Fuel and related compositions – Consolidated solids
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-08
2001-04-17
Medley, Margaret (Department: 1714)
Fuel and related compositions
Consolidated solids
C044S595000, C044S596000, C044S597000, C044S598000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217625
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a process for the treatment of a cellulosic pulp material to produce a pelletized product.
It is known, for example, to treat fibrous cellulosic containing raw materials from various sources to produce various products such as animal litter, bedding materials, liquid absorbents and shock absorbing materials for packaging. The fibrous materials employed for such purposes include for the most part various kinds of paper pulp, recycled pulp from a recycling operation, paper mill sludge, wastepaper and combinations thereof. In addition to these fibrous materials, various additives are used to give specific characteristics to the processed raw material including the addition of both organic and inorganic fillers. Examples of such processes and products are disclosed in the article “New Technique to Pelletize and Dry Pulp, Sludge and Bark at low temperatures”, by Louis Barre and Marcel Bilodeau, presented at the 84th Annual Meeting, technical Section, CPPA, Jan. 27-28, 1998; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,560,527; 4,619,862; 5,209,186; and European Patent Application EP 0 039 522. In the EP application, fibrous raw materials including groundwood, thermomechanical wood pulp, sulphate and sulphite pulp including inorganic fillers such as kaolin, talcum, gypsum and chalk are processed into pellets useful for either a liquid absorbent or a shock absorbing packaging material.
In contrast to the above prior art, the present invention is intended to produce a pelletized cellulosic pulp product that has controlled combustion characteristics when burned to produce flavorless smoke compounds. Moreover, since the cellulosic pulp product of the present invention is utilized directly or indirectly in the smoking and curing of food products for human consumption, the raw material of the present invention is preferably a delignified and bleached chemical paper pulp that is suitable for use in the manufacture of FDA approved paper and paperboard products for use in packaging food products.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to the processing of a cellulosic pulp raw material and the novel products produced using that raw material. As referred to herein, the term “cellulosic pulp” is used to refer broadly to processed cellulosic fibers produced using a conventional papermaking pulping process. The pulp so produced is preferably substantially totally free from any natural binders such as lignin, tars and pitches which normally occur in plant life, and does not contain any additives. These binders are normally removed by extraction and bleaching during the pulping process. Therefore, cellulosic pulp which has undergone digestion and bleaching in a paper pulping operation is particularly suited as the raw material for the present invention. Moreover, in view of the desired secondary use of the products produced by the present invention (e.g., to treat food for human consumption), the preferred raw material is pulp that can be used in the manufacture of paper and paperboard products that are FDA approved for food packaging as prescribed in Part 176 of the Food Additives Amendment and the Regulations issued by the Food and Drug Administration.
The products produced in accordance with the present invention are preferably elongated pellets having a specified density, aspect ratio and moisture content with a glazed outer surface to support a controlled, smoldering bum when used as a combustion product. The pellets have a preferred density of about 38 lbs/cu.ft, an aspect ratio of about 3 to 1 (length to diameter), and a moisture content of about 8-10%. In accordance with the invention, the cellulosic pulp raw material is fed into a pelletizing apparatus where it is forced through a rotary die to form pellets of the desired size, shape and density. After processing, the pellets are conditioned to the desired moisture content and temperature before being bagged for shipment.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4529407 (1985-07-01), Johnston et al.
patent: 4560527 (1985-12-01), Harke et al.
patent: 4619862 (1986-10-01), Sokolowski et al.
patent: 5209186 (1993-05-01), Dewing
patent: 0039522 (1981-11-01), None
“New Technique to Pelletize and Dry Pulp, Sludge and Bark at low Temperatures”, by Louis Barre and Marcel Bilodeau, presented at the 84th Annual Meeting, Technical Section, CPPA, Jan. 27-28, 1998, pp. A119-A122.
McDermott Eddy T.
Oktela Joe
Medley Margaret
Toomer Cephia D.
Westvaco Corporation
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