PROCESSES FOR PRODUCING FLUFF PULP AND ETHANOL FROM SUGARCANE

摘要

The disclosure provides a process for producing fluff pulp and ethanol from sugarcane bagasse or straw, comprising: fractionating the feedstock in the presence of an acid catalyst, a solvent for lignin, and water, to generate a solid/liquid slurry comprising cellulose-rich solids, hemicelluloses, and lignin; separating the solid/liquid slurry into a solid stream and a liquid stream; further treating the cellulose-rich solids to produce fluff pulp; hydrolyzing the hemicelluloses to generate hemicellulose monomers; and fermenting at least a portion of the hemicellulose monomers to cellulosic ethanol. Lignin is removed from the process during one or more steps and combusted to provide energy for process requirements. The process is integrated with, and provides energy to, a first-generation process that ferments sugarcane-derived sucrose to first-generation ethanol. Similar processes are possible with energy cane, corn, and other crops.

主权项

1. A process for producing fluff pulp and ethanol from sugarcane bagasse or straw, said process comprising:
(a) obtaining a feedstock comprising sugarcane bagasse and/or straw; (b) fractionating said feedstock in the presence of an acid catalyst, a solvent for lignin, and water, to generate a solid/liquid slurry comprising cellulose-rich solids, hemicelluloses, and lignin; (c) separating said solid/liquid slurry into a solid stream comprising said cellulose-rich solids and a liquid stream comprising said hemicelluloses and lignin; (d) further treating said cellulose-rich solids to produce fluff pulp; (e) hydrolyzing said hemicelluloses to generate hemicellulose monomers; and (f) fermenting at least a portion of said hemicellulose monomers to cellulosic ethanol, wherein said lignin is removed from said process during one or more of steps (b), (c), (d), (e), or (f) and combusted to provide energy; and wherein said process is integrated with, and provides at least some of said energy to, a first-generation process that ferments sugarcane-derived sucrose to first-generation ethanol.