US4023982A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for the production of sugars from hemi-cellulose-containing raw materials
Assignee: Sulzer AG
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Filing: 1975-12-01
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Granted: 1977-05-17
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Expires: 1995-12-01
Abstract
Abstract The apparatus operates on a continuous basis under gravity flow to extract sugars from hemi-cellulose-containing raw material such as xylose from xylan-containing raw materials. The apparatus includes a sequence of interconnected vessels to steam heat the raw material, to acid-impregnate the steam-heated material, to hydrolyze the acid-impregnated material with steam and to extract sugar and other particles from the hydrolyzed material with a counter-flow of hot water. A conveyor is used in the acid impregnating vessel to move the material to the reaction vessel. The hydrolyzed material is stored in a tank while the residue of raw material is removed in a non-destroyed state.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans H. Knauth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:42
CPC Classifications
C; C13; C13K; C13K13/00; C13K13/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for the continuous production of sugars from hemi-cellulose-containing raw materials comprising a venting vessel for receiving a flow of the raw material and steam; an impregnating vessel below said venting vessel for impregnating the flow of raw material with acid; a reaction vessel below said impregnating vessel for steam-heating the flow of the acid-impregnating raw material to hydrolyze the raw material; a conveyor in said impregnating vessel for conveying the acid-impregnated raw material from said impregnating vessel to said reaction vessel; and an extraction vessel below said reaction vessel for passing hot water in counter-flow to the hydrolyzed raw material to extract a sugar from the hydrolyzed raw material and form a hydrolysis product of the hot water and extracted sugar.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for the continuous production of sugars from hemi-cellulose-containing raw materials comprising a venting vessel for receiving a flow of the raw material and steam; an impregnating vessel below said venting vessel for impregnating the flow of raw material with acid; a reaction vessel below said impregnating vessel for steam-heating the flow of the acid-impregnating raw material to hydrolyze the raw material; a conveyor in said impregnating vessel for conveying the acid-impregnated raw material from said impregnating vessel to said reaction vessel; and an extraction vessel below said reaction vessel for passing hot water in counter-flow to the hydrolyzed raw material to extract a sugar from the hydrolyzed raw material and form a hydrolysis product of the hot water and extracted sugar.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyor is a screw conveyor extending between a bottom zone of said impregnating vessel and a top zone of said reaction vessel on an inclined angle to convey the impregnated raw material upwardly from said bottom zone to said top zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein a bottom zone of said reaction vessel and a top zone of said extraction vessel form an annular chamber wherein the speed of the upward flow of the hydrolysis product is less than the speed of sedimentation of the extracted sugar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 which further comprises an overflow means in liquid-communication with said extraction vessel for maintaining a constant level of hot water in said extraction vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises a steam flow connection between a top zone of said reaction vessel and a bottom zone of said venting vessel.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
160 words
An apparatus for the continuous production of sugars from hemi-cellulose-containing raw materials comprising a venting vessel for receiving a flow of comminated raw material containing hemi-cellulose; first means for supplying steam into said venting vessel to penetrate into the pore system of the raw material; an impregnating vessel below said impregnating vessel for receiving the acid-impregnated raw material; second means for supplying steam into said reaction vessel to hydrolyze the raw material; a conveyor within said impregnated vessel for conveying the acid-impregnated raw material from said impregnating vessel to said reaction vessel; an extraction vessel below said reaction vessel for receiving the hydrolyzed raw material; means for supplying hot water to said extraction vessel in counterflow to the flow of hydrolyzed raw material to extract a sugar from the hydrolyzed raw material and from a hydrolysis product of the hot water and extracted sugar; and a storage tank connected to said extraction vessel to receive and store the hydrolysis product.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
160 words
An apparatus for the continuous production of sugars from hemi-cellulose-containing raw materials comprising a venting vessel for receiving a flow of comminated raw material containing hemi-cellulose; first means for supplying steam into said venting vessel to penetrate into the pore system of the raw material; an impregnating vessel below said impregnating vessel for receiving the acid-impregnated raw material; second means for supplying steam into said reaction vessel to hydrolyze the raw material; a conveyor within said impregnated vessel for conveying the acid-impregnated raw material from said impregnating vessel to said reaction vessel; an extraction vessel below said reaction vessel for receiving the hydrolyzed raw material; means for supplying hot water to said extraction vessel in counterflow to the flow of hydrolyzed raw material to extract a sugar from the hydrolyzed raw material and from a hydrolysis product of the hot water and extracted sugar; and a storage tank connected to said extraction vessel to receive and store the hydrolysis product.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 which further comprises a housing supporting said extraction vessel thereon, a removal means mounted on said housing below said extraction vessel to receive and remove the residue of raw material from said extraction vessel, means for supplying hot water to said removal means to entrain the residue of raw material for discharge, an outflow conduit for removing the entrained residue from said removal means, and means for separating the water and entrained residue for re-cycling of the water to said removal means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first means includes a steam tank and conduits connecting said steam tank with a bottom zone of said reaction vessel and said second means includes an annular chamber between said impregnating vessel and said reaction vessel, and conduits connecting said chamber with said venting vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 which further comprises means for measuring the steam temperature in said venting vessel and said reaction vessel to control the amount of steam flowing from said tank to said reaction vessel and said venting vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 which further comprises means for maintaining a constant level of acid in said venting vessel and impregnating vessel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 which further comprises means for controlling the speed of said conveyor in dependence on the level of raw material in said reaction vessel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 which further comprises means for controlling said means for supplying hot water in dependence on the level of hydrolysis product in said storage tank.
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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) | 1980-05-16 | 1980-11-15 | 1981-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-16 | 1984-11-15 | 1985-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-16 | 1988-11-15 | 1989-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |