초록 ▼

This process for increasing the reactivity of cellulose-containing materials such as animal feedstuffs involves contacting the material, in a pressure vessel, with a volatile liquid swelling agent e.g. ammonia, which has a vapor pressure greater than atmospheric pressure at ambient temperatures. The

This process for increasing the reactivity of cellulose-containing materials such as animal feedstuffs involves contacting the material, in a pressure vessel, with a volatile liquid swelling agent e.g. ammonia, which has a vapor pressure greater than atmospheric pressure at ambient temperatures. The contact is maintained for a time period sufficient for the agent to swell the cellulose of the material. The pressure is then rapidly reduced to atmospheric pressure, thereby causing the agent to boil and explode the material. The rapid pressure reduction also causes some freezing of the cellulose. The swelling agent is separated from said cellulose-containing material and recovered for recycling. The process also increases the water holding capacity of cellulose-containing materials.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for increasing the reactivity of cellulosic materials, comprising: a. contacting cellulose-containing material with liquid ammonia in a pressure vessel; b. mixing said cellulose-containing material and liquid ammonia in said pressure vessel absent the application of thermal energy to the pr

A method for increasing the reactivity of cellulosic materials, comprising: a. contacting cellulose-containing material with liquid ammonia in a pressure vessel; b. mixing said cellulose-containing material and liquid ammonia in said pressure vessel absent the application of thermal energy to the pressure vessel and its contents above the ambient air temperature surrounding the pressure vessel, at a pressure of at least the vapor pressure of liquid ammonia for the temperature in the pressure vessel, and for a time sufficient to wet and swell with liquid ammonia substantially all the cellulose in said material; and c. reducing rapidly the pressure inside said pressure vessel to a point sufficient to boil liquid ammonia and explode or rupture the cellulose fiber structure.