Patent ID: 6896810

Claim:
An alkaline treatment system comprising: a cellulose slurry supply system for providing cellulosic fiber containing hemicellulose to said alkaline treatment system; a steeping liquor supply system for providing an effective amount of a steeping liquor comprising an alkaline solution to said alkaline treatment system; a mixing system for combining the cellulosic fiber and the steeping liquor into an alkaline cellulose slurry; at least one alkaline treatment unit for steeping the alkaline cellulose slurry for a sufficient amount of time to diffuse an effective amount of the hemicellulose out of the cellulosic fibers and into the steeping liquor; at least one treated cellulose washer to separate the spent steeping liquor containing the diffused hemicellulose from the treated cellulosic fibers; and a nanofiltration system comprising at least one nanofiltration unit to remove at least a portion of the hemicellulose from the spent steeping liquor.