Process for sheeting raw cotton linters
Process makes a raw cotton linter matted sheet by dispersing a loose mass of raw cotton linters in water, removing a portion of the water from the dispersed loose mass, and pressing the wet loose mass of raw cotton linters into a resulting matted sheet. The loose mass of raw cotton linters can be precleaned before dispersing into water. The final sheeted product can be cut into water. The final sheeted product can be cut into rectangle pieces or wound on a roll or dried or calendered. This sheet is used as a starting material for making cellulose ethers.
1 . A process for making a raw cotton linters matted sheet comprising
a) dispersing a loose mass of raw cotton linters in water,
b) removing a portion of the water from the dispersed loose mass, and
c) pressing the wet loose mass of raw cotton linters into a resulting matted sheet.
2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the portion of water that is removed is about 80 wt % based on the total weight of the composition of the mass of loose raw cotton linters and water.
3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the portion of water that is removed is about 90 wt % based on the total weight of composition of the mass of loose raw cotton linters and water.
4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the portion of water that is removed is about 98 wt % based on the total weight of the composition of the mass of loose raw cotton linters and water.
5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the resulting matted sheet is dried.
6 . The process of claim 5 , wherein the dried matted sheet is cut into rectangles.
7 . The process of claim 5 , wherein the dried matted sheet is wound on a continuous roll.
8 . The process of claim 7 , wherein the wound, continuous roll has a width in the range of 0.25 to 2.5 meters.
9 . The process of claim 7 , wherein the wound, continuous roll has a width in the range of 0.50 to 1.25 meters.
10 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the loose mass of raw cotton linters are cleaned prior to dispersing in water.
11 . The process of claim 10 , wherein the cleaning of the loose mass of raw cotton linters is a dry mechanical cleaning.
12 . The process of claim 10 , wherein the cleaning of the loose mass of raw cotton linters is a wet mechanical cleaning.
13 . The process of claim 12 , wherein the wet cleaning of the loose mass of raw cotton linters is performed in a centrifugal cleaner.
14 . The process of claim 10 , wherein the cleaning of the loose mass of raw cotton linters is performed with an organic solvent to remove oils and waxes from the surface of the raw cotton linters.
15 . The process of claim 14 , wherein the organic solvent is an alcohol.
16 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the basis weight of the resulting matted sheet is in the range of 250 to 900 g/m 2 .
17 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the basis weight of the resulting matted sheet is in the range of 400 to 700 g/m 2 .
18 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the sheet thickness is in the range 0.04 to 0.30 cm.
19 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the sheet thickness is in the range 0.08 to 0.20 cm.
20 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the loose mass of raw cotton linters step a is dispersed in water having a temperature in the range of 70 to 95° C.
21 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the loose mass of raw cotton linters step a is dispersed in water having a temperature in the range of 85 to 95° C.
22 . The process of claim 5 , wherein the dried matted sheet is calendered.
23 . A raw cotton linters sheet composition prepared by the process of claim 1 .
24 . A raw cotton linters sheet composition prepared by the process of any of claims 2 to 22 .