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Treatment of fibrous lignocellulosic biomass by high shear forces in a turbulent couette flow to make the biomass more susceptible to hydrolysis

  • US 5,370,999 A
  • Filed: 12/17/1992
  • Issued: 12/06/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of treating a fibrous lignocellulosic biomass to make it more susceptible to hydrolysis, comprising the following steps:

  • (a) reducing the particle size of the lignocellulosic biomass to produce a dry flour;

    (b) mixing the flour with water to produce a slurry ranging up to about 60% solids; and

    (c) subjecting the slurry to high-shear forces by injecting the slurry cross currently into a turbulent Couette flow created in a high-frequency, rotor-stator device under conditions to microcavitate the slurry to shatter the fibrous structure of the biomass in the slurry creating a sheared slurry, said device comprising a chamber containing a fixed stator equipped with coaxial toothed rings meshing with opposing coaxial toothed rings coupled to a rotor that is coupled to a rotatable shaft.

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