PROCESS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF SUGARS AND LIGNIN FROM SOLID BIOMASS

• US 20110151516A1
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Zhao, Xuebing, VAN DER HEIDE, Evert
• Application Number:
  US12/972,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20110151516A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/72
• CPC Class Codes: C08B 37/0003 General processes for their isolation or fractionation, e.g. purification or extraction from biomass
• CPC Class Codes: C08B 37/0057 beta-D-Xylans, i.e. xylosaccharide, e.g. arabinoxylan, arabinofuronan, pentosans; (beta-1,3)(beta-1,4)-D-Xylans, e.g. rhodymenans; Hemicellulose; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08H 8/00 Macromolecular compounds derived from lignocellulosic materials pretreatment thereof B27N
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/02 Monosaccharides 2-ketogulonic acid C12P7/60
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

A process for the extraction of sugars and/or lignin from lignocellulose-containing solid biomass is provided.

Claims

1. A process for the extraction of sugars and/or lignin from lignocellulose-containing solid biomass, comprising the steps of:

(a) contacting the lignocellulose-containing solid biomass with a pulping solution comprising at least 5 to 95% by weight of acetic acid at a temperature in the range of from 80 to 195°

C. thereby producing a first mixture;

(b) separating the first mixture obtained in (a) into a pre-treated solid residue and a liquid stream comprising dissolved hemicellulose;

(c) contacting the pre-treated solid residue with a pulping solution comprising at least 5 to 95% by weight of peracetic acid at a temperature in the range of from 50 to 95°

C. thereby producing a second mixture; and

(d) separating the second mixture obtained in (c) into a solid residue comprising delignified cellulose, and a liquid stream comprising dissolved lignin.

2. The process of claim 1 further comprising step (e) precipitating lignin from the liquid stream obtained in step (d).

3. The process of claim 1 further comprising step (f) of subjecting the solid residue comprising delignified cellulose obtained in strep (d) to an enzymatic hydrolysis to obtain a sugar solution and a solid residue.

4. The process of claim 3 further comprising step (g) of fermenting the sugar solution obtained in step (f) with a suitable microorganism.

5. The process claim 1 wherein the lignocellulose-containing biomass comprises corn or soy stover, cereal straw, wood, grass, and/or bagasse.

6. The process of claim 1 further comprising neutralising the solid residue obtained in step (d) prior to subjecting the residue to enzymatic hydrolysis step (f) by washing the residue with an alkaline solution.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein the neutrazation is followed by washing with water.

8. The process of claim 6 wherein the alkaline solution is an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonia, or ammonium hydroxide.

9. The process claim 1 further comprising step (i) recovering acetic acid from the liquid phase obtained in step (b).

10. The process of claim 9 wherein the recovered acetic acid is further rectified.

11. The process of claim 10 further comprising a step (iii) wherein the rectified acetic acid is converted to peracetic acid.