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FRACTIONATION OF BIOMASS FOR CELLULOSIC ETHANOL AND CHEMICAL PRODUCTION

  • US 20100313882A1
  • Filed: 04/23/2010
  • Published: 12/16/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2009
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A continuous process for fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass having a lignin content of less than 12%, comprising the steps of:

  • a) exposing the lignocellulosic biomass to steam in a reaction vessel at a preselected temperature and a preselected reaction pressure, for a preselected exposure time, and at a selected pH value for removing a hemicellulose fraction of the lignocellulosic biomass and activating a cellulose fraction of the lignocellulosic biomass to obtain a prehydrolyzed lignocellulosic biomass;

    b) purging liquid condensate and vapor generated during the exposure step to remove and collect a first liquid stream with water soluble compounds and a first vapor stream with volatile chemicals;

    c) extracting liquid containing hemicellulose hydrolysis and degradation components from the prehydrolysed lignocellulosic biomass as a hemicellulose degradation stream;

    d) rapidly releasing the reaction pressure after the extracting step to afford explosive decompression of the prehydrolyzed lignocellulosic biomass into fibrous solids, vapor and condensate; and

    e) collecting the vapor and condensate from the explosive decompression for separation and recovery of byproducts.

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