It is disclosed a process for producing a bio-product from a ligno-cellulosic biomass, wherein the ligno-cellulosic biomass, a gas and steam are introduced in a pressurized reactor operated in a continuous manner at conditions to have a vapor head space. In the pressurized reactor, the vapor head space is maintained at a vapor head space temperature and at a pressure which is at least 1 bar greater than a pure steam equilibrium pressure at the vapor head space temperature. The ligno-cellulosic biomass is then refined by rapidly releasing the pressure while discharging the ligno-cellulosic biomass from the pressurized reactor assembly to create a pre-treated ligno-cellulosic biomass, which is then hydrolyzed and converted to the bio-product. Preferably, at least a portion of the gas is air entrapped in the ligno-cellulosic biomass and it is introduced into the pressurized reactor as part of the ligno-cellulosic biomass.In a preferred embodiment, the ligno-cellulosic biomass is subjected to a soaking step and an aeration step prior to being introducedinto the pressurized reactor, without any xylans separation step.
It is disclosed a process to produce a fermentation product from a ligno-cellulosic feedstock hydrolyzate slurry which comprises water, water soluble glucose and xylose and water insoluble pretreated ligno-cellulosic feedstock. The process comprises at least two conversion step. A first conversion medium comprising a first portion of the ligno-cellulosic feedstock hydrolyzate slurry and a yeast capable to ferment glucose and xylose is first created, then the yeast is allowed to convert at least 50% of the glucose and less than 20% of the xylose of the first conversion medium to a first propagated yeast and a first portion of the fermentation product in a first conversion step having a first sugar-to-cells conversion ratio in a range of from 5% to 25%. A second conversion medium comprising at least a portion of the first propagated yeast and a second portion of the ligno-cellulosic feedstock hydrolyzate slurry is then created, then the yeast is allowed to convert at least a portion of the water soluble glucose and xylose in the second conversion medium to at least a second propagated yeast and a second portion of the fermentation product in a second conversion step having a second sugar-to-cells conversion ratio which is less than the first sugar-to-cells conversion ratio. Preferably, the first conversion step comprises at least a first phase which is an aerobic phase and a second phase which is an anaerobic phase.
It is disclosed a process for propagating a yeast capable to ferment glucose and xylose of a lignocellulosic feedstock hydrolyzate, said process comprising propagating the yeast over at least two propagation cycles. The first propagation cycle comprises the steps of: contacting the yeast at a starting yeast density with a first cultivation medium comprising a first portion of the lignocellulosic feedstock hydrolyzate; and allowing the yeast to propagate to create a first populated broth comprising water and a first propagated yeast, wherein at least 50% of the glucose and less than 20% of the xylose in the first cultivation medium are consumed in the first propagation cycle. The second cycle comprises the steps of: separating the first populated broth in at least a first removed portion and a first residual portion, wherein both the first residual portion and the first removed portion comprise some of the first propagated yeast; contacting the first residual portion with a second cultivation medium comprising a second portion of the lignocellulosic feedstock hydrolyzate; and allowing the yeast to propagate to create a second populated broth comprising water and a second propagated yeast, wherein at least 50% of the glucose and less than 20% of the xylose in the second cultivation medium are consumed in the second propagation cycle.
C12P 1/02 - Preparation of compounds or compositions, not provided for in groups , by using microorganisms or enzymesGeneral processes for the preparation of compounds or compositions by using microorganisms or enzymes by using fungi
It is disclosed a process for producing a hydrolyzed mixture from a pre-treated ligno-cellulosic slurry comprising a slurry liquid and slurry solids. In the disclosed process, at least a portion of a cellulase from an enzyme cocktail having an initial cellulase activity is adsorbed onto the slurry solids of the pre-treated ligno-cellulosic biomass slurry to create an adsorbed cellulase, wherein the adsorbed cellulase has an adsorbed cellulase activity which is greater than 45% of the initial cellulase activity. The pre-treated ligno-cellulosic slurry with adsorbed enzymes is subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis to produce the hydrolyzed mixture. The enzymatic hydrolysis may comprise more than one hydrolysis step, which may be continuous or batch.
