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Process for the treatment of lignocellulosic biomass

  • US 7,915,017 B2
  • Filed: 09/17/2007
  • Issued: 03/29/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A process for the treatment of a plant biomass, the process comprising:

  • (a) performing an ammonia treatment process comprising;

    (i) contacting a lignocellulosic plant biomass, which has been ground and which contains varying moisture contents, with a source of ammonia comprising at least one of anhydrous ammonia in the liquid state, anhydrous ammonia in the vapor state, a concentrated ammonia;

    water mixture in the liquid state, and a concentrated ammonia;

    water mixture in the vapor state, thereby forming a mixture in which the ratio of ammonia (as NH3) to dry plant biomass is between about 0.1;

    1 and 0.75;

    1 and the ratio of water to dry plant biomass is between about 0.2;

    1 and 1.5;

    1;

    (ii) maintaining the mixture in a closed vessel at temperatures between about 50°

    C. and 140°

    C. for a period of time;

    (iii) maintaining the ammonia in contact with the lignocellulosic plant biomass and increasing an amount of the ammonia in the liquid state by managing a headspace volume of the closed vessel; and

    (iv) rapidly releasing pressure from the vessel by releasing ammonia from the vessel to form a treated biomass, the treated biomass having an increased reactivity of plant polymers comprising hemicellulose and cellulose; and

    (b) removing the treated plant biomass which has increased reactivity from the vessel.

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