US3939286A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for oxidizing and hydrolyzing plant organic matter particles to increase the digestability thereof by ruminants
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-10-21
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Granted: 1976-02-17
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Expires: 1994-10-21
Abstract
Abstract A process for treating plant organic matter particles to increase the digestability thereof by ruminants including mixing the organic particles with water, a nontoxic acid catalyst to produce a Ph lower than 3.0, and a metallic catalyst of either iron or manganese, oxidizing the mixture under elevated pressure and temperature to fragment the cellulose molecules and break the lignin-cellulose bond, and hydrolizing the oxidized mixture under elevated pressure and temperature to convert at least a portion of the cellulose molecules to saccharides and saccharide acids.
Inventors
- 👤 James W. Jelks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:04
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23K; A23K10/00; A23K10/30; A23K10/32; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P60/00; Y02P60/80; Y02P60/87; Y10; Y10S; Y10S426/00; Y10S426/807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A process for treating cellulosic plant matter particles to increase the digestability thereof by ruminants comprising: a. mixing said particles with (1) water, (2) an acid catalyst selected from the group consisting of carbonic, sulfuric, phosphoric, hydrochloric and acetic acids to produce a pH of less than 3, and (3) a metal catalyst selected from the group consisting of elemental iron, ferric chloride, ferric sulfate, ferric nitrate, elemental manganese and the non-toxic salts of manganese; b. subjecting the resulting mixture to an oxygen partial pressure of from about 20 to 30 psig at an elevated temperature of approximately 105°C to approximately 110°C for 12 to 20 minutes; to effect an exothermic reaction of oxygen with the cellulose in said particles whereby at least a portion of the lignin-cellulose bonds of said particles are broken and at least a portion of the cellulose molelcules are fragmented; and c. blowing off resulting gases of oxidation; and d. hydrolyzing the resulting oxidized mixture in the presence of the acid and metal catalysts added in step (a); at elevated temperature and pressure of between about 135°C and about 150°C under saturated steam conditions to convert at least a portion of the cellulose into saccharides and saccharide acids.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
A process for treating cellulosic plant matter particles to increase the digestability thereof by ruminants comprising: a. mixing said particles with (1) water, (2) an acid catalyst selected from the group consisting of carbonic, sulfuric, phosphoric, hydrochloric and acetic acids to produce a pH of less than 3, and (3) a metal catalyst selected from the group consisting of elemental iron, ferric chloride, ferric sulfate, ferric nitrate, elemental manganese and the non-toxic salts of manganese; b. subjecting the resulting mixture to an oxygen partial pressure of from about 20 to 30 psig at an elevated temperature of approximately 105°C to approximately 110°C for 12 to 20 minutes; to effect an exothermic reaction of oxygen with the cellulose in said particles whereby at least a portion of the lignin-cellulose bonds of said particles are broken and at least a portion of the cellulose molelcules are fragmented; and c. blowing off resulting gases of oxidation; and d. hydrolyzing the resulting oxidized mixture in the presence of the acid and metal catalysts added in step (a); at elevated temperature and pressure of between about 135°C and about 150°C under saturated steam conditions to convert at least a portion of the cellulose into saccharides and saccharide acids.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 in which in step (a) the amount of metal catalyst is about 0.4% dry weight of the dry weight of plant organic particles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 in which in step (a) the mixture is about 40% by weight of dry matter to about 60% by weight of solution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 in which in step (b) the amount of oxygen reacted equals about 3.75 to 5% by weight of the dry weight of the plant organic matter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 in which in step (b) the desired temperature of reaction is achieved by the admission of steam into the reaction mixture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 in which in step (d) the temperature of the reaction is about 180° C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 including step (e) in which the hydrolyzed mixture is neutralized sufficiently to raise the Ph thereof to over 4.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 7 including step (f) in which the neutralized mixture is dried.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US1101061A
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US1428217A
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US2295643A
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US3212932A
Cited
US3523911A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-02-16 | 1979-08-18 | 1980-02-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-16 | 1983-08-18 | 1984-02-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-16 | 1987-08-18 | 1988-02-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |