Continuous counter-current organosolv processing of lignocellulosic feedstocks
First Claim
1. A modular process for organosolv fractionation of a lignocellulosic feedstock into component parts and further processing of said component parts;
- the modular process comprising;
a first processing module provided with a first series of steps for receiving, physically screening, and physico-chemically digesting a lignocellulosic feedstock by commingling and circulating therethrough an organic solvent separately provided thereto thereby extracting component parts therefrom, and separating said component parts into a cellulosic solids fraction and a first liquid fraction;
a second processing module provided with a second series of steps for producing at least a fuel-grade ethanol and a stillage from said cellulosic solids fraction and separating a plurality of a first class of lignin derivatives from said stillage;
a third processing module provided with a third series of steps comprising at least a first step for separating the first liquid fraction into a first filtrate and a second solids fraction comprising a plurality of a second class of lignin derivatives, a second step for separating the first filtrate into a second filtrate and a third solids fraction comprising a plurality of a third class of lignin derivatives, and a third step for separating furfurals from said second filtrate, a fourth step for recovering a portion of the organic solvent from the second filtrate by distillation thereby producing a stillage; and
a fourth processing module provided with a fourth series of steps for separating the stillage from the third processing module into at least an acetic acid-containing liquid fraction, a plurality of a fourth class of lignin derivatives, a lipophylic extractives fraction, a monosaccharide sugar syrup, and a solid waste material.
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Abstract
A modular process for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic feedstocks into component parts and further processing of said component parts into at least fuel-grade ethanol and four classes of lignin derivatives. The modular process comprises a first processing module configured for physico-chemically digesting lignocellulosic feedstocks with an organic solvent thereby producing a cellulosic solids fraction and a liquid fraction, a second processing module configured for producing at least a fuel-grade ethanol and a first class of novel lignin derivatives from the cellulosic solids fraction, a third processing module configured for separating a second class and a third class of lignin derivatives from the liquid fraction and further processing the liquid fraction to produce a distillate and a stillage, a fourth processing module configured for separating a fourth class of lignin derivatives from the stillage and further processing the stillage to produce a sugar syrup.
120 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A modular process for organosolv fractionation of a lignocellulosic feedstock into component parts and further processing of said component parts;
- the modular process comprising;
a first processing module provided with a first series of steps for receiving, physically screening, and physico-chemically digesting a lignocellulosic feedstock by commingling and circulating therethrough an organic solvent separately provided thereto thereby extracting component parts therefrom, and separating said component parts into a cellulosic solids fraction and a first liquid fraction; a second processing module provided with a second series of steps for producing at least a fuel-grade ethanol and a stillage from said cellulosic solids fraction and separating a plurality of a first class of lignin derivatives from said stillage; a third processing module provided with a third series of steps comprising at least a first step for separating the first liquid fraction into a first filtrate and a second solids fraction comprising a plurality of a second class of lignin derivatives, a second step for separating the first filtrate into a second filtrate and a third solids fraction comprising a plurality of a third class of lignin derivatives, and a third step for separating furfurals from said second filtrate, a fourth step for recovering a portion of the organic solvent from the second filtrate by distillation thereby producing a stillage; and a fourth processing module provided with a fourth series of steps for separating the stillage from the third processing module into at least an acetic acid-containing liquid fraction, a plurality of a fourth class of lignin derivatives, a lipophylic extractives fraction, a monosaccharide sugar syrup, and a solid waste material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- the modular process comprising;
Specification