ANHYDROUS AMMONIA TREATMENT FOR IMPROVED MILLING OF BIOMASS
First Claim
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1. A process for producing readily saccharifiable biomass comprising:
- a) providing lignocellulosic biomass;
b) contacting the biomass of (a) with anhydrous ammonia to produce ammonia-treated biomass; and
c) disrupting the ammonia-treated biomass of (b) by applying mechanical energy through a mechanical disruption means to produce a pretreated biomass which is readily saccharifiable;
wherein the pretreated biomass comprises an amorphous cellulose component and;
wherein the percentage of the amorphous cellulose component in the pretreated biomass is higher as compared with the percentage of the amorphous cellulose component in a pretreated biomass not contacted with anhydrous ammonia and disrupted with the same level of mechanical energy as in (c).
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Abstract
Mechanical milling of biomass as a pretreatment to render the biomass readily saccharifiable requires high energy input. Preceding mechanical milling by treatment with anhydrous ammonia was found to greatly reduce the energy requirement for fine milling, providing a more economical pretreatment process for commercial use.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A process for producing readily saccharifiable biomass comprising:
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a) providing lignocellulosic biomass; b) contacting the biomass of (a) with anhydrous ammonia to produce ammonia-treated biomass; and c) disrupting the ammonia-treated biomass of (b) by applying mechanical energy through a mechanical disruption means to produce a pretreated biomass which is readily saccharifiable; wherein the pretreated biomass comprises an amorphous cellulose component and; wherein the percentage of the amorphous cellulose component in the pretreated biomass is higher as compared with the percentage of the amorphous cellulose component in a pretreated biomass not contacted with anhydrous ammonia and disrupted with the same level of mechanical energy as in (c). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification