Patent ID: 7713382
Filing Date: 2010-05-11
Classification: D21B,D21C

Abstract:
1. A method of removing metal ions from wood chips, comprising the steps of: conveying the wood chips along a first upwardly extending conveyor; de-aerating the wood chips with steam from a steam feed in a second conveyor arranged to convey the wood chips substantially on a horizontal plane, so that the second conveyor forms a gas removal apparatus; forming and collecting a condensate liquid from the steam used to de-aerate the wood chips on the second conveyor; conveying the wood chips in a third conveyor that extends upwardly from the second conveyor, wherein at least one of the first conveyor and the third conveyor is partially filled with the collected condensate liquid from the steam used to de-aerate the wood chips on the second conveyor, such that the wood chips conveyed upward through the condensate liquid partially filling the first conveyor or the third conveyor and metal ions are removed.