PROCESSES FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS PELLETS AND SUGARS

摘要

In this disclosure, a process for producing biomass pellets and sugars from cellulosic biomass is provided, comprising: extracting the feedstock with steam and/or hot water and optionally with an acid catalyst, to produce cellulose-rich solids and an extract liquor containing hemicellulosic oligomers and lignin; separating the cellulose-rich solids from the extract liquor; filtering the extract liquor to remove at least some of the lignin, thereby generating a filter permeate comprising cleaned extract liquor containing the hemicellulosic oligomers and a filter retentate comprising a lignin-rich stream; hydrolyzing the hemicellulosic oligomers in the cleaned extract liquor with an acid or enzymes, to generate hemicellulosic monomers which are recovered; and pelletizing the cellulose-rich solids to form biomass pellets, wherein the pelletizing utilizes at least some of the lignin-rich stream as a binder or binder component.