EP1591584B1 - Procédé de traitement de fibres secondaires de coton et utilisation des fibres régénérées dans la production de papier tissu - Google Patents

Procédé de traitement de fibres secondaires de coton et utilisation des fibres régénérées dans la production de papier tissu Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1591584B1
EP1591584B1 EP04425306A EP04425306A EP1591584B1 EP 1591584 B1 EP1591584 B1 EP 1591584B1 EP 04425306 A EP04425306 A EP 04425306A EP 04425306 A EP04425306 A EP 04425306A EP 1591584 B1 EP1591584 B1 EP 1591584B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fibers
process according
suspension
disperser
cotton
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP04425306A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1591584A1 (fr
Inventor
Ottaviano Checchi
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KONCART Srl
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Koncart Srl
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Priority to DE602004019392T priority Critical patent/DE602004019392D1/de
Priority to AT04425306T priority patent/ATE422577T1/de
Priority to EP04425306A priority patent/EP1591584B1/fr
Publication of EP1591584A1 publication Critical patent/EP1591584A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1591584B1 publication Critical patent/EP1591584B1/fr
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
    • D21H—PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D21H27/00—Special paper not otherwise provided for, e.g. made by multi-step processes
    • D21H27/002—Tissue paper; Absorbent paper
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
    • D21B—FIBROUS RAW MATERIALS OR THEIR MECHANICAL TREATMENT
    • D21B1/00—Fibrous raw materials or their mechanical treatment
    • D21B1/04—Fibrous raw materials or their mechanical treatment by dividing raw materials into small particles, e.g. fibres
    • D21B1/06—Fibrous raw materials or their mechanical treatment by dividing raw materials into small particles, e.g. fibres by dry methods
    • D21B1/061—Fibrous raw materials or their mechanical treatment by dividing raw materials into small particles, e.g. fibres by dry methods using cutting devices
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
    • D21D—TREATMENT OF THE MATERIALS BEFORE PASSING TO THE PAPER-MAKING MACHINE
    • D21D1/00—Methods of beating or refining; Beaters of the Hollander type
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
    • D21F—PAPER-MAKING MACHINES; METHODS OF PRODUCING PAPER THEREON
    • D21F11/00—Processes for making continuous lengths of paper, or of cardboard, or of wet web for fibre board production, on paper-making machines
    • D21F11/14—Making cellulose wadding, filter or blotting paper
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
    • D21H—PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D21H11/00—Pulp or paper, comprising cellulose or lignocellulose fibres of natural origin only
    • D21H11/14—Secondary fibres

