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Organic solvent pretreatment of biomass to enhance enzymatic saccharification

  • US 8,278,070 B2
  • Filed: 12/16/2009
  • Issued: 10/02/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for producing carbohydrate-enriched biomass comprising(a) providing lignocellulosic biomass comprising lignin;

  • (b) contacting the biomass of (a) with an organic solvent solution comprising water and one or more organo-mercaptan(s) under alkaline conditions whereby a biomass-solvent suspension is formed;

    (c) heating the biomass-solvent suspension to a temperature of about 100°

    C. to about 220°

    C. for about 5 minutes to about 5 hours whereby lignin is fragmented and is dissolved in the suspension; and

    (d) removing the dissolved lignin to produce a carbohydrate-enriched biomass.

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