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:
saccharifying an irradiated cellulosic or lignocellulosic material, the irradiated cellulosic or lignocellulosic material having been produced by exposing a cellulosic or lignocellulosic material to a plurality of electrons that have been accelerated by a LINAC electron beam device to provide a radiation dose of greater than 10 Mrad to the cellulosic or lignocellulosic material, wherein the radiation dose is provided at a dose rate of about 1 Mrad/s to about 10 Mrad/s.