PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS

• US 20120325202A1
• Filed: 08/21/2012
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University (Michigan State University)
• Original Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University (Michigan State University)
• Inventors: Dale, Bruce E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,771,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 127/34
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/02 Monosaccharides 2-ketogulonic acid C12P7/60
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 2201/00 Pretreatment of cellulosic or lignocellulosic material for subsequent enzymatic treatment or hydrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/10 substrate containing cellulosic material
• CPC Class Codes: C13K 1/02 obtained by saccharification of cellulosic materials manufacture of fodder A23K10/32
• CPC Class Codes: C13K 13/002 Xylose
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

A process for the treatment of biomass to render structural carbohydrates more accessible and/or digestible using concentrated ammonium hydroxide with or without anhydrous ammonia addition, is described. The process preferably uses steam to strip ammonia from the biomass for recycling. The process yields of monosaccharides from the structural carbohydrates are good, particularly as measured by the enzymatic hydrolysis of the structural carbohydrates. The monosaccharides are used as animal feeds and energy sources for ethanol production.

Claims

1. A process for treating lignocellulosic biomass containing structural carbohydrates comprising:

adding ammonia vapors and water vapors at an elevated temperature to a closed vessel containing lignocellulosic biomass such that structural carbohydrates in the lignocellulosic biomass are rendered more susceptible to hydrolysis.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein a final mixture temperature in the closed vessel is 50°

C. or above.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein the final mixing temperature is about 90°

C.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein a weight ratio of ammonia in the ammonia vapors to dry lignocellulosic biomass is between about 0.2:

1 and 1;

1,

5. The process of claim 4 wherein the ratio is between about 0.4:

1 and 1;

1.