Amorphous insoluble cellulosic fiber and method for making same

Abstract

A method for producing amorphous insoluble cellulosic fiber gel, preferably in the form of a dietary fiber gel, and an aqueous product comprising soluble cellulose for use as an adhesive component from the fiber-containing by-products from a variety of grain manufacturing processes is described. The treatment of the fiber residue in the presence of alkali and mechanical shear produces a slurry containing amorphous insoluble cellulosic fiber. The slurry can be further processed to improve color attributes. The amorphous insoluble cellulosic fiber can be separated from the slurry to produce a dietary fiber gel. Water and solute are separated from a liquid component of the slurry. The solute can be yielded as an aqueous product that contains soluble cellulose and can be used as an adhesive component. The recovered water can be recycled within the method so as to reduce waste disposal.

1 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 1. providing feedstock, water and alkali, the feedstock comprising cellulose;    2. combining the feedstock, water and alkali to form a first slurry, the alkali being present in a concentration ranging from 1 percent to 25 percent by weight of total solids contained in the first slurry, the first slurry comprising insoluble and soluble cellulosic fiber;    3. subjecting the first slurry for at least 0.25 hours to conditions defined by high shear sufficient to morphologically disrupt the cellulose at elevated temperatures and elevated temperatures of at least 70 degrees C.;    4. washing the first slurry with water until coloration of the first slurry is amber;    5. separating the first slurry into a first fraction and a second fraction, the first fraction of the first slurry comprising mostly and most of the insoluble fiber from the first slurry, the second fraction of the first slurry comprising most of the soluble fiber, protein and ash from the first slurry;    6. removing the second fraction of the first slurry and retaining the first fraction of the first slurry for further processing;    7. providing an oxidizing agent in an amount substantially equal by weight to the amount of insoluble fiber contained in the first fraction of the first slurry;    8. combining the oxidizing agent with the first fraction of the first slurry to form a second slurry;    9. subjecting the second slurry for at least 0.25 hours to conditions defined by high shear sufficient to morphologically disrupt the cellulose at elevated temperatures and elevated temperatures of at least 70 degrees C.;    10. washing the second slurry with water until the second slurry is substantially colorless;    11. separating the second slurry into a first fraction and a second fraction, the first fraction of the second slurry comprising mostly and most of the insoluble fiber from the second slurry, the second fraction of the second slurry comprising most of the soluble fiber, protein and ash from the second slurry;    12. providing an enzyme capable of inactivating the oxidizing agent contained in the first fraction of the second slurry in an amount sufficient to completely neutralize the amount of oxidizing agent contained in the first fraction of the second slurry;    13. combining the enzyme with the first fraction of the second slurry to form a hydrolyzed gel of amorphous insoluble cellulosic fiber.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step: 
 14. drying the hydrolyzed gel of amorphous insoluble cellulosic fiber.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the oxidizing agent is hydrogen peroxide.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the alkali is sodium hydroxide.  
     
     
         5 . A product produced by the method of  claim 1  or  claim 2 .  
     
     
         6 . A unique composition of matter, the composition comprising amorphous insoluble cellulosic fiber; 
 the composition being characterized by smooth sheet-like morphology, substantially non-crystalline and amorphous morphology, relatively low level of syneresis after repeated freeze-thaw cycles, visual evidence of curling at loose edges at magnifications of 500-1000×, and, when in hydrated form smooth surfaces with large deformable bodies about 25 to 50 microns in each dimension.    
     
     
         7 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 1. providing feedstock, water and alkali the feedstock comprising cellulose;    2. combining the feedstock and water to form a first slurry,    3. feeding the first slurry to the method via high-pressure extrusion, the pressure being at least 800 psi,    4. introducing the alkali to the first slurry, the alkali being present in a concentration ranging from 1 percent to 25 percent by weight of total solids contained in the first slurry, the first slurry comprising insoluble and soluble cellulosic fiber;    5. subjecting the first slurry for at least 0.25 hours to conditions defined by high shear sufficient to morphologically disrupt the cellulose at elevated temperatures and elevated temperatures of at least 70 degrees C.;    6. washing the first slurry with water until coloration of the first slurry is amber;    7. separating the first slurry into a first fraction and a second fraction, the first fraction of the first slurry comprising mostly and most of the insoluble fiber from the first slurry, the second fraction of the first slurry comprising most of the soluble fiber, protein and ash from the first slurry;    8. removing the second fraction of the first slurry and retaining the first fraction of the first slurry for further processing;    9. providing an oxidizing agent in an amount substantially equal by weight to the amount of insoluble fiber contained in the first fraction of the first slurry;    10. combining the oxidizing agent with the first fraction of the first slurry to form a second slurry;    11. subjecting the second slurry for at least 0.25 hours to conditions defined by high shear sufficient to morphologically disrupt the cellulose at elevated temperatures and elevated temperatures of at least 70 degrees C.;    12. washing the second slurry with water until the second slurry is substantially colorless;    13. separating the second slurry into a first fraction and a second fraction, the first fraction of the second slurry comprising mostly and most of the insoluble fiber from the second slurry, the second fraction of the second slurry comprising most of the soluble fiber, protein and ash from the second slurry;    14. providing an enzyme capable of inactivating the oxidizing agent contained in the first fraction of the second slurry in an amount sufficient to completely neutralize the amount of oxidizing agent contained in the first fraction of the second slurry;    15. combining the enzyme with the first fraction of the second slurry to form a hydrolyzed gel of amorphous insoluble cellulosic fiber.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the alkali is introduced to the slurry via co-extrusion.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  or  claim 8  wherein the oxidizing agent is hydrogen peroxide.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  or  claim 8  wherein the alkali is sodium hydroxide.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  or  claim 8  further comprising the step: 
 16. drying the hydrolyzed gel of amorphous insoluble cellulosic fiber.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 ,  2 ,  7  or  8 , wherein protease is introduced to the first slurry.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 ,  2 ,  7  or  8 , wherein amylase is introduced to the first slurry.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 ,  2 ,  7  or  8 , wherein catalase is introduced to the first slurry.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 ,  2 ,  7  or  8  wherein excess water from wash steps is recovered and fed back to the method for reuse in wash steps of subsequent batches of feedstock.