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Process for producing sugars from cellulosic biomass

  • US 20090011474A1
  • Filed: 06/20/2008
  • Published: 01/08/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A process by which whole plants are harvested as a biomass and processed together as one unit so that sugars are generated and then optionally fermented to an alcohol which comprises:

  • (a) soaking the biomass in water for a period of time so as to increase the water within the biomass and to enhance sugar production from the biomass;

    (b) treating the plant biomass with concentrated ammonia under pressure in a closed vessel and then relieving the pressure to provide a treated plant biomass with recovery of the ammonia;

    (c) hydrolyzing the treated plant biomass in the presence of water to sugars using a combination of enzymes which hydrolyze cellulose, hemicellulose and other carbohydrates in the biomass to produce sugars; and

    (d) optionally fermenting the sugars to produce the alcohol.

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