PROCESS FOR TREATING LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS

• US 20140045226A1
• Filed: 07/09/2013
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dakota Star Capital, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dakota Star Capital, LLC
• Inventors: Kuo, Monlin, WICKING, J. Bruce, BIAN, Yilin, LIU, Ping
• Application Number:
  US13/937,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20140045226A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/99
• 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: C12P 7/10 substrate containing cellulosic material
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/14 Multiple stages of fermentation; Multiple types of microorganisms or re-use of microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: D21C 1/06 with alkaline reacting compounds
• CPC Class Codes: D21C 11/0007 Recovery of by-products, i.e. compounds other than those necessary for pulping, for multiple uses or not otherwise provided for volatile compounds obtained by decomposition of spent liquors in order to regenerate them D21C11/125; compounds obtained by fractionating the liquors in order to regenerate them D21C11/0042
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

A process for treating lignocellulosic biomass is described. The process includes treating particulate biomass with alkali to partially remove hemicellulose sheath on cellulose microfibrils of the biomass; and carrying out an oxidation reaction on the alkali treated biomass to form a treated biomass having a disrupted cellulose crystalline structure. The treated biomass may be further processed to form free sugars and lignin and the free sugars can be used to produce bio-ethanol or used as sugar source in fermentation processes.

Claims

1. A process for treating lignocellulosic biomass, the process comprising:

treating particulate lignocellulosic biomass with alkali to partially remove hemicellulose sheath on cellulose microfibrils of the biomass; and

carrying out an oxidation reaction on the alkali treated biomass to form a treated biomass having a disrupted cellulose crystalline structure.

2. The process according to claim 1 wherein the lignocellulosic biomass is selected from the group consisting of wood, wood mill waste, begass, agricultural residues, cornstover, cornstalk and perennial grasses.

3. The process according to claim 1 wherein the particulate lignocellulosic biomass is formed by grinding, crushing, or milling.

4. The process according to claim 3 wherein the particulate lignocellulosic biomass is from 1 to 100 US mesh.

5. The process according to claim 4 wherein the particulate lignocellulosic biomass is from 20 to 40 US mesh.

6. The process according to claim 1 wherein the alkali is 1 to 10% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide.

7. The process according to claim 6 wherein the alkali treatment is carried out at elevated temperatures of about 50°

C. to 80°

C. for about 1 to 12 hours.

8. The process according to claim 1 wherein the oxidation reaction is carried out by a Fenton process using an iron catalyst and hydrogen peroxide.

9. The process according to claim 8 wherein the iron catalyst is FeSO₄.

10. The process according to claim 9 wherein 0.2 to 0.3 g/g H₂O₂ and 0.05 to 0.2 M FeSO₄ are used at room temperature or at elevated temperatures.

11. The process according to claim 1 further comprising digesting the treated biomass having a disrupted cellulose crystalline structure with one or more enzymes to form free sugars and lignin.

12. The process according to claim 11 wherein the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of cellulase and hemicellulase.

13. The process according to claim 11 further comprising separating the free sugars from the lignin.

14. The process according to claim 13 further comprising carrying out a fermentation reaction on the free sugars to form ethanol.

15. The process according to claim 13 further comprising culturing a microbial species on the free sugars to produce a microbial based ingredient for human consumption or as an animal feed.

16. The process according to claim 15 wherein the microbial based ingredient is fungal or yeast biomass.

17. The process according to claim 16 wherein the fungal biomass is from Aspergillus oryzae va., or Aspergillus niger var.

18. The process according to claim 17 wherein the yeast biomass is from Baker'"'"'s yeast.