Processes for extracting carbohydrates from biomass and converting the carbohydrates into biofuels

A process for extracting carbohydrates from biomass, comprising the steps of:

• preparing the biomass for extraction of carbohydrates;
• forming a first biomass solution comprising the prepared biomass, water, and acid or an alkali;
• subjecting the first biomass solution to a first hydrodynamic cavitation treatment, wherein acid or alkali hydrolysis of the biomass occurs;
• filtering the first biomass solution into a first filtrate and an intermediate biomass, wherein the first filtrate contains extracted carbohydrates;
• washing the intermediate biomass with water to remove the added acid or alkali and to prepare the intermediate biomass for a second extraction of carbohydrates;
• creating a second biomass solution comprising the washed intermediate biomass, water and an enzyme source;
• exposing the second biomass solution to a second hydrodynamic cavitation treatment, wherein enzymatic hydrolysis of the biomass occurs;
• filtering the second biomass solution into a second filtrate and a filtered biomass, wherein the second filtrate contains extracted carbohydrates.