Enhanced fiber additive; and use

Abstract

The disclosure provides a process of modifying a seed based fiber (SBF) to form an enhanced fiber additive (EFA). The process includes an acid treatment step and optionally at least one fiber modification step. Preferred EFA products and uses are described.

1 . A method of processing seed based fiber comprising: 
 (a) combining the seed based fiber with a dilute acid solution at a temperature between 100° and 140° C. to form an acid slurry; and    (b) washing acid treated fiber resulting from Step 1(a).    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 the seed based fiber is selected from the group consisting of corn fiber, oat fiber, soy fiber, and mixtures thereof.    
     
     
         3 . A method of processing seed based fiber according to  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a follow-up processing after Step 1(b) by a step of modification including at least one of:    (i) a step of treating the fiber with an acid chlorite solution;    (ii) a step of treating the fiber with a peroxide solution; and    (iii) steps of treating the fiber, in separate treatment steps, with an acid chlorite solution and a peroxide solution.    
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 said step of combining the seed based fiber with a dilute acid solution comprises combining the seed based fiber with an acid solution selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, acetic acid, perchloric acid, phosphoric acid, and mixtures thereof.    
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 said step of combining the seed based fiber with a dilute acid solution comprises providing 0.001% to 5% acid, by dry weight of the seed based fiber.    
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 said step of combining the seed based fiber with a dilute acid solution comprises providing 0.1% to 2.0% acid, by dry weight of the seed based fiber.    
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 said step of combining the seed based fiber with a dilute acid solution is conducted for a period of time within the range of 0.5-2.0 hours.    
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 following said step of washing acid treated fiber resulting from step 1 (a), the acid treated fiber is treated with an acid chlorite selected from the group consisting of sodium chlorite solution, potassium chlorite solution, magnesium chlorite solution, a calcium chlorite solution, and mixtures thereof.    
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein: 
 the step of treating with an acid chlorite solution includes treating with 1%-5% acid chlorite, by weight of acid treated fiber being treated.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 after said step 1 (b) there is conducted a step of treating with peroxide solution.    
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein: 
 a step of treating with acid chlorite solution is conducted between step 1 (b) and the step of treating with peroxide solution.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein: 
 said step of treating with peroxide solution comprises treating with hydrogen peroxide.    
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 a content of lignin in the seed based fiber is reduced.    
     
     
         14 . A method of making paper comprising providing, in the paper, acid treated seed based fiber having a total cellulose character of at least 50% and a total hemicellulose character of at least 5%.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein: 
 the acid treated seed based fiber is selected from the group consisting of acid treated corn fiber, acid treated oat fiber, acid treated soy fiber and mixtures thereof.    
     
     
         16 . A method of making paper according to  claim 14  wherein: 
 the papermaking includes a step of preparing a pulp mixture; and    the acid treated seed based fiber is provided in the pulp mixture.    
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein: 
 the acid treated seed based fiber is provided in the pulp mixture in an amount of at least 0.1% by weight of pulp in the mixture.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein: 
 said step of providing acid treated fiber having a total cellulose character of at least 50% and a total hemicellulose character of at least 5% in the paper includes a step of providing at least a partial coating of paper fibers, with the acid treated seed based fiber.    
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein: 
 said acid treated seed based fiber having a total cellulose character of at least 50% and a total hemicellulose character of at least 5% is present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 to about 10 weight %.    
     
     
         20 . A method of preparing a food product including a step of: 
 providing in the food product an acid treated seed based fiber having a total cellulose character of at least 50% and a total hemicellulose character of at least 5%.    
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein the acid treated seed based fiber is selected from the group consisting of acid treated corn fiber, acid treated oat fiber, acid treated soy fiber, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         22 . A method of preparing a food product according to  claim 20 , wherein the acid treated seed based fiber having a total cellulose character of at least 50% and a total hemicellulose character of at least 5% is present in an amount of at least about 0.5% by weight.  
     
     
         23 . A method of preparing a food product according to  claim 20 , wherein said acid treated seed based fiber having a total cellulose character of at least 50% and a total hemicellulose character of at least 5% is present in an amount of at least about 3% by weight.