University of Minnesota

Agricultural Utilization Research Institute

Li Xu

Rongsheng Roger Ruan

Paul Bradley Addis

Lun Yi

Ling Tony Chen

Paul L Chen

Jack Edgar Johnson

A process and materials are described in which highly refined cellulose fibers are broken down into microfibers and further processed into compositions, films, coatings and solid materials which are biodegradable and even edible. The process for the formation of hardenable compositions may comprise providing a composition comprising highly refined non-wood cellulose fiber, mechanically reducing the size of the non-wood cellulose fiber to less than 2 mm, reducing the amount of binding of microfibers by lignin within said non-wood cellulose fibers present in said composition comprising cellulose fiber to form a first fiber product, providing pressure of at least 300 psi to said first fiber product while it is in the presence of a liquid, and removing said pressure within a time interval which will cause said cellulose fiber to break down into a second fiber product comprising microfibers in said liquid.

Cellulose fiber based compositions and film and the process for their

A process and materials are described in which highly refined celleuloise fibers are broken down into microfibers and further processed into compositions, films. coatings and solid materials which are biodegradable and even edible. The process for the formation of hardenable compositions may comprise:providing a composition comprising non-wood cellulose fiber, 36. mechanically reducing the size of the non-wood cellulose fiber to less than 2 mm, reducing the amount of binding of microfibers by lignin within said non-wood cellulose fibers present in said composition comprising cellulose fiber to form a first fiber product, providing pressure of at least 300 psi to said first fiber product while it is in the presence of a liquid, and removing said pressure within a time interval which will cause said cellulose fiber to break down into a second fiber product comprising microfibers in said liquid.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Li Xu