Processing biomass and petroleum containing materials

摘要

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
exposing a lignocellulosic material to ion beam irradiation, the lignocellulosic material comprising a complex of cellulosic material cross-linked by hemicellulose material, the complex being at last partially embedded within a lignin matrix; wherein the ion beam irradiation comprises one or more species of negatively charged ions, the one or more species of negatively charged ions selected to preferentially degrade lignin and/or hemicellulose material.