Hydrolysis and fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass
First Claim
1. A multi-function process for hydrolysis and fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass to separate hemicellulosic sugars from other biomass components comprising extractives and proteins;
- a portion of a solubilized lignin;
cellulose;
glucose derived from cellulose; and
insoluble lignin from said biomass comprising;
A) introducing a dilute acid liquid of pH 1.0-5.0 into a continual shrinking bed reactor containing either solid fresh biomass or solid partially fractionated lignocellulosic biomass material at a temperature of from about 140 to about 220°
C. for a period of about 10 to about 60 minutes at a volumetric flow rate sufficient to keep the solid and liquid at a constant ratio throughout said process so as to increase the linear velocity, keep a constant volumetric flow rate to effect solubilization of hemicellulosic sugars and amorphous glucans, to improve hemicellulosic sugar yields.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-function process is described for the hydrolysis and fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass to separate hemicellulosic sugars from other biomass components such as extractives and proteins; a portion of the solubilized lignin; cellulose; glucose derived from cellulose; and insoluble lignin from said biomass comprising one or more of the following: optionally, as function 1, introducing a dilute acid of pH 1.0-5.0 into a continual shrinking bed reactor containing a lignocellulosic biomass material at a temperature of about 94 to about 160° C. for a period of about 10 to about 120 minutes at a volumetric flow rate of about 1 to about 5 reactor volumes to effect solubilization of extractives, lignin, and protein by keeping the solid to liquid ratio constant throughout the solubilization process; as function 2, introducing a dilute acid of pH 1.0-5.0, either as virgin acid or an acidic stream from another function, into a continual shrinking bed reactor containing either fresh biomass or the partially fractionated lignocellulosic biomass material from function 1 at a temperature of about 94-220° C. for a period of about 10 to about 60 minutes at a volumetric flow rate of about 1 to about 5 reactor volumes to effect solubilization of hemicellulosic sugars, semisoluble sugars and other compounds, and amorphous glucans by keeping the solid to liquid ratio constant throughout the solubilization process; as function 3, optionally, introducing a dilute acid of pH 1.0-5.0 either as virgin acid or an acidic stream from another function, into a continual shrinking bed reactor containing the partially fractionated lignocellulosic biomass material from function 2 at a temperature of about 180-280° C. for a period of about 10 to about 60 minutes at a volumetric flow rate of 1 to about 5 reactor volumes to effect solubilization of cellulosic sugars by keeping the solid to liquid ratio constant throughout the solubilization process; and as function 4, optionally, introducing a dilute acid of pH 1.0-5.0 either as virgin acid or an acidic stream from another function, into a continual shrinking bed reactor containing the partially fractionated lignocellulosic biomass material from function 3 at a temperature of about 180-280° C. for a period of about 10 to about 60 minutes at a volumetric flow rate of about 1 to about 5 reactor volumes to effect solubilization of cellulosic sugars by keeping the solid to liquid ratio constant throughout the solubilization process.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A multi-function process for hydrolysis and fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass to separate hemicellulosic sugars from other biomass components comprising extractives and proteins;
- a portion of a solubilized lignin;
cellulose;
glucose derived from cellulose; and
insoluble lignin from said biomass comprising;
A) introducing a dilute acid liquid of pH 1.0-5.0 into a continual shrinking bed reactor containing either solid fresh biomass or solid partially fractionated lignocellulosic biomass material at a temperature of from about 140 to about 220°
C. for a period of about 10 to about 60 minutes at a volumetric flow rate sufficient to keep the solid and liquid at a constant ratio throughout said process so as to increase the linear velocity, keep a constant volumetric flow rate to effect solubilization of hemicellulosic sugars and amorphous glucans, to improve hemicellulosic sugar yields. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- a portion of a solubilized lignin;
Specification