The invention relates to processes of multi-stage hydrolysis where different enzyme compositions are added in at least two stages of hydrolysis. In a first stage, a first enzyme composition of xylanase, a beta-xylosidase and an endoglucanase is added, followed by a latter stage in which a second enzyme composition, a cellulolytic enzyme composition, is added. Also provided are processes for obtaining hydrolysis products and fermentation products using processes of the invention.
The invention relates to processes of closing an observed gap in sugar yield between pure batch hydrolysis and a multi-stage hydrolysis containing a continuous reactor. Enzyme compositions containing varied ratios of cellulolytic composition and a hemicellulolytic composition preconditioning are used in multi-stage hydrolysis processes containing a continuous reactor in order to close the gap. Such enzyme compositions are useful in multi-stage saccharification of a lignocellulosic material, fermentation processes following multi-stage saccharification of a lignocellulosic material and in improving a glucose or xylose yield in multi-stage saccharification of a lignocellulosic material.
It is disclosed a process to transfer a ligno-cellulosic feedstock from a low pressure zone to a high pressure zone. A slurry the ligno-cellulosic feedstock is first provided, which is then subjected to a multi-step liquid removal process comprising draining by gravity at least a portion of the free liquid; removing a first portion of the capillary liquid in a low pressure zone by continuously compressing a stream of the ligno-cellulosic feedstock to reach a moisture content in a first target range; removing a second portion of the capillary liquid by shearing and compressing the ligno-cellulosic stream in a plug forming device, to form a ligno-cellulosic feedstock plug having a moisture content in a second target range at an outlet of the plug forming device connected to the high pressure zone. In the removal of the first portion of the capillary liquid, at least one first compression device continuously compresses the stream of the drained ligno-cellulosic feedstock to a first control pressure, while conveying the stream of the drained ligno-cellulosic feedstock in a flow direction of a belt filter press.
It is disclosed a process to transfer a ligno-cellulosic feedstock from a low pressure zone to a high pressure zone. A slurry the ligno-cellulosic feedstock is first provided, which is then subjected to a multi-step liquid removal process comprising draining by gravity at least a portion of the free liquid; removing a first portion of the capillary liquid in a low pressure zone by continuously compressing a stream of the ligno-cellulosic feedstock to reach a moisture content in a first target range; removing a second portion of the capillary liquid by shearing and compressing the ligno-cellulosic stream in a plug forming device, to form a ligno-cellulosic feedstock plug having a moisture content in a second target range at an outlet of the plug forming device connected to the high pressure zone. In the removal of the first portion of the capillary liquid, at least one first compression device continuously compresses the stream of the drained ligno-cellulosic feedstock to a first control pressure, while conveying the stream of the drained ligno-cellulosic feedstock in a flow direction of a belt filter press.
It is disclosed a process to transfer a ligno-cellulosic feedstock from a low pressure zone to a high pressure zone. A slurry the ligno-cellulosic feedstock is first provided, which is then subjected to a multi-step liquid removal process comprising draining by gravity at least a portion of the free liquid; removing a first portion of the capillary liquid in a low pressure zone by continuously compressing a stream of the ligno-cellulosic feedstock to reach a moisture content in a first target range; removing a second portion of the capillary liquid by shearing and compressing the ligno-cellulosic stream in a plug forming device, to form a ligno-cellulosic feedstock plug having a moisture content in a second target range at an outlet of the plug forming device connected to the high pressure zone. In the removal of the first portion of the capillary liquid, at least one first compression device continuously compresses the stream of the drained ligno-cellulosic feedstock to a first control pressure, while conveying the stream of the drained ligno-cellulosic feedstock in a flow direction of a belt filter press.
It is disclosed an inclined drainer for continuously draining a liquid from a slurried thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass stream moving in an axial flow direction. Said drainer comprises an external housing elongated in the axial flow direction, an annular screen system coaxial to the drainer axis and comprising two or more coaxially disposed annular screen baskets, and a screw conveyor having a rotation axis coaxial to the drainer axis, having a minimum gap between the screw conveyor and the annular screen system. Each of said annular screen baskets has a plurality of screen slots, and the orientation of the screen slots may be different in different screen baskets. The inclined drainer is particularly useful to drain a liquid from a high consistency slurry of a thermally pretreated straw.
