ORGANOSOLV AND OZONE TREATMENT OF BIOMASS TO ENHANCE ENZYMATIC SACCHARIFICATION
First Claim
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1. A method for producing readily saccharifiable carbohydrate-enriched biomass, the method comprising:
- (a) providing lignocellulosic biomass comprising lignin;
(b) contacting the biomass with an organic solvent solution comprising water and at least one inorganic base selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, ammonia, and mixtures thereof whereby a biomass-solvent suspension is formed;
(c) heating the biomass-solvent suspension to a temperature of about 100°
C. to about 220°
C. and for a reaction time of about 15 minutes to about 48 hours whereby lignin is fragmented from the biomass and is dissolved in the suspension;
(d) filtering free liquid under pressure after heating the suspension in (c) whereby the dissolved lignin is removed whereby pretreated biomass is formed;
(e) contacting the pretreated biomass from (d) with a gas comprising ozone at a temperature of about 0°
C. to about 50°
C. and for a reaction time of at least about 1 minute whereby a readily saccharifiable carbohydrate-enriched biomass is produced.
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Abstract
Lignocellulosic biomass comprising lignin is treated with a solvent, such as organosolv, under alkaline conditions at elevated temperatures, filtered, then contacted with a gas comprising ozone to produce a readily saccharifiable biomass.
37 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for producing readily saccharifiable carbohydrate-enriched biomass, the method comprising:
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(a) providing lignocellulosic biomass comprising lignin; (b) contacting the biomass with an organic solvent solution comprising water and at least one inorganic base selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, ammonia, and mixtures thereof whereby a biomass-solvent suspension is formed; (c) heating the biomass-solvent suspension to a temperature of about 100°
C. to about 220°
C. and for a reaction time of about 15 minutes to about 48 hours whereby lignin is fragmented from the biomass and is dissolved in the suspension;(d) filtering free liquid under pressure after heating the suspension in (c) whereby the dissolved lignin is removed whereby pretreated biomass is formed; (e) contacting the pretreated biomass from (d) with a gas comprising ozone at a temperature of about 0°
C. to about 50°
C. and for a reaction time of at least about 1 minute whereby a readily saccharifiable carbohydrate-enriched biomass is produced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification