Methods for pretreatment and processing of biomass
First Claim
1. A method of biomass pretreatment comprising:
- (a) adding an alkali to biomass with lignin content to produce a mixture;
(b) maintaining the mixture at a temperature between approximately 25°
C. and 100°
C. at ambient pressure;
(c) circulating water intermittently through the mixture during step (b);
(d) fermenting the biomass; and
(e) collecting carboxylate salts from the mixture.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to one embodiment of the invention, a system for processing biomass includes a water-impermeable bottom liner, a gravel layer supported by the bottom liner, a drain pipe disposed within the gravel layer, a biomass input device operable to deliver biomass over the gravel layer to form a biomass pile, a lime input device operable to deliver lime to the biomass for pretreating the biomass, a distribution pipe elevated above the gravel layer, and a pump operable to circulate water through the biomass pile by delivering water to the distribution pipe and receiving water from the drain pipe after it has traveled through the biomass pile.
According to another embodiment, a method for biomass pretreatment with alkali, conducted at ambient pressure for approximately 4-16 weeks at temperatures ranging from approximately 25° C. to 95° C. Biomass may be lignocellulosic biomass and may be rendered suitable for enzymatic digestion or pulp production.
9 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of biomass pretreatment comprising:
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(a) adding an alkali to biomass with lignin content to produce a mixture; (b) maintaining the mixture at a temperature between approximately 25°
C. and 100°
C. at ambient pressure;(c) circulating water intermittently through the mixture during step (b); (d) fermenting the biomass; and (e) collecting carboxylate salts from the mixture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for producing enzymatically digestible biomass comprising:
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(a) adding lime to biomass with lignin content to produce a mixture; (b) maintaining the mixture at a temperature between approximately 25°
C. and 55°
C. at ambient pressure for a time period of at least approximately 4 to 16 weeks;(c) circulating water intermittently through the mixture during step (b); (d) fermenting the biomass; and (e) collecting carboxylate salts from the mixture. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for producing pulp comprising:
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(a) adding lime to biomass with lignin content to produce a mixture; (b) maintaining the mixture at a temperature between approximately 45°
C. and 55°
C. at ambient pressure for a time period of approximately 10 weeks;(c) circulating water intermittently through the mixture during step (b); (d) fermenting the biomass; and (e) collecting carboxylate salts from the mixture. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification