Patent ID: 7625591

Claim:
A method comprising the steps of a. providing feedstock, water and alkali, the feedstock comprising cellulose and an amount of i) crude fiber, ii) acid detergent fiber, and iii) neutral detergent fiber; b. combining the feedstock, water and alkali to form a first slurry, the alkali being present in a concentration ranging from 1 percent to 25 percent by weight of total solids contained in the first slurry, the first slurry comprising insoluble and soluble cellulosic fiber; c. subjecting the first slurry for at least 0.25 hours to conditions defined by high shear sufficient to morphologically disrupt the cellulose at elevated temperatures and elevated temperatures of at least 70 degrees C.; d. washing the first slurry with water until coloration of the first slurry is amber; e. separating the first slurry into a first fraction and a second fraction, the first fraction of the first slurry comprising most of the insoluble fiber from the first slurry, the second fraction of the first slurry comprising most of the soluble fiber, protein and ash from the first slurry; f. removing the second fraction of the first slurry arid retaining the first fraction of the first slurry for further processing; g. calculating a minimum amount of oxidizing agent to be added; h. providing an oxidizing agent in least an amount substantially equal to a weight calculated as follows: (weight of Acid Detergent Fiber minus weight of Crude Fiber) plus (weight of Neutral Detergent fiber minus weight of Acid Detergent Fiber); i. combining the oxidizing agent with the first fraction of the first slurry to form a second slurry; j. subjecting the second slurry for at least 0.25 hours to conditions defined by high shear sufficient to morphologically disrupt the cellulose at elevated temperatures and elevated temperatures of at least 70 degrees C.; k. washing the second slurry with water until the second slurry is substantially colorless; l. separating the second slurry into a first fraction and a second fraction, the first fraction of the second slurry comprising most of the insoluble fiber from the second slurry, the second fraction of the second slurry comprising most of the soluble fiber, protein and ash from the second slurry; m. providing an enzyme capable of inactivating the oxidizing agent contained in the first fraction of the second slurry in an amount sufficient to completely neutralize the amount of oxidizing agent contained in the first fraction of the second slurry; and n. combining the enzyme with the first fraction of the second slurry to form a hydrolyzed gel of amorphous insoluble cellulosic fiber.