Processing biomass

• US 10,612,050 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2018
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
• Inventors: Medoff, Marshall, Masterman, Thomas Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Mondesi, Robert B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Meah, Mohammad Y
• Application Number:
  US16/192,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20190085361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 435135, 435 41, 435132, 435160, 435162, 4352522, 43525411
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1612 CO2-separation and sequestration, i.e. long time storage
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1665 to alcohols, e.g. methanol or ethanol preparation of alcohols in general C07C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1681 with biological plants, e.g. involving bacteria, algae, fungi
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/04 acyclic
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/065 with microorganisms other than yeasts
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/10 substrate containing cellulosic material
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/14 Multiple stages of fermentation; Multiple types of microorganisms or re-use of microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/40 containing a carboxyl group including Peroxycarboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/46 Dicarboxylic acids having four or less carbon atoms, e.g. fumaric acid, maleic acid
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/54 Acetic acid vinegar C12J
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/56 Lactic acid
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/62 Carboxylic acid esters
• CPC Class Codes: C13K 1/02 obtained by saccharification of cellulosic materials manufacture of fodder A23K10/32
• CPC Class Codes: C13K 1/06 obtained by saccharification of starch or raw materials containing starch
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/678 Aviation using fuels of non-fossil origin

Abstract

Carbon-containing materials, such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) or coal are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels, carboxylic acids and equivalents thereof (e.g., esters and salts). For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol, butanol or organic acids (e.g., acetic or lactic acid), salts of organic acids or mixtures thereof. If desired, organic acids can be converted into alcohols, such as by first converting the acid, salt or mixtures of the acid and its salt to an ester, and then hydrogenating the formed ester. Acetogens or homoacetogens which are capable of utilizing a syngas from a thermochemical conversion of coal or biomass can be utilized to produce the desired product.

Claims

1. A method of processing biomass, the method comprising:

treating biomass with radiation, thereby producing treated biomass; and

converting a first portion of the treated biomass utilizing bacteria capable of metabolizing both sugar and syngas feedstocks, to produce the carboxylic acid ester, wherein during converting, syngas is delivered to the bacteria, wherein the syngas is produced by gasification of a second portion of the treated biomass.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the radiation comprises gamma radiation, microwave radiation, infrared radiation, electron beam radiation, X-rays, ultraviolet radiation, ion particle beam radiation, or a combination of any of the forgoing.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the radiation comprises electron beam radiation.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the electron beam radiation is delivered at a dose of at least 10 Mrad.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising treating the biomass with shearing, cutting, grinding, pulverizing, chopping, shredding, sonication, pyrolysis, oxidation, steam explosion, ozone, Fenton'"'"'s solution, or a combination of any of the foregoing.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the treated biomass is densified prior to converting.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the biomass comprises material selected from the group consisting of:

paper, paper products, wood, wood-related materials, particle board, grass, rice hulls, bagasse, cotton, jute, hemp, flax, bamboo, sisal, abaca, straw, corn cobs, rice hulls, coconut hair, cotton, algae, seaweed and mixtures of any of these.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising capturing any lignin liberated.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the bacteria are anaerobic.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the carboxylic acid ester is ethyl acetate.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the carboxylic acid ester is a methyl ester.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the carboxylic acid ester is an n-propyl ester.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising hydrogenating the carboxylic acid ester or exposing the carboxylic acid ester to a reducing agent.