Lenzing Aktiengesellschaft

Austrian Energy & Environment Sgp/waagner Biro Gmbh

Bernd Wolschner

Stefan Zikeli

Heinrich Firgo

Dieter Eichinger

Karin Weinzierl

Johann Manner

Raimund Jurkovic

Stephan Astegger

Norbert Freiberger

Peter Hinterholzer

Wolfgang Glaser

Stefan Astegger

Rotating tube heat treatment installation, in particular rotating

There is disclosed a process for preparing solutions of cellulose in aqueous tertiary amine oxides from a suspension of cellulose in an aqueous solution of the tertiary amine oxide by supplying heat at a reduced pressure. The suspension is transported over a heating surface, spread in layers or coats, until a homogenous solution of the cellulose has formed, which has a viscosity of between 50 and 15,000 Pas.s. Feeding of the suspension and drawing-off of the homogenous solution are carried out continuously. The solutions are prepared in an indirectly heated evacuatable vessel provided with a stirring device. The vessel is designed as a cylindrical container including a centrically mounted stirring shaft having agitators joined thereto, the radial distance of the agitators from the internal wall of the container being 20 mm at the most. There are provided an intake for the cellulose suspension in the upper part of the container and an outlet for the homogenous cellulose solution in its lower end.

Process and arrangement for preparing a solution of cellulose

A solution of cellulose in water and N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) containing 2 to 44% by weight cellulose is stabilized at 0.01 to 1%, preferably 0.1% H.sub.2 O.sub.2 and 0.01 to 2%, preferably 0.1% of an H.sub.2 O.sub.2 stabilizer, preferably oxalic acid or a salt thereof during formation of the solution and during heating to prevent discoloration of the cellulose and reduce the composition of NMMO.

Cellulose solution in water and NMMO

An aqueous N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide solution which was used as a spinning bath in the production of cellulosic products is regenerated by contacting it with active coal, silicon dioxide or alumina adsorbent and filtering, thereby reducing turbidity, eliminating nitrosoamine, decolorizing the solution and removing transition metals like iron therefrom.

Process for cleaning or purifying aqueous N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide

For the removal of water from dilute aqueous solution of NMMO, N-methylmorpholine or morpholine or mixtures thereof, the solution is subjected to reverse osmosis at a pressure in excess of the osmotic pressure and probably around 40 bar and a temperature of 25.degree. C. to 75.degree. C. to form a retentate containing the amines and a permeate which is practically free from the amines. The permeate can be used as process water while the retentate can be worked up to NMMO for reuse in the cellulose solubilization process.

Method of removing water from a dilute solution of

There is disclosed a process for preparing solutions of cellulose in aqueous tertiary amine oxides from a suspension of cellulose in an aqueous solution of the tertiary amine oxide by supplying heat at a reduced pressure. The suspension is transported over a heating surface, spread in layers or coats, until a homogenous solution of the cellulose has formed, which has a viscosity of between 50 and 15,000 Pas.s. Feeding of the suspension and drawing-off of the homogenous solution are carried out continuously. The solutions are prepared in an indirectly heated evacuatable vessel provided with a stirring device. The vessel is designed as a cylindrical container including a centrically mounted stirring shaft having agitators joined thereto, the radial distance of the agitators from the internal wall of the container being 20 mm at the most. There are provided an intake for the cellulose suspension in the upper part of the container and an outlet for the homogenous collulose solution in its lower end.

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Vocklabruck, Austria

Bernd Wolschner