METHODS OF PROCESSING PLANT FIBER, AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND COMPOSITIONS

摘要

The present invention relates to plant fiber processes (e.g., washing, drying, and/or grinding) that utilize recycle and/or make-up streams to use water resources efficiently and/or produce intermediate and/or final products with desired properties.

主权项

1) A method of cleaning plant fiber comprising:
a) providing a first plant fiber component comprising plant fiber and one or more additional plant constituents; b) combining the first plant fiber component with at least a first aqueous component comprising water and at least a portion of the one or more additional plant constituents to form a first mixture comprising:
i) a second plant fiber component comprising plant fiber and one or more additional plant constituents; andii) a second aqueous component comprising water and one or more additional plant constituents; c) separating at least a portion of the second aqueous component from the first mixture; d) after step (c), combining the first mixture with at least a third aqueous component comprising water to form a second mixture comprising:
i) a third plant fiber component comprising plant fiber; andii) the first aqueous component; e) separating the first aqueous component from the second mixture; and f) recycling at least a portion of the first aqueous component so that it can be combined with the first plant fiber component,wherein the concentration of plant fiber on a dry matter basis in the third plant fiber component is greater than the concentration of plant fiber on a dry matter basis in the first plant fiber component.