Definitions

  • This invention generally relates to the papermaking industry and, more precisely, it refers to a process for treating secondary cotton fibers and using the cotton fibers thus regenerated in the production of tissue paper, mainly for personal hygiene and for domestic and sanitary uses, e.g. toilet paper, kitchen paper, paper napkins, paper handkerchiefs and so on.
  • tissue paper it is common knowledge that the essential qualities required of tissue paper for the above-mentioned uses are softness and absorbency.
  • Very soft tissue paper can currently be obtained by using very soft fibers (e.g. eucalyptus) in its production, but these are considerably more expensive than the commonly used fibers (conifers and broad-leaved trees), or soft-type mechanical processes can be used in paper machines, but this coincides with either a significant reduction in productivity or a considerable increase in energy costs.
  • very soft tissue paper can currently be obtained by using very soft fibers (e.g. eucalyptus) in its production, but these are considerably more expensive than the commonly used fibers (conifers and broad-leaved trees), or soft-type mechanical processes can be used in paper machines, but this coincides with either a significant reduction in productivity or a considerable increase in energy costs.
  • Adding variable proportions of virgin cotton as a raw material to the cellulose enables tissue paper of adequate softness and absorbency to be obtained thanks to the chemical and physical properties of cotton fiber.
  • it has a larger lumen than other cellulose fibers, a longer staple, and almost twice the capillary force of conventional cellulose fibers; in practical terms, conventional cellulose fiber can absorb 5-6 g of water per g of fiber, whereas cotton fiber can reach 10-12 g of water per g of fiber.
  • the cost of cotton fiber is currently approximately 3-4 times the cost of conventional cellulose fiber, however, which makes it economically unfeasible to recommend its use in this application.
  • a process for the production of tissue paper from cotton linters is disclosed in WO 99/45804 .
  • the known process for reducing the staple of cellulose and cotton fibers involves suspending the material from which the fiber is to be obtained in water, and opening and cutting these materials with the aid of deflakers and refiners to reduce the fibers down to the required staple.
  • This treatment is water- and electrical energy-intensive, and their consumption is obviously all the greater the longer the staple of the fiber contained in the original material.
  • hydrating the cotton fiber during this treatment reduces the fiber's absorbency and softness (though it improves the mechanical strength of the paper) and the subsequent drying process on the hydrated fiber is even more expensive in terms of the heat energy required.
  • FR 682285 discloses a process for the production of hydrophilic paper from wastes of cotton fibers, flax, hemp and other cellulosic materials in which the preliminary treatment is that used for the production of the rag pulp in a pulp beater, i.e. a wet process in which the fibers undergo a strong hydration.
  • GB 1158415 discloses a process for the production of paper felt for industrial use, such as underlay for linoleum, wherein rag pieces in a dry state are fed into disc type mills, wherein fabric and weave of rag fibers are first torn apart and then, after wetting, the fibers undergo a preliminary separation and shortening. The mass of fibers produced in this way is further wetted and fed in a second milling stage wherein the fibers undergo further shortening, fibrillation and hydration. This process is also of the wet type and a high hydration of the fibers needs to be caused to reach the desired strength.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a process for treating secondary cotton fibers to enable their use in the papermaking sector, and the production of tissue paper in particular, with operating costs such that make it economically convenient to use secondary cotton fibers for this application.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a process for treating secondary cotton fibers of the above-mentioned type that does not involve any heavy hydration of the fibers being treated, thereby avoiding the softness and absorbency of the fibers being negatively affected and containing the related energy consumption.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a treatment process of the above-mentioned type that also enables the use of colored fabrics as raw materials.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to enable the cotton fiber treated and regenerated according to the above-mentioned process to be used as a raw material for the production of very soft and absorbent tissue paper at a cost comparable with that of the tissue paper currently on the market.
  • the essential characteristic element of the treatment process according to the present invention consists in the fact that the raw material, comprising cotton rags, undergoes a dry size reduction and grading treatment, progressively collecting the smaller-staple fibers at a preset value as they are produced by the size reduction treatment.
  • the collected fibers are sent to a tank where they are mixed with water to form a suspension that subsequently undergoes a deflaking treatment to separate the single fibers, an operation that is preferably achieved in a "disperser" after the suspension has passed through a heated tunnel to increase its concentration.
  • the fibers obtained are bleached using a chemical-thermal process to restore them to their natural raw cotton color, then they are washed and, if necessary, submitted to an additional whitening process. After these treatments, the fibers are ready for storage and/or sale in damp or dry form. In the former case, they are spread into sheets and pressed to obtain a partial mechanical dewatering to achieve a dry content coming between 35 and 50%, while in the latter case they are sent to a drier and then collected in bales with a dry content of approximately 95%.
  • the bulk material to be treated (cotton rags of various origin, size and color) is loaded manually onto a conveyor belt fitted with a metal detector to eliminate any concealed metal parts, which must be removed to avoid damaging the machinery downstream.
  • the material is sent to the size reduction stage, involving a machine that consists of a rotor carrying a number of blades staggered to form a wedge shape and a counterplate fitted with a corresponding number of blades, hermetically sealed inside an outer casing, the bottom of which contains a perforated metal sheet with calibrated holes.
  • the material will continue to be reduced by the rotating movement of the blades and counter-blades until it reaches the required staple, corresponding to the diameter of the holes in the sheet.
