PROCESSING BIOMASS

摘要

Methods are provided for reducing one or more dimensions of individual pieces of biomass; treating biomass, such as size-reduced biomass; changing a molecular structure of a biomass material; and, optionally, subjecting the biomass to a primary process to form a product. The methods include processing biomass materials using a screw extrusion process, and treating the biomass material with a screw extrusion process in size-reduction and treating steps.

主权项

1. A method of processing biomass materials using a screw extrusion process, the method comprising:
conveying one or more biomass materials through a screw extrusion process comprising one or more screw extruders; and exposing the one or more biomass materials to electron beam radiation from a plurality of scanning electron beam emitters while conveying the one or more biomass materials through one of the one or more screw extruders, the scanning electron beam emitters each effecting a desired dose of electron beam radiation at a dose rate of 1 Mrad per second to about 10 Mrad per second.