Process for Sugar Production from Lignocellulosic Biomass Using Alkali Pretreatment
First Claim
1. A method for producing fermentable sugars from lignocellulosic biomass, said method comprising the sequential steps of:
- (a) Treating the biomass with an aqueous alkali solution at ambient pressure and at greater than ambient temperature for a time sufficient to enhance the susceptibility of the biomass to a subsequent saccharification enzyme hydrolysis step;
(b) Pressing the treated mixture at a pressure great enough to remove sufficient water, alkali, and lignin from the biomass to enhance the susceptibility of the de-watered biomass to a subsequent saccharification enzyme hydrolysis step; and
(c) Contacting the de-watered biomass with one or more saccharification enzymes under conditions conducive to producing fermentable sugars.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
We have discovered a new method to treat biomass with alkali, for example lime. The lime and lignin was sufficiently removed from the treated biomass b> squeezing with a high pressure device to remove alkali and other potential inhibitors of the cellulase enzymes added for sacchaπfication. The resulting fibrous material was rapidly solubilzed by cellulases, even at solid loads ranging from 10 to 30% (w/w) without inhibitory effects on the cellulase activity. The lime pretreatment removed lignin effectively and left the cellulose and hemicellulose almost intact. The method yielded a biomass with structure capable of being enzyme solubilzed and fermented readily at a solids loading of 10-30% for a production of ethanol.
-
Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A method for producing fermentable sugars from lignocellulosic biomass, said method comprising the sequential steps of:
-
(a) Treating the biomass with an aqueous alkali solution at ambient pressure and at greater than ambient temperature for a time sufficient to enhance the susceptibility of the biomass to a subsequent saccharification enzyme hydrolysis step; (b) Pressing the treated mixture at a pressure great enough to remove sufficient water, alkali, and lignin from the biomass to enhance the susceptibility of the de-watered biomass to a subsequent saccharification enzyme hydrolysis step; and (c) Contacting the de-watered biomass with one or more saccharification enzymes under conditions conducive to producing fermentable sugars. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
Specification