NANO-CATALYTIC-SOLVO-THERMAL TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM BIO-REFINERIES
First Claim
1. A method of making at least one of furfural and glucose, the method comprising:
- a. processing a biomass using a first fluid to form lignin, cellulose, and xylose;
b. processing at least one of the cellulose and xylose using a second fluid to form glucose and furfural respectively;
c. wherein at least one of the processing steps above is performed with a reactive fluid comprising carbon dioxide and water, the reactive fluid having a temperature and pressure above a critical point for carbon dioxide, and at least one of the temperature and the pressure of the reactive fluid being below the critical temperature and pressure, respectively, of water.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of making glucose and/or furfural from biomass require one or more supercritical fluids that may be used to process biomass, cellulose from the biomass, and/or xylose from the biomass. Examples of supercritical fluids for use in processing biomass include ethanol, water, and carbon dioxide at a temperature and pressure above the critical points for ethanol and carbon dioxide but at a temperature and/or pressure below that of the critical point for water. A supercritical fluid containing carbon dioxide and water may be used to convert cellulose to glucose or convert xylose to furfural. The fluid has a temperature and pressure above the critical point of carbon dioxide, but at least one of the temperature and pressure is below the critical point for water.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of making at least one of furfural and glucose, the method comprising:
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a. processing a biomass using a first fluid to form lignin, cellulose, and xylose; b. processing at least one of the cellulose and xylose using a second fluid to form glucose and furfural respectively; c. wherein at least one of the processing steps above is performed with a reactive fluid comprising carbon dioxide and water, the reactive fluid having a temperature and pressure above a critical point for carbon dioxide, and at least one of the temperature and the pressure of the reactive fluid being below the critical temperature and pressure, respectively, of water. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A composition comprising water, C1-C5 alcohol, lignin, and xylose, all in solution.
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24. A system for converting biomass to more valuable products such as glucose and furfural, comprising:
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a module configured for fractionating biomass to form cellulose and xylose, and optionally lignin; optionally a module configured for hydrolyzing cellulose to form glucose, and optionally fructose; and optionally a module configured for dehydrating xylose or hydrolyzing xylose/XOS to form furfural. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification