The present invention relates to an improved method and device for treating biomass in which thermally treated biomass is discharged from a pressurized reactor and introduced into a blow tank and then a flash tank, wherein the absolute pressure in the blow tank is maintained above atmospheric pressure and the absolute pressure in the flash tank is maintained below atmospheric pressure. The slurry of biomass separated in the flash tank is then enzymatically treated. The heat from the thermally treated biomass is recovered from the latent heat of a vaporous aqueous stream withdrawn from the blow tank.

A continuous-flow steam explosion reactor for pretreatment of organic material for further processing to value-added products is provided. The reactor comprises a loading section, a high-pressure retention section with an adjustable-speed conveyor, a pressure relief section and a discharge section. The reactor comprises means for providing steam into at least said high-pressure retention section and means for providing pressurized gas (e.g. air) to further boost pressure. The loading section is suitably configured to transfer material from ambient pressure to the high-pressure retention section while retaining high pressure and temperature in the high-pressure retention section, and the pressure relief section configured to transfer material from the high-pressure retention section to a discharge section while retaining high pressure in the high-pressure retention section. The pressure relief section is configured to release material with a drop in pressure to said discharge section while retaining high pressure in the high-pressure retention section.

A continuous-flow steam explosion reactor for pretreatment of organic material for further processing to value-added products is provided. The reactor comprises a loading section, a high-pressure retention section with an adjustable-speed conveyor, a pressure relief section and a discharge section. The reactor comprises means for providing steam into at least said high-pressure retention section and means for providing pressurized gas (e.g. air) to further boost pressure. The loading section is suitably configured to transfer material from ambient pressure to the high-pressure retention section while retaining high pressure and temperature in the high-pressure retention section, and the pressure relief section configured to transfer material from the high-pressure retention section to a discharge section while retaining high pressure in the high-pressure retention section. The pressure relief section is configured to release material with a drop in pressure to said discharge section while retaining high pressure in the high-pressure retention section.

A method for processing lignocellulose materials comprising the steps of hydrothermal treatment of the material with saturated or superheated steam in a hydrothermal pressure vessel, wherein the steam is provided by means of a steam boiler. The treatment is performed at a pressure of 5-30 bars, and at a temperature of 160-240° C. for a duration of 1-20 minutes. The method further comprises discharging hydrothermally treated lignocellulose material and steam from the pressure vessel by means of rapid pressure reduction, separating the steam and vapours released from the lignocellulose material, and burning the vapours together with additional fuel and combustion air in the furnace of said steam boiler. Furthermore, a corresponding system is provided.

The invention related to an apparatus for recycling of lignocellulosic fibres from a fibreboard comprising compressed lignocellulosic fibres bonded together by a binding agent. The apparatus comprises a transport device arranged within a closed housing, wherein the housing is arranged for steaming pieces of the fibreboard at super-atmospheric pressure to decompress and release the lignocellulosic fibres by hydrating them, as well as hydrolysing the binding agent, and the transport device is arranged for transporting the fibreboard pieces, upon being steamed, from an inlet of the housing, at which the fibreboard pieces are fed to the housing, to an outlet of the housing, at which steamed portions comprising released lignocellulosic fibres exit the housing. Further, the apparatus comprises a steam generator in communication with the housing, whereby the fibreboard pieces may be steamed at super-atmospheric pressure in the housing to provide the steamed portions comprising released lignocellulosic fibres, an inlet pressure lock configured to receive the fibreboard pieces at atmospheric pressure and to deliver them to the housing, via the inlet, at super-atmospheric pressure, and an outlet pressure lock configured to receive steamed portions comprising released lignocellulosic fibres via the outlet and ejecting recycled lignocellulosic fibres during a sudden expansion of super-atmospheric pressure.

The invention related to an apparatus for recycling of lignocellulosic fibres from a fibreboard comprising compressed lignocellulosic fibres bonded together by a binding agent. The apparatus comprises a transport device arranged within a closed housing, wherein the housing is arranged for steaming pieces of the fibreboard at super-atmospheric pressure to decompress and release the lignocellulosic fibres by hydrating them, as well as hydrolysing the binding agent, and the transport device is arranged for transporting the fibreboard pieces, upon being steamed, from an inlet of the housing, at which the fibreboard pieces are fed to the housing, to an outlet of the housing, at which steamed portions comprising released lignocellulosic fibres exit the housing. Further, the apparatus comprises a steam generator in communication with the housing, whereby the fibreboard pieces may be steamed at super-atmospheric pressure in the housing to provide the steamed portions comprising released lignocellulosic fibres, an inlet pressure lock configured to receive the fibreboard pieces at atmospheric pressure and to deliver them to the housing, via the inlet, at super-atmospheric pressure, and an outlet pressure lock configured to receive steamed portions comprising released lignocellulosic fibres via the outlet and ejecting recycled lignocellulosic fibres during a sudden expansion of super-atmospheric pressure.

The present invention discloses a preparation method of a cotton bast fiber and chitosan composite non-woven fabric for filtration and belongs to the technical field of fiber materials. The preparation method adopts steam flash explosion for pretreatment to separate cotton bast first, then a papermaking method is used for forming, finally chitosan is added to enhance the mechanical performance and improve the filtration efficiency, and a technological process is simple, environmentally friendly and suitable for industrial production. The non-woven fabric adopts lignin-rich cotton bast fibers and chitosan as raw materials, so that the non-woven fabric has good antibacterial performance. The cotton bast and chitosan used in the preparation method are both bio-based materials which can be degraded in the natural environment after use, so that burdens caused to the environment are reduced. At the same time, the problem that electrospinning methods are difficult to use in industrialized and mass production is avoided.

The present invention discloses a preparation method of a cotton bast fiber and chitosan composite non-woven fabric for filtration and belongs to the technical field of fiber materials. The preparation method adopts steam flash explosion for pretreatment to separate cotton bast first, then a papermaking method is used for forming, finally chitosan is added to enhance the mechanical performance and improve the filtration efficiency, and a technological process is simple, environmentally friendly and suitable for industrial production. The non-woven fabric adopts lignin-rich cotton bast fibers and chitosan as raw materials, so that the non-woven fabric has good antibacterial performance. The cotton bast and chitosan used in the preparation method are both bio-based materials which can be degraded in the natural environment after use, so that burdens caused to the environment are reduced. At the same time, the problem that electrospinning methods are difficult to use in industrialized and mass production is avoided.

The steam saving device for a steam explosion system for the hydrothermal pre-treatment of biomass comprises a tubular body 30 with a first open end 32 and a second open end 34. The first open end 32 being adapted to be coupled to an outlet opening 14 of a steam explosion reactor vessel 10, the second open end 34 being adapted to be coupled to a discharge line 18. The inner surface 36 of the tubular body 30 of the nozzle 16 may comprise an engraved helical structure 38.

The steam saving device for a steam explosion system for the hydrothermal pre-treatment of biomass comprises a tubular body 30 with a first open end 32 and a second open end 34. The first open end 32 being adapted to be coupled to an outlet opening 14 of a steam explosion reactor vessel 10, the second open end 34 being adapted to be coupled to a discharge line 18. The inner surface 36 of the tubular body 30 of the nozzle 16 may comprise an engraved helical structure 38.