  • Machines of this type are not in use in the papermaking sector, because this is a mill/grinder type of machine.
  • the machine can enable very high production rates to be obtained by comparison with other conventional mills, or it can enable over 50% installed power reduction for the same output.
  • This "mill” can be loaded horizontally (from the front) or vertically (from above) and ensures the grinding/cutting of the fibers to the required staple length by means of a presser coming to bear against the rotor.
  • a rotor-supporting casing made of thick electrowelded metal, a central rotor with interchangeable plates with a constant profile on the diameter, that are staggered and at a cutting angle studied specifically to ensure a good productivity with a limited power requirement and a low noise coefficient.
  • the set of axially-adjustable fixed blades made of special hardened and ground steel, includes a water cooling system serving various parts of the journal boxes and bearings, in the area of the blades and where overheating can easily occur. A forced lubrication is also provided in the bearings.
  • Such machinery has hitherto been used for treating medium- and large-sized hard products (plastic, rubber tires, vulcanized rubber, fitted carpets, seals, wood, paper and cardboard boxes, etc.).
  • the material, reduced to small clumps of fibers, is drawn into a duct underneath the plate by the action of a suction fan that conveys the fibers to a tank where they are mixed with water.
  • a suction fan that conveys the fibers to a tank where they are mixed with water.
  • the dry fibers obtained after the size reduction treatment are sent to a tank of water to obtain a suspension containing 4-4.5% of fibers. This concentration of the suspension ensures the optimal balance between the opposing needs to have a sufficiently consistent mixture without inducing any circulation problems inside the piping, while containing the energy consumption and the dimensions of the equipment.
  • the consistency of the suspension is kept constant by means of a consistency regulator installed on the piping that draws the material from the bottom of the tank and circulates the water suspension in the tank with the aid of a pump.
  • a consistency regulator installed on the piping that draws the material from the bottom of the tank and circulates the water suspension in the tank with the aid of a pump.
  • Any heavyweight contaminants (e.g. fragments of crushed buttons, etc.) or lightweight contaminants (e.g. synthetic fibers from labels, etc.) contained in the original material are simultaneously removed by means of a high-density cleaning process performed by static cleaners, machines that are well known in the papermaking sector.
  • the suspension containing the clumps of fibers is heated by passing it through a heating tunnel, then sent to a disperser (such as the dispersion system manufactured by Cellwood Machinery AB).
  • a disperser such as the dispersion system manufactured by Cellwood Machinery AB.
  • This equipment carries out the deflaking of the clumps of fibers, and their separation to unitary fibers by passing them through two sets of blades with triangular teeth set at an electronically-adjusted distance from each other.
  • the concentration of the suspension leaving the disperser is maintained preferably at approximately 30% in fiber content in order to contain the energy consumption.
  • the disperser may be made to run without heating, but the absorbed power would be much higher.
  • the 30% suspension leaving the disperser can be sent to a bleaching stage, conducted in a substantially known manner, using an alkaline-based chemical-thermal process.
  • Tests showed that placing the colored cotton fibers in water with sodium hypochlorite and hydrochloric acid, heating the mixture to boiling point for a given amount of time and subsequently washing the cotton fibers while stirring the mixture thoroughly can result in a complete bleaching of the fibers, while any synthetic or mixed fibers will be unaffected by this bleaching action.
  • the strong concentration of the suspension enables savings on the quantity of chemical products required, while the high temperature (around 100°C) facilitates the chemical aggression on the coloring agents.
  • the bleached fibers are washed and, if they are destined for the production of quality personal hygiene products, they are also whitened using ozone or high-volume oxygenated water processes, according to well-known methods.
  • the washed and, where necessary, whitened fibers can then be sent for storage and/or sale in damp form (40-50% of dry content).
  • they are sent to a sheet-forming machine that also includes a pair of mechanical dewatering presses.
  • they can be stocked and/or sold in dry form, in which case they are sent to a drier and then packaged in bales.
  • the fibers obtained by the process according to the present invention can be used in the manufacture of tissue paper (toilet paper, kitchen paper, facial tissues, industrial uses, etc.) or in combination with cellulose fibers of various nature and origin. Particularly good results have been obtained by adding 20-22% of cotton fibers as obtained using the process according to the present invention to a cellulose mixture of the type conventionally used in the production of tissue paper.
  • the resulting tissue paper is characterized by a greater final thickness (from 5 to 25% more than conventional tissue paper, depending on the percentage of secondary cotton fibers), and a greater water absorbency than similar products made with cellulose (from 5 to 70% more, depending on the percentage of secondary cotton fibers).
  • the use of these cotton fibers also offers an energy saving in the production of tissue paper because their greater drying capacity means they demand a lower hood temperature and a consequently lower gas consumption.
  • the cost of cotton fibers regenerated with the process according to the present invention is currently approximately 20% higher than the cost of cellulose, so the fibers are more expensive than cellulose, but much less expensive than virgin cotton, though they produce the same effects.
  • a similar product cannot be obtained with the conventional paper machine (C-Former, S-Former, Crescent Former, Fourdrinier table, etc.) for technological reasons, while the TAD (Through Air Dryer) paper machine means an initial investment cost corresponding to approximately 2.7 times the cost of the traditional system, along with running costs that involve a 50% reduction in energy costs, a tenfold saving on the chemical products, a 1.7-fold reduction in terms of the gas consumption and a 7-8% increase in the efficiency of the paper machine.
  • the TAD process has to stop frequently due to technological problems or tearing of the paper or for more intensive servicing of the machinery, the process according to the present invention is not only more straightforward, but also enables these frequent stoppages to be avoided.

