Nanocellulose-reinforced cellulose fibers can increase the strength of hardwood fibers or agricultural-residue cellulose fibers, to simulate the strength of softwood fibers in pulp or pulp products (including composites). In some variations, the invention provides a method of reinforcing cellulose fibers, comprising providing cellulose fibers derived from hardwoods, agricultural residues, or a combination thereof; providing a source of nanocellulose comprising cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals; and reinforcing the cellulose fibers with the nanocellulose to increase strength of the cellulose fibers. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose is obtained from fractionating biomass in the presence of an acid, a solvent for lignin, and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid phase; and then mechanically refining the cellulose-rich solids to generate the nanocellulose.

Nanocellulose-reinforced cellulose fibers can increase the strength of hardwood fibers or agricultural-residue cellulose fibers, to simulate the strength of softwood fibers in pulp or pulp products (including composites). In some variations, the invention provides a method of reinforcing cellulose fibers, comprising providing cellulose fibers derived from hardwoods, agricultural residues, or a combination thereof; providing a source of nanocellulose comprising cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals; and reinforcing the cellulose fibers with the nanocellulose to increase strength of the cellulose fibers. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose is obtained from fractionating biomass in the presence of an acid, a solvent for lignin, and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid phase; and then mechanically refining the cellulose-rich solids to generate the nanocellulose.

A thermal process for carbonizing hemp and reducing particle size, mechanically, by grinding or milling said carbonized hemp materials to generate a precise particle size hemp char and combining the hemp char particles with a polymer into a master batch.

A seed processing system for cottonseeds includes a fluid distribution system configured to sequentially dispense an acid solution, a base solution and a rinse liquid onto the cottonseeds. A seed applicator system defines an interior configured to hold the cottonseeds and receive the acid solution, base solution and rinse liquid dispensed from the fluid distribution system. The seed applicator system includes a rotor configured to agitate the cottonseeds in the interior as the acid solution, base solution and rinse liquid are dispensed onto the cottonseeds to effectuate mixing.

A seed processing system for cottonseeds includes a fluid distribution system configured to sequentially dispense an acid solution, a base solution and a rinse liquid onto the cottonseeds. A seed applicator system defines an interior configured to hold the cottonseeds and receive the acid solution, base solution and rinse liquid dispensed from the fluid distribution system. The seed applicator system includes a rotor configured to agitate the cottonseeds in the interior as the acid solution, base solution and rinse liquid are dispensed onto the cottonseeds to effectuate mixing.

Nanocellulose-reinforced cellulose fibers can increase the strength of hardwood fibers or agricultural-residue cellulose fibers, to simulate the strength of softwood fibers in pulp or pulp products (including composites). In some variations, the invention provides a method of reinforcing cellulose fibers, comprising providing cellulose fibers derived from hardwoods, agricultural residues, or a combination thereof; providing a source of nanocellulose comprising cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals; and reinforcing the cellulose fibers with the nanocellulose to increase strength of the cellulose fibers. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose is obtained from fractionating biomass in the presence of an acid, a solvent for lignin, and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid phase; and then mechanically refining the cellulose-rich solids to generate the nanocellulose.

Nanocellulose-reinforced cellulose fibers can increase the strength of hardwood fibers or agricultural-residue cellulose fibers, to simulate the strength of softwood fibers in pulp or pulp products (including composites). In some variations, the invention provides a method of reinforcing cellulose fibers, comprising providing cellulose fibers derived from hardwoods, agricultural residues, or a combination thereof; providing a source of nanocellulose comprising cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals; and reinforcing the cellulose fibers with the nanocellulose to increase strength of the cellulose fibers. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose is obtained from fractionating biomass in the presence of an acid, a solvent for lignin, and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid phase; and then mechanically refining the cellulose-rich solids to generate the nanocellulose.

A method for making a fiber electrically conductive comprises the steps of: (a) providing a fiber having a negative electric charge at the surface of the fiber, (b) applying to the fiber a substance (such as a polyelectrolyte) which provides a layer of said substance on the fiber and changes the electric charge at the surface of the fiber from negative to positive, wherein said substance is not chitosan, and (c) making the surface of the fiber electrically conductive with a metal, wherein the metal of step (c) is provided in the form of metal ions and wherein a reducing agent (for example) is employed to reduce the metal ions to elemental metal. Fabrics formed from conductive fibers are also provided.

A method for making a fiber electrically conductive comprises the steps of: (a) providing a fiber having a negative electric charge at the surface of the fiber, (b) applying to the fiber a substance (such as a polyelectrolyte) which provides a layer of said substance on the fiber and changes the electric charge at the surface of the fiber from negative to positive, wherein said substance is not chitosan, and (c) making the surface of the fiber electrically conductive with a metal, wherein the metal of step (c) is provided in the form of metal ions and wherein a reducing agent (for example) is employed to reduce the metal ions to elemental metal. Fabrics formed from conductive fibers are also provided.

The present invention relates to the field of textiles. More specifically, it pertains to a process for producing and using fibrillated biodegradable microfibers.

The process involves sourcing and preliminary processing plant materials encompassing cellulose-rich fibers followed by mechanical compression method or a solar powered electric presser to expel surplus moisture. Then, an aqueous immersion technique is employed for thermal processing to obtain thermal processed plant materials. The thermal processed plant materials then undergo a rinsing step and a mechanical disintegration step to reduce the thermal processed plant materials into micro-sized entities while maintaining the integrity of the fibers. Furthermore, matrix forming substances, stabilizer, sealant and preservative to said micro-sized entities subsequently undergoing a blending process to obtain a first mixture. Lastly, the first mixture is exposed to a controlled desiccation regimen followed by implementing a mechanical reduction process resulting in the attainment of said fibrillated biodegradable microfibers with a diameter measurement below the threshold of 10 ?m.