditions are chosen so that the cellulose degradation is as low as possible, while obtaining a high yield of nanofibrils. Sugars that are produced into the end-product may also be furthermore exploited.

First claim

1 . A process for the production of fibrillated cellulose material comprising fibrillation of a cellulose-based starting material with enzyme(s), and enhancing the fibrillation with mechanical mixing, wherein before the fibrillation a starting material is added into a slurry having a consistency on between 10% and 60%, after which the fibrillation is carried out by using an enzyme mix having mainly a cellobiohydrolase activity and a low endoglucanase activity, wherein the endoglucanase activity is sufficient to create new chain ends, combined with non-grinding mechanical mixing.

2 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the fibrillation is carried out in two stages by selectively controlling reaction temperature, where
in a first stage selecting such reaction temperature, which allows both cellobiohydrolase and endoglucanase to be active, and in a second stage inactivating the endoglucanase activity by increasing the reaction temperature.

3 . The process according to claim 1 , further comprising using an enzyme mix wherein the cellobiohydrolase activity is more thermostable than the endoglucanase activity.

4 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the enzyme mix in addition contains assisting carbohydrate active enzymes such as β-glucosidases, hemicellulases, pectinases or lytic polysaccharide mono-oxygenases, or their combinations.

5 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical mixing is carried out by using a low energy demanding mixer.

6 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the fibrillation is enhanced by a post-treatment step at adequate consistency conditions.

7 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the fibrillation is carried out in two stages, wherein in a first stage reaction temperature is maintained between 0 and 50° C. and in a second stage between 60 and 80° C.

8 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the fibrillation is carried out in two stages, wherein in a first stage reaction temperature is kept at about 50° C., followed by a second stage wherein the temperature is raised to about 70° C.

9 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein before the fibrillation a starting material is added into a slurry having a consistency of between 15% and 40%.

10 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the fibrillation lasts from 15 minutes to 25 hours.

11 . A fibrillated cellulose material produced by, fibrillation of a cellulose-based starting material with enzyme(s), and enhancing the fibrillation with mechanical mixing, wherein before the fibrillation a starting material is added into a slurry having a consistency on between 10% and 60%, after which the fibrillation is carried out by using an enzyme mix having mainly a cellobiohydrolase activity and a low endoglucanase activity, wherein the endoglucanase activity is sufficient to create new chain ends, combined with non-grinding mechanical mixing.

12 . The process according to claim 5 , wherein the low energy demanding mixer is a non-refining mixer exerting grinding forces.

13 . The process according to claim 5 , wherein the low energy demanding mixer is on of:
a plough share mixer, screw mixer, kneader, compounder or extruder.

14 . The process according to claim 6 , wherein the post-treatment step is grinding or high shear treatment in one of an extruder, homogenizer or fluidizer.

15 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the fibrillation lasts from 1 hour to 6 hours.

Assignees

• Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus Vtt Oy

Inventors

• Hiltunen Jaakko
• Kemppainen Katariina
• Pere Jaakko

Classifications

• D21C5/005

  Treatment of cellulose-containing material with microorganisms or enzymes · CPC title

• C12P19/14 Primary

  produced by the action of a carbohydrase {(EC 3.2.x)}, e.g. by alpha-amylase {, e.g. by cellulase, hemicellulase} · CPC title

• C12P19/04

  Polysaccharides, i.e. compounds containing more than five saccharide radicals attached to each other by glycosidic bonds · CPC title

• C08B15/02

  Oxycellulose; Hydrocellulose; {Cellulosehydrate, e.g. microcrystalline cellulose} · CPC title

• D21H11/18 Primary

  Highly hydrated, swollen or fibrillatable fibres · CPC title