APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR TREATING BIOMASS
First Claim
Patent Images
10. A method of processing plant biomass, the method comprising:
- providing plant biomass comprising at least one of;
cellulose and hemicellulose;
heating the plant biomass under conditions and for a time sufficient to at least partially depolymerize one or more of;
the hemicellulose and the cellulose, thereby yielding processed plant biomass;
wherein the time is at least one minute; and
wherein the conditions comprise;
a volume of liquid medium so that the plant biomass is provided in an amount of at least about 0.01% w/v solids up to about 50% w/v solids;
a temperature of at least about 180°
C.; and
pressure of at least about 200 psia.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for treating plant biomass is described herein. Generally, the apparatus includes a pressurizable vessel and a heating element in thermal communication with the vessel. Also described herein are methods of treating plant biomass. Generally, the methods include heating plant biomass under conditions effective to at least partially depolymerize hemicellulose and/or cellulose present in the plant biomass. In one embodiment, the method includes heating a plant biomass substrate to a temperature of 230° C. for two minutes at a pressure of 57 psig.
-
Citations
48 Claims
-
10. A method of processing plant biomass, the method comprising:
-
providing plant biomass comprising at least one of;
cellulose and hemicellulose;heating the plant biomass under conditions and for a time sufficient to at least partially depolymerize one or more of;
the hemicellulose and the cellulose, thereby yielding processed plant biomass;wherein the time is at least one minute; and wherein the conditions comprise; a volume of liquid medium so that the plant biomass is provided in an amount of at least about 0.01% w/v solids up to about 50% w/v solids; a temperature of at least about 180°
C.; andpressure of at least about 200 psia. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
27-1. The method of claim 10 wherein heating the plant biomass produces a hydrolysate and the method further comprises enzymatically hydrolyzing the collected hydrolysate.
-
28-2. The method of claim 10 further comprising cooling and depressurizing the processed plant biomass.
-
37. A method of pretreating plant biomass, the method comprising:
-
providing plant biomass comprising at least one of;
cellulose and hemicellulose;pretreating the plant biomass under conditions and for a time sufficient to at least partially depolymerize one or more of;
the hemicellulose and the cellulose, thereby yielding pretreated plant biomass;wherein the time is at least one minute; and wherein the conditions comprise; a volume of liquid medium so that the plant biomass is provided in an amount of at least about 0.01% w/v solids up to about 50% w/v solids; a temperature of at least about 180°
C.; andpressure of at least about 200 psia; and subjecting the pretreated plant biomass to additional treatment. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
-
-
44. A method of preparing a plant biomass substrate for fermentation, the method comprising:
-
providing a plant biomass substrate; heating the plant biomass substrate to a predetermined temperature of at least about 180°
C. to no greater than about 300°
C.;pressurizing the plant biomass substrate to a predetermined pressure of at least about 200 psia to no greater than about 1000 psia; maintaining the predetermined temperature and the predetermined pressure for a period of at least one minute and no greater than about 120 minutes; cooling and depressurizing the plant biomass substrate; providing an enzymatic composition comprising at least one enzyme capable of converting at least one of hemicellulose and cellulose to monomeric sugar; and incubating the cooled plant biomass substrate with the enzymatic composition under conditions effective for the enzyme composition to convert at least one of hemicellulose and cellulose to monomeric sugars. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
-
Specification