US2020346953A1PendingUtilityA1

Method and apparatus for electrochemical dewatering of suspensions of cellulosic nanomaterials

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Assignee: HALL TIMOTHY DPriority: May 2, 2019Filed: Mar 10, 2020Published: Nov 5, 2020
Est. expiryMay 2, 2039(~12.8 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Timothy D. HallMaria E. InmanStephen T. SnyderSantosh H. VijapurE. Jennings TaylorThi Xuan Huong Le
C02F 2201/46C02F 1/469D21C 9/18D21H 11/18D21C 9/002C02F 2001/46157C02F 11/006C02F 2201/46175C02F 11/121C02F 1/46109C02F 2001/46123D21C 9/007C02F 2201/46115
59
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Claims

Abstract

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.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dewatering apparatus for cellulosic materials comprising:
 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.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the outer electrode is a mesh electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including means for rotating the inner electrode. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  in which the inner electrode includes protrusions. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  in which the inner electrode includes fins, paddles, dimples, and/or one or more blades. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  in which the paddles include edge wipers. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  in which the inner electrode is in the form of an auger with a helical screw blade. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further including a hopper feeding the aqueous cellulosic material into the chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5  in which the paddles include mesh. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 5  in which the paddles include one or more orifices therethough. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including an intermediate electrode between the inner electrode and the outer electrode. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a separator about the outer electrode. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the power supply is configured to apply a pulse/pulse reverse waveform to the rod electrode and outer electrode. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including means for rotating the outer electrode. 
     
     
         15 . A dewatering method for cellulosic materials comprising:
 placing an aqueous solution of a cellulosic material in a chamber with an inner electrode and outer electrode about the inner electrode; and   applying a voltage potential across the electrodes to debater the cellulosic material.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  in which the outer electrode is a mesh electrode. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further including rotating the inner electrode. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  which the inner electrode includes protrusions. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  in which the inner electrode includes fins, paddles, dimples, and/or one or more blades. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  in which the paddles include edge wipers. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11  in which the inner electrode is in the form of an auger with a helical screw blade. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further including feeding the aqueous cellulosic material into the chamber from a hopper. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  in which the paddles include mesh. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19  in which the paddles include one or more orifices therethough. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15  further including an intermediate electrode between the inner electrode and the outer electrode. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 15  further including a separator about the outer electrode. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 15  in which a pulse/pulse reverse waveform is applied to the rod electrode and outer electrode. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 15  including rotating the outer electrode. 
     
     
         29 . A dewatering method for cellulosic material comprising:
 applying an electric field to the cellulosic material in a chamber to dewater the cellulosic material; and   simultaneously stressing the cellulosic material to lower its viscosity to further dewater the cellulosic material.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  in which the chamber includes an inner electrode and an outer electrode and applying an electric field to the cellulosic material includes providing a power supply connected to the inner and outer electrodes. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22  in which stressing the cellulosic material includes rotating the inner electrode and/or the outer electrode. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23  in which the inner electrode includes spaced protrusions extending therefrom. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  in which the inner electrode includes fins, paddles, dimples, and/or one or more blades.

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