Processing biomass

• US 9,388,432 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2012
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
• Inventors: Medoff, Marshall, Masterman, Thomas Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Meah, MD. Younus
• Application Number:
  US13/668,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20130065286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 435/135, 435/158, 435/160, 435/140, 435/161
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1612 CO2-separation and sequestration, i.e. long time storage
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1665 to alcohols, e.g. methanol or ethanol
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1681 with biological plants, e.g. involving bacteria, algae, fungi
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/04 acyclic
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/065 with microorganisms other than yeasts
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/10 substrate containing cellulosic material
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/14 Multiple stages of fermentation; Multiple types of microorganisms or re-use of microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/40 containing a carboxyl group including Peroxycarboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/46 Dicarboxylic acids having four or less carbon atoms, e.g. fumaric acid, maleic acid
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/54 Acetic acid vinegar C12J
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/56 Lactic acid
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/62 Carboxylic acid esters
• CPC Class Codes: C13K 1/02 obtained by saccharification of cellulosic materials manufacture of fodder A23K10/32
• CPC Class Codes: C13K 1/06 obtained by saccharification of starch or raw materials containing starch
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/678 Aviation using fuels of non-fossil origin

Abstract

Carbon-containing materials, such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) or coal are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels, carboxylic acids and equivalents thereof (e.g., esters and salts). For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol, butanol or organic acids (e.g., acetic or lactic acid), salts of organic acids or mixtures thereof. If desired, organic acids can be converted into alcohols, such as by first converting the acid, salt or mixtures of the acid and its salt to an ester, and then hydrogenating the formed ester. Acetogens or homoacetogens which are capable of utilizing a syngas from a thermochemical conversion of coal or biomass can be utilized to produce the desired product.

Claims

1. A method of processing lignocellulosic biomass to lignin and to acetic acid or a salt of acetic acid, the method comprising:

treating the lignocellulosic biomass to reduce its recalcitrance, producing treated biomass;

saccharifying a first portion of the treated biomass with an enzyme or with acid, producing saccharified material;

fermenting the saccharified material in a fermentation vessel, utilizing a microorganism to produce the acetic acid or the salt of acetic acid;

thermochemically converting a second portion of the treated biomass to produce syngas;

feeding the syngas into the fermentation vessel during fermenting; and

capturing lignin liberated by saccharifying and fermenting;

wherein the first portion and the second portion of the treated biomass are of identical composition.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein treating the lignocellulosic biomass is by radiation.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising converting the acetic acid or the salt of acetic acid to an ester.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising hydrogenating the ester to ethanol.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein hydrogenating the ester comprises exposing the ester to hydrogen under a pressure of between about 25 and 700 Bar in the presence of a catalyst.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the radiation comprises a beam of electrons.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the beam of electrons delivers at least 10 Mrad of radiation.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the lignocellulosic biomass is selected from the group consisting of paper, paper products, wood, wood-related materials, particle board, grasses, rice hulls, bagasse, cotton, jute, hemp, flax, bamboo, sisal, abaca, straw, corn cobs, rice hulls, coconut hair, algae, seaweed and mixtures of any of these.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the enzyme comprises a cellulase.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the microorganism is a homoacetogen.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the microorganism is a bacterium from the genus Clostridium.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the microorganism is an anaerobic bacteria.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the microorganism is a heteroacetogen.