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PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BIOFUEL FROM PLANT MATERIALS

  • US 20070259412A1
  • Filed: 05/08/2007
  • Published: 11/08/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A process for the treatment of plant material, comprising:

  • (a) contacting a continuous flow of the plant material with a co-current or counter-current continuous flow of an aqueous ethanol solution at a first elevated temperature and pressure for a period of time sufficient to produce plant pulp material and a mixture comprising ethanol, ethanol-soluble lignin and water, wherein the plant pulp material is depleted of lignin and has a high concentration of cellulose;

    (b) separating the plant pulp material from the mixture and recovering the ethanol-soluble lignin from the mixture;

    (c) contacting the plant pulp material with water at a second elevated temperature and pressure for a period of time sufficient to remove hemicellulose sugars from the plant pulp material;

    (d) separating the water from the plant pulp material and recovering water-soluble sugars, acetic acid and/or furfural from the water; and

    (e) contacting the resulting plant pulp material with;

    (i) an aqueous solution comprising cellulase, β

    -glucosidase and temperature-tolerant yeast, (ii) yeast growth media, and (iii) buffer, whereby cellulose present in the plant pulp material is hydrolyzed to glucose.

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