HYDROLYZATION OF CELLULOSE USING CARBONIC ACID

摘要

The present invention provides methods for hydrolyzing cellulose using carbonic acid, wherein the carbonic acid is produced by introducing carbon dioxide gas into a solution containing the cellulose. The carbon dioxide gas may be a recycled stream from a fermentation system that is used to ferment sugars generated by the hydrolysis of the cellulose. The hydrolysis of hemicellulose may be performed concurrently also using carbonic acid that is produced by introducing carbon dioxide gas into a solution containing the hemicellulose. The resulting sugar solutions may be combined for fermentation and the production of ethanol.