Title:
PROCESS FOR THERMAL-MECHANICAL PRETREATMENT OF BIOMASS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2011/044282
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
Disclosed is a process for the thermal-mechanical pretreatment of biomass. The process includes subjecting a biomass feedstock including fibers containing cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, to thermal reaction under conditions exceeding atmospheric pressure, at a temperature exceeding ambient temperature, at a predetermined moisture content and for a predetermined amount of time. Subsequently, the pressure of said thermal reaction is reduced under conditions resulting in explosive decompression of said biomass. The decompressed biomass is then subjected to axial shear forces to mechanically reduce the size of the fibers of the biomass to obtain treated biomass. The resultant treated biomass has a high level of enzymatic digestability and a low concentration of degradation products.
Inventors:
FLANEGAN KEITH C (US)
LITZEN DAVID B (US)
HARDSTAD DENNIS A (US)
SCHULTZE JAMES D (US)
LITZEN DAVID B (US)
HARDSTAD DENNIS A (US)
SCHULTZE JAMES D (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2010/051691
Publication Date:
October 13, 2011
Filing Date:
October 06, 2010
Export Citation:
Assignee:
KL ENERGY CORP (US)
FLANEGAN KEITH C (US)
LITZEN DAVID B (US)
HARDSTAD DENNIS A (US)
SCHULTZE JAMES D (US)
FLANEGAN KEITH C (US)
LITZEN DAVID B (US)
HARDSTAD DENNIS A (US)
SCHULTZE JAMES D (US)
International Classes:
B09B3/00; B01F27/60; C08B1/00; C10L1/02; C12P5/00
Foreign References:
| US5785852A | 1998-07-28 | |||
| US20080182323A1 | 2008-07-31 | |||
| US20080227162A1 | 2008-09-18 | |||
| US20080121359A1 | 2008-05-29 |
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
SULLIVAN, Robert C., Jr. (P.O. Box 1022Minneapolis, MN, US)
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