The refining of a fibrous pulp is monitored and controlled by capturing at least one image of a pulp sample, determining the amount of all fibers or non-fibrillated fibers in the at least one image, determining the amount of fibrillated fibers in the at least one image, determining the relation between fibrillated fibers and all fibers or non-fibrillated fibers in the pulp on the basis of the amount of fibrillated fibers and the amount of all fibers or non-fibrillated fibers in the at least one image, generating a control parameter on the basis of the determined relation between fibrillated fibers and all fibers or non-fibrillated fibers in the pulp, and controlling fiber refining by at least one pulp refining device on the basis of the control parameter.

A feeding arrangement comprising a transportation means (3) for transportation of material from a material supply to at least a first chute (7) and a second chute (8), a plug screw feeder (11) for feeding the material to the treatment stage. The plug screw feeder (11) is provided with a first inlet opening (12) connected to the first chute (7), which first chute (7) is provided between the transportation means (3) and the plug screw feeder (11). Further, the transportation means (3) comprises at least selectively openable first and second outlets (4, 5) arranged at different axial positions along the transportation means (2), which first outlet (4) is in connection with the first chute (7) and the second outlet (5) is in connection with the second chute (8).

A feeding arrangement comprising a transportation means (3) for transportation of material from a material supply to at least a first chute (7) and a second chute (8), a plug screw feeder (11) for feeding the material to the treatment stage. The plug screw feeder (11) is provided with a first inlet opening (12) connected to the first chute (7), which first chute (7) is provided between the transportation means (3) and the plug screw feeder (11). Further, the transportation means (3) comprises at least selectively openable first and second outlets (4, 5) arranged at different axial positions along the transportation means (2), which first outlet (4) is in connection with the first chute (7) and the second outlet (5) is in connection with the second chute (8).

Methods and devices are provided for hydrothermal pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. A mechanically simple and inexpensive vertical steam reactor is fed with biomass feedstock from the top, while pretreated material is removed from the bottom in steady-state by operation of moveable upper and lower restrictor means, which project across the reactor cross section when engaged. The vertical column of biomass is supported by the upper restrictor means. This is periodically withdrawn from the reactor cross section, permitting the column of biomass to fall by force of gravity onto the lower restrictor means. The upper restrictor means is then re-inserted, after which the lower restrictor means is withdrawn permitting a plug of pretreated material to be removed by force of gravity. Using biomass feedstock that has been compressed in a reciprocating piston press to bulk density of at least 500 kg/m3, which can be fed dry into the reactor using simple, inexpensive sluice systems and then wetted inside the reactor, this system provides comparable biomass throughput at a fraction of the cost of traditional commercial hydrothermal pretreatment systems used in second generation biorefining.

Methods and devices are provided for hydrothermal pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. A mechanically simple and inexpensive vertical steam reactor is fed with biomass feedstock from the top, while pretreated material is removed from the bottom in steady-state by operation of moveable upper and lower restrictor means, which project across the reactor cross section when engaged. The vertical column of biomass is supported by the upper restrictor means. This is periodically withdrawn from the reactor cross section, permitting the column of biomass to fall by force of gravity onto the lower restrictor means. The upper restrictor means is then re-inserted, after which the lower restrictor means is withdrawn permitting a plug of pretreated material to be removed by force of gravity. Using biomass feedstock that has been compressed in a reciprocating piston press to bulk density of at least 500 kg/m3, which can be fed dry into the reactor using simple, inexpensive sluice systems and then wetted inside the reactor, this system provides comparable biomass throughput at a fraction of the cost of traditional commercial hydrothermal pretreatment systems used in second generation biorefining.

The invention relates to a method for impregnating biomass (10). In a step (S100) of the method, a reactor unit (11) is fed with biomass (10) by means of a plug screw (12). In another step (S200), the reactor unit (11) is at least partially filled up to a predetermined fill level (13) with a reactant (18), such that a reaction between the fed biomass (10) and the reactant (18) takes place in order to obtain an impregnated biomass. In another step (S300), the impregnated biomass (10) is discharged from the reactor unit (11) for further processing (S300). The invention further relates to a device (1) for impregnating biomass (10).

The invention relates to a method for impregnating biomass (10). In a step (S100) of the method, a reactor unit (11) is fed with biomass (10) by means of a plug screw (12). In another step (S200), the reactor unit (11) is at least partially filled up to a predetermined fill level (13) with a reactant (18), such that a reaction between the fed biomass (10) and the reactant (18) takes place in order to obtain an impregnated biomass. In another step (S300), the impregnated biomass (10) is discharged from the reactor unit (11) for further processing (S300). The invention further relates to a device (1) for impregnating biomass (10).

A method to treat fibrous materials for use in the formation of a biocomposite material that significantly reduces or eliminates the odors emitted from the fibrous materials is provided. In the method, the fibers or fibrous materials are initially treated to extract the raw fiber from the source plant material and the remove unwanted fractions of the fiber, such as the hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin, among others, leaving only the intact cellulose fibers. These cellulose fibers are then further processed in a second step to remove the odor from the cellulose fibers. The second step includes a combination of a second chemical treatment, dehumidification, and/or a cold plasma modification to render the cellulosic fibers odorless.

A method to treat fibrous materials for use in the formation of a biocomposite material that significantly reduces or eliminates the odors emitted from the fibrous materials is provided. In the method, the fibers or fibrous materials are initially treated to extract the raw fiber from the source plant material and the remove unwanted fractions of the fiber, such as the hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin, among others, leaving only the intact cellulose fibers. These cellulose fibers are then further processed in a second step to remove the odor from the cellulose fibers. The second step includes a combination of a second chemical treatment, dehumidification, and/or a cold plasma modification to render the cellulosic fibers odorless.

A method and apparatus for controlling a cellulosic pulp process for producing a pulp product having a desired pulp property is disclosed. The method involves illuminating an in-process portion of pulp using a first wavelength of light, and receiving a scattered light spectrum from the illuminated portion of pulp, the scattered light spectrum including spectral components that have been shifted in wavelength through interaction with a constituent of the illuminated portion of pulp. The method also involves filtering the scattered light spectrum to separate the spectral components, and identifying spectral features in the filtered scattered light spectrum that correspond to the pulp property. The method further involves generating a control signal for controlling the pulp process based on variations in the identified spectral features to cause the pulp property to fall within a desired range.