It is disclosed a continuous process for soaking a ligno-cellulosic biomass stream in an extraction solution comprising water and dissolved water soluble species derived from a previously treated ligno-cellulosic biomass. In the process, water insoluble contaminants are separated according to their apparent mass densities. The ligno-cellulosic biomass stream may be further subjected to a second optional soaking step in a counter flow configuration. The disclosed process is useful to remove non-ligno-cellulosic water soluble compounds from the ligno-cellulosic biomass with a low consumption of water.
D21B 1/12 - Fibrous raw materials or their mechanical treatment by dividing raw materials into small particles, e.g. fibres by wet methods by the use of steam
It is disclosed a continuous process for soaking a ligno-cellulosic biomass stream in an extraction solution comprising water and dissolved water soluble species derived from a previously treated ligno-cellulosic biomass, wherein the soaked ligno-cellulosic biomass stream is optionally rinsed with a rinse solution stream to produce a soaking liquid. The electrical conductivity of the extraction solution and/or the soaking liquid are controlled to a value in a suitable target range by regulating one or more dilution streams. The disclosed process is useful to remove non-ligno-cellulosic water soluble compounds from the ligno-cellulosic biomass with a low consumption of water.
D21B 1/12 - Fibrous raw materials or their mechanical treatment by dividing raw materials into small particles, e.g. fibres by wet methods by the use of steam
D21B 1/02 - Pretreatment of the raw materials by physical or chemical means
This specification describes a process of producing a monomeric sugar stream ligno- cellulosic biomass without enzymes or acid catalysts. This is accomplished by removing the water soluble C5 sugars from the ligno-cellulosic biomass feedstream, lowering the pH of the C5 solution with little or no addition of an acid, thermally treating the remaining ligno- cellulosic biomass, combining the thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass with the low pH C5 solution and then exposing the mixture to an elevated temperature greater than 80 °C for a time sufficient to hydrolyze at least some of the components of the ligno-cellulosic biomass. Preferably, the thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass is subjected to a fiber shives reduction step to reduce the amount of long fiber shives.
It is disclosed a process forincreasing the enzymatic accessibility of a thermally treated ligno- cellulosic biomass feedstock which has been thermally treated at a severity factor. The process comprises a step of fiber shives reduction, for reducing the amount of long shives. The thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass after fiber shives reduction is characterized by having an increased glucans accessibility and by forming a slurry having a low viscosity.
Disclosed in this specification is a process for the improved hydrolysis of glucans to glucose wherein a portion of the glucose is removed from the process to improve the yield of glucose.
Controlling the xylose ratio of pretreated biomass The composition is produced by a process for the treatment of ligno-cellulosic biomass comprising the steps of: A) Soaking a ligno-cellulosic biomass feedstock in vapor or liquid water or mixture thereof at a first temperature and for a first time corresponding to a first severity factor to create a soaked biomass containing a dry content and a first liquid; B) Separating at least a portion of the first liquid from the soaked biomass to create a first liquid stream and a first solid stream; wherein the first solid stream comprises the soaked biomass; C) Steam exploding the first solid stream at a second temperature for a second time corresponding to a second severity factor to create a steam exploded stream comprising solids and a second liquid; D) Adding at least a fraction of the first liquid and a fraction of the second liquid to create the composition, wherein the sum of first severity factor and second severity factor is in the range between 5000 and 17000; and wherein: I. the ratio between xylooligomers content and the sum of xylose content and xylooligomers content is greater than 0,5; II. the ratio between the sum of xylose content and xylooligomers content and solubilized xylans content is greater than 0,35.
An improved method of conducting the pre-soaking step involving pre-soaking the ligno- cellulosic biomass in a liquid (water) at a temperature in the range of between 100°C to 150°C prior to soaking at higher temperatures. This material can then be soaked and soaked liquid filtered by nano-filtration. When nano-filtration is used, the pre-soak temperature can be in the range of 10°C to 150°C.
An improved pre-hydrolysis step involving exposing water insoluble pre-treated ligno- cellulosic biomass to vacuum conditions, with and without enzymes is disclosed. After exposing the water insoluble pre-treated ligno-cellulosic biomass to vacuum conditions, enzymatic hydrolysis is conducted on the pre-treated material. The result is an increased yield of glucose and often xylose after the enzymatic hydrolysis when compared to a composition which has not been exposed to vacuum conditions.
