Production of fermentable sugars and lignin from biomass using supercritical fluids
First Claim
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1. A method of producing glucose from lignocellulosic biomass, comprising:
- providing a fractionated biomass, comprising;
a first solid fraction comprising;
cellulose; and
insoluble lignin; and
a first liquid fraction;
mixing said solid fraction with water to form a slurry;
optionally, pre-heating said slurry to a temperature less than the critical point of water;
contacting said slurry with a second reaction fluid to form;
a second solid fraction comprising;
insoluble lignin; and
a second liquid fraction comprising;
a saccharide selected from the group consisting of cello-oligosaccharides, glucose, and mixtures thereof;
wherein said second reaction fluid comprises water and, optionally, carbon dioxide, said second reaction fluid having a temperature and a pressure above the critical point of water and of carbon dioxide; and
reducing the temperature of said reaction mixture to a temperature below the critical point of water; and
optionally, hydrolyzing said second liquid fraction to form glucose.
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Abstract
Methods are disclosed for the continuous treatment of biomass comprising a pretreatment step, wherein said biomass is contacted with a first supercritical, near-critical, or sub-critical fluid to form a solid matrix and a first liquid fraction; and a hydrolysis step, wherein said solid matrix formed in said pretreatment step is contacted with a second supercritical or near-supercritical fluid to produce a second liquid fraction and a insoluble lignin-containing fraction. Also disclosed are apparatuses for the continuous conversion of biomass comprising a pretreatment reactor and a hydrolysis reactor associated with said pretreatment reactor.
36 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of producing glucose from lignocellulosic biomass, comprising:
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providing a fractionated biomass, comprising; a first solid fraction comprising; cellulose; and insoluble lignin; and a first liquid fraction; mixing said solid fraction with water to form a slurry; optionally, pre-heating said slurry to a temperature less than the critical point of water; contacting said slurry with a second reaction fluid to form; a second solid fraction comprising; insoluble lignin; and a second liquid fraction comprising; a saccharide selected from the group consisting of cello-oligosaccharides, glucose, and mixtures thereof; wherein said second reaction fluid comprises water and, optionally, carbon dioxide, said second reaction fluid having a temperature and a pressure above the critical point of water and of carbon dioxide; and reducing the temperature of said reaction mixture to a temperature below the critical point of water; and optionally, hydrolyzing said second liquid fraction to form glucose. - 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, 30)
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Specification