Methods and systems for saccharification of biomass
First Claim
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1. A method of producing a composition comprising C5 and C6 saccharides and low levels of an inhibitor compound from a biomass composition comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, and/or lignocellulose, the method comprising:
- (a) pretreating the biomass composition comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, and/or lignocellulose to produce a pretreated biomass composition comprising a mixture of solid particles, wherein at least 50% of the solid particles are less than 1.5 mm in a dimension, and C5 monosaccharides and/or disaccharides in a yield that is at least 50% of a theoretical maximum, wherein pretreating produces low levels of the inhibitor compound and comprises;
(i) hydration of the biomass composition in an acid medium to produce a hydrated biomass composition,(ii) mechanical size reduction of the hydrated biomass composition to produce the mixture of solid particles, and(iii) heating the hydrated biomass composition for a time sufficient to produce the pretreated biomass composition comprising C5 monosaccharides and/or disaccharides in the yield that is at least 50% of the theoretical maximum while producing low levels of the inhibitor compound; and
(b) hydrolyzing the pretreated biomass composition with one or more enzymes for a time sufficient to produce the composition comprising C5 and C6 saccharides and low levels of the inhibitor compound.
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Abstract
Provided are methods and compositions for high yields while using reduced enzyme loads in saccharification and fermentation processes. These methods increase the efficiency of enzymes and result in improved yields and composition of saccharification and fermentation end products.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of producing a composition comprising C5 and C6 saccharides and low levels of an inhibitor compound from a biomass composition comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, and/or lignocellulose, the method comprising:
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(a) pretreating the biomass composition comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, and/or lignocellulose to produce a pretreated biomass composition comprising a mixture of solid particles, wherein at least 50% of the solid particles are less than 1.5 mm in a dimension, and C5 monosaccharides and/or disaccharides in a yield that is at least 50% of a theoretical maximum, wherein pretreating produces low levels of the inhibitor compound and comprises; (i) hydration of the biomass composition in an acid medium to produce a hydrated biomass composition, (ii) mechanical size reduction of the hydrated biomass composition to produce the mixture of solid particles, and (iii) heating the hydrated biomass composition for a time sufficient to produce the pretreated biomass composition comprising C5 monosaccharides and/or disaccharides in the yield that is at least 50% of the theoretical maximum while producing low levels of the inhibitor compound; and (b) hydrolyzing the pretreated biomass composition with one or more enzymes for a time sufficient to produce the composition comprising C5 and C6 saccharides and low levels of the inhibitor compound. - 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, 29, 30)
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28. A method of producing a composition comprising C5 and C6 saccharides and low levels of an inhibitor compound from a biomass composition comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, and/or lignocellulose, the method comprising:
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(a) pretreating the biomass composition comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, and/or lignocellulose to produce a pretreated biomass composition comprising a mixture of solid particles, wherein at least 50% of the solid particles are less than 1.5 mm in a dimension, and C5 monosaccharides and/or disaccharides in a yield that is at least 50% of a theoretical maximum, wherein pretreating produces low levels of the inhibitor compound and comprises; (i) hydration of the biomass composition in an acid medium to produce a hydrated biomass composition, (ii) mechanical size reduction of the hydrated biomass composition to produce the mixture of solid particles, wherein mechanical size reduction comprises cutting with a first rotating cutter and a second rotating cutter, and (iii) heating the hydrated biomass composition for a time sufficient to produce the pretreated biomass composition comprising C5 monosaccharides and/or disaccharides in the yield that is at least 50% of the theoretical maximum while producing low levels of the inhibitor compound; and (b) hydrolyzing the pretreated biomass composition with one or more enzymes for a time sufficient to produce the composition comprising C5 and C6 saccharides and low levels of the inhibitor compound.
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Specification