The process for treating a ligno-cellulosic biomass feed stream comprised of solids, C5's, C6's, lignin, and water comprises the steps of: - pretreating the ligno-cellulosic biomass feed stream by contacting the ligno-cellulosic biomass with water in the temperature range of 40 to 210 °C to create a pre-treated ligno- celluosic biomass comprised of a pre -treatment ligno-cellulosic biomass liquid comprised of suspended solids, C5's, C6's, and acetic acid, wherein the ratio of the C6's to C5's is less than 0.8 to 1.0, and a pre-treated ligno-cellulosic biomass solids; - separating a portion of the pre -treatment ligno cellulosic biomass liquid from the pre- treated ligno-cellulosic biomass feed stream; - separating a portion of the suspended solids from the pre -treatment ligno-cellulosic biomass liquid using filters, centrifuge or combination thereof, to create a clarified liquid stream, and - nano filtering a portion of the clarified liquid stream to create a nano-filtered permeate stream comprised of acetic acid and water and a nano-filtered retentate stream comprised of C5's, C6's, acetic acid and water, wherein the ratio of acetic acid to the total amount of C5's, C6's in the clarified liquid stream is greater than the ratio of the acetic acid to the total amount of C5's, C6's in the nano-filtered retentate.
This invention is to a biomass composition of 5 and 6 carbon sugars, lignin, and cellulose which has been steam exploded and the composition has a very high enzyme accessibility at 24 hours for hydrolysis.
A process for purifying an aqueous solution containing sugars, formed as main or side- streams during physical, physico-chemical or chemical pre-treatmet of lignocellulosic material, wherein the process comprises the steps of mixing a precipitating agent such as barium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide to form a precipitate and separating some of the precipitate from the aqueous solution in order to remove toxic hydrolysis by-products such as furfural, HMF, furans, phenols, acetic acid, formic acid, etc.
The process is for pretreating a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock and comprises: soaking a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock wherein the soaked biomass is present as a mixture with a free liquid and wherein the free liquid comprises at least one dissolved compound selected from the group consisting of glucose, xylose and respective oligomers thereof, washing the mixture of the soaked biomass and the free liquid, wherein at least a portion of the free liquid containing at least one dissolved compound selected from the group consisting of glucose, xylose and respective oligomers thereof is separated from the soaked biomass to create a soaked washed biomass and at least one free liquid stream, compressing the soaked biomass to create a released liquid, separating the released liquid from the soaked biomass, and keeping at least a portion of the released liquid separate from any free liquid.
D21B 1/02 - Pretreatment of the raw materials by physical or chemical means
D21B 1/12 - Fibrous raw materials or their mechanical treatment by dividing raw materials into small particles, e.g. fibres by wet methods by the use of steam
D21B 1/36 - Explosive disintegration by sudden pressure reduction
D21C 1/06 - Pretreatment of the finely-divided materials before digesting with alkaline reacting compounds
23.
IMPROVED PROCESS FOR RECOVERING SUGARS FROM A PRETREATMENT STREAM OF LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS
This specification discloses an improved method for conducting the removal of C5 xylan based sugars from biomass. The improved method involves a series of soakings and washings of the biomass as opposed to conducting one soaking and washing step.
D21B 1/02 - Pretreatment of the raw materials by physical or chemical means
D21B 1/12 - Fibrous raw materials or their mechanical treatment by dividing raw materials into small particles, e.g. fibres by wet methods by the use of steam
D21B 1/36 - Explosive disintegration by sudden pressure reduction
D21C 1/02 - Pretreatment of the finely-divided materials before digesting with water or steam
24.
REGENERATIVE PURIFICATION OF A PRETREATED BIOMASS STREAM
It is disclosed a process for removing at least a portion of the furfural and acetic acid in a first stream comprised of water, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of furfural and acetic acid, C5's and C6's. Such process comprises the steps of contacting the stream with an adsorption media which has been previously contacted with a second stream comprised of the same components and the adsorption media has been regenerated by exposing it to conditions, without being in contact with the second stream, such that at least 70% of the adsorbed furfural and acetic acid have each been desorbed and at least 60% of the C5's and C6's remain adsorbed on the media.
B01D 15/20 - Selective adsorption, e.g. chromatography characterised by constructional or operational features relating to the conditioning of the sorbent material
This specification describes a process to separate lignin from an aqueous mixture derived from a biomass feedstock, wherein the separation is done at or above critical temperature, usually above 60°C.
patents