Processing biomass
First Claim
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1. A method of processing biomass materials using a screw extrusion process, the method comprising:
- conveying biomass material through a screw extruder comprising a co-extruder having a first barrel and a second barrel, wherein the conveying step comprises conveying a first biomass material through the first barrel and conveying a second biomass material through the second barrel;
applying compression and shear forces via a plurality of interpenetrate helicoidal surfaces within the screw extruder, the forces effective to reduce one or more dimensions of individual pieces of biomass material;
exposing the biomass material to a plurality of scanning electron beam emitters while conveying the biomass material through the screw extruder, the scanning electron beam emitters each effecting a desired dose of electron beam radiation, wherein the exposing step comprises exposing the first biomass material to a first dose of electron beam irradiation and exposing the second biomass material to a second dose of electron beam irradiation; and
producing an extrudate comprising the material discharged from the screw extrusion process.
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Abstract
Methods are provided for reducing one or more dimensions of individual pieces of biomass; treating biomass, such as size-reduced biomass; changing a molecular structure of a biomass material; and, optionally, subjecting the biomass to a primary process to form a product. The methods include processing biomass materials using a screw extrusion process, and treating the biomass material with a screw extrusion process in size-reduction and treating steps.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of processing biomass materials using a screw extrusion process, the method comprising:
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conveying biomass material through a screw extruder comprising a co-extruder having a first barrel and a second barrel, wherein the conveying step comprises conveying a first biomass material through the first barrel and conveying a second biomass material through the second barrel; applying compression and shear forces via a plurality of interpenetrate helicoidal surfaces within the screw extruder, the forces effective to reduce one or more dimensions of individual pieces of biomass material; exposing the biomass material to a plurality of scanning electron beam emitters while conveying the biomass material through the screw extruder, the scanning electron beam emitters each effecting a desired dose of electron beam radiation, wherein the exposing step comprises exposing the first biomass material to a first dose of electron beam irradiation and exposing the second biomass material to a second dose of electron beam irradiation; and producing an extrudate comprising the material discharged from the screw extrusion process. - 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)
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Specification