CONTINUOUSLY FED BIOMASS PRETREATMENT PROCESS FOR A PACKED BED REACTOR

• US 20120125548A1
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Corteva, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Corteva, Inc.)
• Inventors: COHEN, JEFFREY DAVID
• Application Number:
  US13/297,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20120125548A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 162/17
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/02 Monosaccharides 2-ketogulonic acid C12P7/60
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/14 produced by the action of a carbohydrase (EC 3.2.x), e.g. by alpha-amylase , e.g. by cellulase, hemicellulase
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 2201/00 Pretreatment of cellulosic or lignocellulosic material for subsequent enzymatic treatment or hydrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: D21C 1/06 with alkaline reacting compounds
• CPC Class Codes: D21C 3/024 with NH3 or H2O
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/582 Recycling of unreacted starting or intermediate materials

Abstract

Biomass pretreatment using anhydrous ammonia is effective in a static reactor vessel when the ammonia can penetrate through the biomass particles or pieces in vapor state, and when biomass is continuously fed and moved through the reactor. To achieve this condition, total system moisture content is kept below 40 weight % based on total mass in the system. The pretreated biomass product is effectively saccharified to produce fermentable sugars for biocatalyst production of a product.

Claims

11-1. The process of claim 1 wherein the biomass of (a) is mechanically size-reduced biomass.

12-2. The process of claim 1 wherein the biomass is cellulosic biomass comprising cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin.