METHOD FOR PRODUCING STARTING MATERIAL FOR ENZYMATIC SACCHARIFICATION, METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUGAR AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING ETHANOL

摘要

Provided is a method for producing a starting material for enzymatic saccharification by treating a lignocellulose-containing plant biomass with ammonia, said method being characterized by: the amount of water existing in a system, in which the aforesaid treatment is conducted, satisfying formula (1): mass of water/(dry mass of biomass + mass of water)=0.30 (1); and, in an ammonia phase diagram wherein pressure is plotted in isobars with temperature on the abscissa axis against density on the ordinate axis, the temperature and pressure of the ammonia in said treatment being located in a closed area that is surrounded by a saturated vapor pressure line, a curve obtained by parallel displacement of the saturated vapor pressure line by -1.5 kmol/m3 in the ordinate axis direction, a line orthogonally crossing the abscissa axis at a point of 60oC (temperature) and 0 kmol/m3 (density), and an isobar of 1.7 MPaA (pressure).