Claims (11)

  1. Procédé pour traiter des fibres de coton secondaires régénérées à partir de chiffons de coton caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte les étapes suivantes :
    • broyage des dits chiffons en conditions sèches obtenu par l'action d'un ensemble de lames et d'un ensemble de contre-lames en rotation l'un par rapport à l'autre ;
    • calibration du matériau broyé résultant et rassemblement de la fraction réduite à une taille plus petite qu'une valeur prédéterminée ;
    • préparation d'une suspension aqueuse contenant des grumeaux du dit matériau broyé ;
    • traitement de ladite suspension dans un disperseur pour réduire les grumeaux en fibres unitaires ;
    • réduction de la teneur en eau de ladite suspension pour le stockage des fibres ainsi obtenues sous forme humide ou sèche.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, où le broyage des chiffons est effectué en conditions sèches dans une machine avec un rotor portant un nombre de lames décalées en coin et une contre-plaque équipée du même nombre de lames, hermétiquement scellée à l'intérieur d'une enveloppe extérieure.
  3. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 et 2, où la calibration du matériau broyé est faite au moyen d'une feuille de métal perforée d'orifices calibrés situés dans le fond de l'enveloppe extérieure.
  4. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où ladite suspension aqueuse est chauffée avant qu'elle soit traitée dans le disperseur.
  5. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où ladite suspension aqueuse en trant dans le disperseur a une concentration en fibres correspondant de préférence à 4-4,5% p/p.
  6. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où la concentration en fibres dans la suspension quittant le disperseur est de préférence d'environ 30% p/p.
  7. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où la suspension quittant le disperseur subit une décoloration des fibres et une étape subséquente de lavage.
  8. Procédé selon la revendication 7, où les fibres décolorées subissent un traitement de blanchiment.
  9. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 7 ou 8, où les fibres contenues dans la suspension quittant le disperseur, après soit décoloration soit blanchiment, sont séchées pour obtenir un taux de fibres de 35-50% et pressées en feuilles.
  10. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 7 ou 8, où les fibres contenues dans la suspension quittant le disperseur, après soit décoloration soit blanchiment, sont séchées jusqu'à approximativement 95% p/p de fibres.
  11. Utilisation des fibres de coton régénérées à partir de chiffons de coton par le procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes pour la fabrication de papier tissu.
EP04425306A 2004-04-30 2004-04-30 Procédé de traitement de fibres secondaires de coton et utilisation des fibres régénérées dans la production de papier tissu Expired - Lifetime EP1591584B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE602004019392T DE602004019392D1 (de) 2004-04-30 2004-04-30 Verfahren zur Behandlung von sekundären Baumwollfasern, sowie Verwendung von regenerierten Fasern bei der Herstellung von Tissue-Papier
AT04425306T ATE422577T1 (de) 2004-04-30 2004-04-30 Verfahren zur behandlung von sekundären baumwollfasern, sowie verwendung von regenerierten fasern bei der herstellung von tissue-papier
EP04425306A EP1591584B1 (fr) 2004-04-30 2004-04-30 Procédé de traitement de fibres secondaires de coton et utilisation des fibres régénérées dans la production de papier tissu

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04425306A EP1591584B1 (fr) 2004-04-30 2004-04-30 Procédé de traitement de fibres secondaires de coton et utilisation des fibres régénérées dans la production de papier tissu

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1591584A1 EP1591584A1 (fr) 2005-11-02
EP1591584B1 true EP1591584B1 (fr) 2009-02-11

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EP04425306A Expired - Lifetime EP1591584B1 (fr) 2004-04-30 2004-04-30 Procédé de traitement de fibres secondaires de coton et utilisation des fibres régénérées dans la production de papier tissu

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1591584B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE422577T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE602004019392D1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8426031B2 (en) 2011-09-21 2013-04-23 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Soft tissue product comprising cotton

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103103841B (zh) * 2012-12-31 2015-02-25 晨光生物科技集团股份有限公司 高品质棉短绒的生产方法

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1363778A (en) * 1920-03-01 1920-12-28 Charles W Griffin Hard-stock chopper
FR682285A (fr) 1929-09-25 1930-05-26 Procédé de fabrication de papier hydrophile en partant de déchets de fibres textiles, coton, lin, chanvre et autres, mélangées ou non à la cellulose blanchie de sapin, et produit industriel nouveau en résultant
US3464635A (en) 1965-11-10 1969-09-02 Maszyn Papierniczych Fab Method of continuous beating of rag mass in disk-type mills
GB1239311A (fr) * 1968-04-24 1971-07-14
AU8524375A (en) * 1975-09-29 1977-04-07 Witcel S A C I F I A Cotton or cellulose pastes
US6174412B1 (en) 1998-03-02 2001-01-16 Purely Cotton, Inc. Cotton linter tissue products and method for preparing same

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8426031B2 (en) 2011-09-21 2013-04-23 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Soft tissue product comprising cotton

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE602004019392D1 (de) 2009-03-26
EP1591584A1 (fr) 2005-11-02
ATE422577T1 (de) 2009-02-15

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