主权项 |
1. A process for refining biomass, the process comprising the steps of:
a. performing a first hemicellulose hydrolysis by:
(i) forming a first slurry from the biomass having a first solids portion comprising hemicellulose and cellulose, and having a first liquid portion;(ii) adding an alkaline catalyst and applying heat and either mechanical shear or cavitation to the first slurry;(iii) mechanically separating the first solids portion from the first liquid portion;(iv) combining the first liquid portion with additional biomass and repeating steps (a)(ii) and (a)(iii) until at least a 7% concentration of extractable products in the first slurry is achieved; and(v) recovering the extractable products from the first slurry; and b. performing a second hemicellulose hydrolysis by:
(i) combining the first solids portion and an acid catalyst in a second slurry having a second solids portion, and a second liquids portion comprising hemicellulose hydrolyzates in solution, and applying mechanical shear or cavitation to the second slurry resulting in hydrolysis of the hemicellulose and producing additional acid catalyst;(ii) mechanically separating the second solids portion from the second liquid portion;(iii) recovering the acid catalyst from the second liquid portion; and(iv) repeating steps (b)(i) and (b)(ii), using, in step (b)(i), the second solids portion recovered in step (b)(ii) as the first solids portion and the catalyst recovered in step (b)(iii), adding additional catalyst to maintain a minimum specified concentration of acid catalyst and maintain a sugar product concentration of at least 7%, until all or substantially all hemicellulose is hydrolyzed. |