Method for treating biomass, comprising compressing and dewatering (62) the biomass to a dry solid content of DS1% by weight; feeding (63) compressed biomass to a treatment vessel; adding (64) a treatment liquid to said treatment vessel; discharging (65) treated biomass; compressing and dewatering (66) discharged biomass to a dry solid content of DS2% by weight, and treating (68) the compressed and dewatered biomass in a hydrolysis reactor, wherein 1%<DS1−DS2<6%.

Method for treating biomass, comprising compressing and dewatering (62) the biomass to a dry solid content of DS1% by weight; feeding (63) compressed biomass to a treatment vessel; adding (64) a treatment liquid to said treatment vessel; discharging (65) treated biomass; compressing and dewatering (66) discharged biomass to a dry solid content of DS2% by weight, and treating (68) the compressed and dewatered biomass in a hydrolysis reactor, wherein 1%<DS1−DS2<6%.

The present invention provides, inter alia, biocompatible porous structural materials made exclusively or almost exclusively from nanocellulose fibers (CNF), CNC, or bacterial cellulose, as well as processes for making and using provided compositions. Provided compositions may possess specifically tailored mechanical strength properties and have a design-controlled porosity that is homogeneous or graded, depending on the application. Provided compositions may be manufactured by the controlled dewatering of suspensions of CNF. In some embodiments, provided compositions may include a solids concentration of about 10% to about 95% by weight. Controlled water removal and pore homo- or heterogeneity may be accomplished by controlling capillary, hydrostatic and evaporative processes in the environment of a porous mold around the CNF slurry. A freeze drying or vacuum drying step may be used to complete the drying process, locking in the porous network structure resulting in a predetermined porosity (pore volume/total volume), and pore size distribution.

The present invention provides, inter alia, biocompatible porous structural materials made exclusively or almost exclusively from nanocellulose fibers (CNF), CNC, or bacterial cellulose, as well as processes for making and using provided compositions. Provided compositions may possess specifically tailored mechanical strength properties and have a design-controlled porosity that is homogeneous or graded, depending on the application. Provided compositions may be manufactured by the controlled dewatering of suspensions of CNF. In some embodiments, provided compositions may include a solids concentration of about 10% to about 95% by weight. Controlled water removal and pore homo- or heterogeneity may be accomplished by controlling capillary, hydrostatic and evaporative processes in the environment of a porous mold around the CNF slurry. A freeze drying or vacuum drying step may be used to complete the drying process, locking in the porous network structure resulting in a predetermined porosity (pore volume/total volume), and pore size distribution.

An apparatus for processing a suspension including organic material and liquid, including a housing including an inlet and an outlet; a container arranged within the housing; a screw including a screw shaft and flights arranged within the container; a space defined between the screw and the container, through which the suspension is longitudinally transportable by a rotation of the screw. Further, the container includes a longitudinally extending first part and a longitudinally extending second part; the first part including a beveled edge the second part including a sharp edge whereby an anti-rotation tooth is generated on the inner surface of the container. A method for processing the suspension is also provided.

An apparatus for processing a suspension including organic material and liquid, including a housing including an inlet and an outlet; a container arranged within the housing; a screw including a screw shaft and flights arranged within the container; a space defined between the screw and the container, through which the suspension is longitudinally transportable by a rotation of the screw. Further, the container includes a longitudinally extending first part and a longitudinally extending second part; the first part including a beveled edge the second part including a sharp edge whereby an anti-rotation tooth is generated on the inner surface of the container. A method for processing the suspension is also provided.

A method for processing pulp in an apparatus for washing and dewatering pulp, and a system for controlling this apparatus, the apparatus comprising two rotatable press rolls (102, 104) having a permeable outer surface (106, 108), and a vat (114, 116, 118), the press rolls (102, 104) defining a press nip (112) between them. The processing is determined by a set of variable operating parameters, which are adjusted and/or maintained during operation in response to deviations of measured values of control parameters in relation to their respective predetermined threshold values. The variable operating parameters include rotation speed of the press rolls. The control parameters include vat pressure and/or linear load.

A method for processing pulp in an apparatus for washing and dewatering pulp, and a system for controlling this apparatus, the apparatus comprising two rotatable press rolls (102, 104) having a permeable outer surface (106, 108), and a vat (114, 116, 118), the press rolls (102, 104) defining a press nip (112) between them. The processing is determined by a set of variable operating parameters, which are adjusted and/or maintained during operation in response to deviations of measured values of control parameters in relation to their respective predetermined threshold values. The variable operating parameters include rotation speed of the press rolls. The control parameters include vat pressure and/or linear load.

A dewatering apparatus for cellulosic materials includes a chamber for an aqueous solution of a cellulosic material, an inner electrode in the chamber, an outer electrode in the chamber about the inner electrode, and a power supply connected to the inner electrode and the outer electrode applying a voltage potential across the electrodes to remove water associated with the aqueous solution and to dewater the cellulosic materials.

A dewatering apparatus for cellulosic materials includes a chamber for an aqueous solution of a cellulosic material, an inner electrode in the chamber, an outer electrode in the chamber about the inner electrode, and a power supply connected to the inner electrode and the outer electrode applying a voltage potential across the electrodes to remove water associated with the aqueous solution and to dewater the cellulosic materials.