Method for continuous acetylation of wood elements

• Main Authors: Benstead, Stephen John, Kappen, Theodorus Gerardus Marinus Maria
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 24.05.2022
• Subjects: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL TREATMENT OF CORK, CANE, REED, STRAW ORSIMILAR MATERIALS; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; DERIVATIVES OF NATURAL MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; DERIVATIVES THEREOF; METALLURGY; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; POLYSACCHARIDES; PROCESSES, APPARATUS OR SELECTION OF SUBSTANCES FORIMPREGNATING, STAINING, DYEING, BLEACHING OF WOOD OR SIMILARMATERIALS, OR TREATING OF WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIALS WITHPERMEANT LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL

The disclosure relates to a method for continuous acetylation of wood elements. The acetylation is conducted with an acetylation medium at a pressure of at least 1.5 barg in a substantially oxygen free environment. Alternatively, the method includes the steps of: (a) feeding wood elements in a substantially oxygen free environment to a continuous acetylation reactor, and (b) treating the wood elements with an acetylation medium in the continuous acetylation reactor under wood acetylation reaction conditions, at a pressure of at least 1.5 barg. The process can acetylate wood elements to a high acetyl content in an efficient way, without compromising on the quality of the material. The acetylated wood elements can be used in the production of medium density fibreboards with superior qualities such as dimensional stability and durability.