Inline dilution of microfibrillated cellulose

US11851818B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Borregaard AS · NO

Inventors

• Anne Opstad · Sarpsborg, NO
• Jarle Wikeby · Sarpsborg, NO
• Hans Henrik Øvrebø · Sarpsborg, NO

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 7, 2018
• Grant date: Dec 26, 2023
• Expiry date: Feb 5, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC D): Textiles; Paper
• CPC primary: D21H17/53
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The present invention relates a process and a system for the point-of-use dilution of microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) from a higher solids content to a lower solids content, for example from a solids content in the range of 5% weight by weight (“w/w”)-50% w/w, preferably 5% w/w-30% w/w, further preferably 5% w/w-15% w/w, down to a solids content of below 7% w/w, preferably below 5% w/w, preferably to a solids content of 0.01% w/w-5% w/w, further preferably to a solids content of 0.1% w/w-3% w/w. The process at least comprises the following steps: (i) providing microfibrillated cellulose in a solvent, wherein the solids content is in the range of 5% weight by weight (“w/w”)-50% w/w, preferably 5% w/w-30% w/w, further preferably 5 w/w-15% w/w; (ii) subjecting said microfibrillated cellulose from step (i) to a dilution step in a rotor-stator mixer; (iii) simultaneously to step (ii): injecting solvent into the rotor-stator mixer, or into a volume segment upstream of the rotor-stator mixer, in order to lower the solids content of the microfibrillated cellulose in the rotor-stator mixer.