US Patent 12104320 Enzymatic and acid methods for individualizing trichomes

The present invention relates to processes for individualizing trichome fibers from a trichome source, such as a leaf and/or a stem. One process comprises contacting the plant biomass with pectin hydrolyzing enzymes, thus releasing the individualized trichomes and recovering the individualized trichomes. A second process comprises contacting the plant biomass with an acidic aqueous solution, thus releasing the individualized trichomes and recovering the individualized trichomes. A third process comprises contacting the plant biomass with an acidic aqueous solution and with pectin hydrolyzing enzymes, thus releasing the individualized trichomes and recovering the individualized trichomes.