BIOMASS CONVERSION SYSTEMS PROVIDING INTEGRATED STABILIZATION OF A HYDROLYSATE USING A SLURRY CATALYST FOLLOWING BIOMASS PRETREATMENT AND METHODS FOR USE THEREOF

摘要

Digestion of cellulosic biomass solids to form a hydrolysate may be conducted with integrated catalytic reduction during digestion to transform soluble carbohydrates in the hydrolysate into a more stable reaction product. Such integrated catalytic reduction may be conducted using a slurry catalyst. Biomass conversion systems for performing integrated catalytic reduction can comprise: a hydrothermal digestion unit that contains a slurry catalyst capable of activating molecular hydrogen; an optional hydrogen feed line that is operatively connected to the hydrothermal digestion unit; a fluid circulation loop comprising the hydrothermal digestion unit and a catalytic reduction reactor unit, the catalytic reduction reactor unit also containing the slurry catalyst; a pretreatment digestion unit that is not part of the fluid circulation loop and does not contain the slurry catalyst; and a solids transport mechanism operatively connecting the pretreatment digestion unit to the hydrothermal digestion unit.