Processing biomass
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
13 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification