Process for the production of alcohols
First Claim
1. A process for alcohol production from a cellulosic material or for the production of an oligosaccharide-containing residue from a cellulosic material comprising the steps of subjecting a said cellulosic material to acid hydrolysis to yield an aqueous hydrolysate, introducing said hydrolysate into a separator at a hydrolysate inlet, said separator having at least two sections;
- introducing an extraction solvent into at least two separator sections at at least two extraction solvent inlets, removing a residue containing oligosaccharides from said separator at a residue discharge outlet, and removing acid-containing extraction solvent from said separator at an extraction solvent discharge outlet, wherein removal of said extraction solvent from said separator through said discharge outlet occurs downstream of at least one said extraction solvent inlet and upstream of at least one other said extraction solvent inlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a process for alcohol production from a cellulosic material wherein a said cellulosic material is subjected to acid hydrolysis to yield an aqueous hydrolysate, said hydrolysate is introduced into a separator at a hydrolysate inlet, an extraction solvent is introduced into said separator at at least two extraction solvent inlets, a residue containing oligosaccharides is removed from said separator at a residue discharge outlet, and acid-containing extraction solvent is removed from said separator at an extraction solvent discharge outlet, wherein removal of said extraction solvent from said separator through said discharge outlet occurs downstream of at least one said extraction solvent inlet and upstream of at least one other said extraction solvent inlet.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A process for alcohol production from a cellulosic material or for the production of an oligosaccharide-containing residue from a cellulosic material comprising the steps of subjecting a said cellulosic material to acid hydrolysis to yield an aqueous hydrolysate, introducing said hydrolysate into a separator at a hydrolysate inlet, said separator having at least two sections;
- introducing an extraction solvent into at least two separator sections at at least two extraction solvent inlets, removing a residue containing oligosaccharides from said separator at a residue discharge outlet, and removing acid-containing extraction solvent from said separator at an extraction solvent discharge outlet, wherein removal of said extraction solvent from said separator through said discharge outlet occurs downstream of at least one said extraction solvent inlet and upstream of at least one other said extraction solvent inlet.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A process for alcohol production from a cellulosic material or for the production of an oligosaccharide-containing residue from a cellulosic material, comprising the steps of subjecting a said cellulosic material to acid hydrolysis to yield an aqueous hydrolysate, introducing said hydrolysate into a separator at a hydrolysate inlet, said separator having at least two sections;
- introducing an extraction solvent into at least two separator sections at an extraction solvent inlet, removing a residue containing oligosaccharides from said separator at a residue discharge outlet, and removing acid-containing extraction solvent from said separator at an extraction solvent discharge outlet, wherein;
(a) said hydrolysate inlet and said extraction solvent discharge outlet are so positioned that the time of flow from said hydrolysate inlet to said extraction solvent discharge outlet is at least 10 seconds;
or(b) said hydrolysate inlet and said extraction solvent discharge outlet are positioned above said extraction solvent inlet, said hydrolysate inlet is positioned at or below said extraction solvent discharge outlet, and said separator has an internal cross-sectional area that is higher at said hydrolysate inlet or between said hydrolysate inlet and said extraction solvent discharge outlet than the average between said extraction solvent inlet and said extraction solvent discharge outlet;
or(c) said hydrolysate inlet is positioned in said separator below at least 10% of the flow path of extraction solvent from said extraction solvent inlet to said extraction solvent discharge outlet. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
- introducing an extraction solvent into at least two separator sections at an extraction solvent inlet, removing a residue containing oligosaccharides from said separator at a residue discharge outlet, and removing acid-containing extraction solvent from said separator at an extraction solvent discharge outlet, wherein;
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13. Apparatus for oligosaccharide production from a cellulosic material, said apparatus comprising an acid hydrolysis reactor and a separator having an oligosaccharide flow path therethrough, said separator having:
- a hydrolysate inlet arranged to receive hydrolysate from said reactor;
at least two sections with at least two of the sections having an extraction solvent inlet for introduction of an extraction solvent;
a residue discharge outlet for removal of a residue containing oligosaccharides; and
an extraction solvent discharge outlet for removal of acid-containing extraction solvent, wherein said extraction solvent discharge outlet is downstream on said flow path of at least one said extraction solvent inlet and upstream on said flow path of at least one other said extraction solvent inlet; and
wherein said hydrolysate inlet and said extraction solvent discharge outlet are positioned above said extraction solvent inlets, said hydrolysate inlet is positioned at or below said extraction solvent discharge outlet, and said separator has an internal cross-sectional area that is higher at said hydrolysate inlet or between said hydrolysate inlet and said extraction solvent discharge outlet than the average between said extraction solvent inlets and said extraction solvent discharge outlet. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- a hydrolysate inlet arranged to receive hydrolysate from said reactor;
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22. Apparatus for oligosaccharide production from a cellulosic material, said apparatus comprising an acid hydrolysis reactor and a separator having an oligosaccharide flow path therethrough, said separator having:
- a hydrolysate inlet arranged to receive hydrolysate from said reactor;
at least two sections, with an extraction solvent inlet for introduction of an extraction solvent;
a residue discharge outlet for removal of a residue containing oligosaccharides; and
an extraction solvent discharge outlet for removal of acid-containing extraction solvent, whereinsaid hydrolysate inlet and said extraction solvent discharge outlet are positioned above said extraction solvent inlet, said hydrolysate inlet is positioned at or below said extraction solvent discharge outlet, and said separator has an internal cross-sectional area that is higher at said hydrolysate inlet or between said hydrolysate inlet and said extraction solvent discharge outlet than the average between said extraction solvent inlet and said extraction solvent discharge outlet. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
- a hydrolysate inlet arranged to receive hydrolysate from said reactor;
Specification