Supercritical ammonia treatment of lignocellulosic materials

• US 4,644,060 A
• Filed: 05/21/1985
• Issued: 02/17/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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: Chou, Yu-Chia T.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRIFFIN, RONALD
• Application Number:
  US06/736,386
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 426/69, 426/807, 536/56, 162/72, 162/91, 162/96, 536/30
• US Class Current: 536/30
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/32 from hydrolysates of wood or straw
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/15 containing substances which are metabolically converted to proteins, e.g. ammonium salts or urea
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/22 Processes using, or culture media containing, cellulose or hydrolysates thereof
• 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 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: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/54 using solvents, e.g. supercritical solvents or ionic liquids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/582 Recycling of unreacted starting or intermediate materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/87 Re-use of by-products of food processing for fodder production
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 426/807 Poultry or ruminant feed

Abstract

The bioavailability of polysaccharide components of lignocellulosic materials can be increased substantially by treatment with ammonia in a supercritical or near-supercritical fluid state.

Claims

1. A process for improving the bioavailability of polysaccharides in lignocellulosic materials, comprising contacting the lignocellulosic materials with ammonia at a temperature from about 100°

C. to about 200°

C., at a pressure from about 6.9 MPa to about 35 MPa, and at an ammonia density from about 0.10 g per mL to about 0.45 g per mL.

2. A process according to claim 1, conducted for period from about 30 seconds to about 60 minutes.

3. A process according to claim 2, wherein the temperature is from about 135°

C. to about 165°

C.

4. A process according to claim 3, wherein the pressure is greater than about 8.3 MPa.

5. A process according to claim 4, wherein the pressure is maintained from about 8.3 MPa to about 17.2 MPa.

6. A process according to claim 5, wherein the ammonia density is maintained from about 0.20 g per mL to about 0.40 g per mL.

7. A process according to claim 6, conducted for a period from about 2 to about 30 minutes.

8. A process according to claim 7, wherein the lignocellulosic materials are agricultural byproducts.

9. A process according to claim 8, wherein the lignocellulosic materials are cornstalks or corncobs.

10. A process according to claim 8, wherein the lignocellulosic materials are bagasse.

11. A process according to claim 7, wherein the lignocellulosic materials are wood fragments.

12. A process according to claim 11, wherein the lignocellulosic materials are hardwood fragments.

13. A product of the process of claim 1.

14. A product of the process of claim 6.

15. A product of the process of claim 7.

16. A product of the process of claim 8.

17. A product of the process of claim 9.

18. A product of the process of claim 10.

19. A product of the process of claim 11.

20. A product of the process of claim 12.