# US 10,480,039 B2 · Method for treating lignocellulosic materials

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- Number: US 10,480,039 B2
- Document ID: US10480039B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/548,166
- Filed: 2016-02-01
- Published: 2018-01-18
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-03
- Assignees: Stora Enso OYJ
- Applicants: Stora Enso OYJ
- Inventors: Jari Kavakka; Mari Granström
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480039B2

## CPC

- C13K 13/002: {Xylose}
- B01D 9/0018: {Evaporation of components of the mixture to be separated}
- B01D 9/004: {Fractional crystallisation; Fractionating or rectifying columns}
- B01D 11/0492: {Applications, solvents used}
- B01D 15/1821: {Simulated moving beds}
- B01D 15/362: {Cation-exchange}
- B01D 15/363: {Anion-exchange}
- B01D 11/04: of solutions which are liquid
- Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
- C13K: SACCHARIDES OBTAINED FROM NATURAL SOURCES OR BY HYDROLYSIS OF NATURALLY OCCURRING DISACCHARIDES, OLIGOSACCHARIDES OR POLYSACCHARIDES (chemically synthesised sugars or sugar derivatives C07H; polysaccharides, e.g. starch, derivatives thereof C08B; malt C12C; fermentation or enzyme-using processes for preparing compounds containing saccharide radicals C12P19/00; production of sucrose C13B)
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A method of generating a refined sugar stream that comprises xylose from a biomass hydrolysis solution, including contacting a biomass hydrolysis solution that includes a population of mixed sugars comprising xylose, an acid, and impurities, with a thermally-phase separable solvent such as a glycol solvent to form an extraction mixture; and separating from said extraction mixture a first stream including the thermally-phase separable solvent, acid, and impurities and a second, refined sugar stream that comprises xylose. The thermally-phase separable solvent is an ethylene glycol or a propylene glycol ether, such as 2-butoxyethanol or 1-propoxy-propanol or any combination thereof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of generating a refined a sugar stream that comprises xylose from a biomass hydrolysis solution, comprising:
(i) contacting a biomass hydrolysis solution that comprises a population of mixed sugars comprising xylose, an acid, and impurities, with a thermally-phase separable solvent to form an extraction mixture; and
(ii) separating, by inducing a phase separation with an increased temperature, from said extraction mixture a first stream comprising the thermally-phase separable solvent, acid, and impurities and a second, refined sugar stream that comprises xylose.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, contacting said biomass hydrolysis solution with a strong acid cation exchange resin prior to step (i).

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising, contacting said biomass hydrolysis solution, which comprises said population of mixed sugars comprising xylose with a weak base anion exchange resin after said biomass hydrolysis solution is contacted with said strong acid cation exchange resin and prior to step (i).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the mixture is heated to a temperature of 30-100° C. to induce the phase separation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising separating said second, refined sugar stream that comprises xylose by SSMB or SMB chromatography.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the thermally-phase separable solvent is either an ethylene glycol ether, propylene glycol ether, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the thermally-phase separable solvent is 2-butoxyethanol.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the thermally-phase separable solvent is 1-propoxy-2-propanol.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the acid is sulfuric acid.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the acid is hydrochloric acid.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein an exogenous acid has not been added.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising isolating, evaporating, purifying or concentrating the xylose from the refined sugar stream that comprises xylose.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein said xylose has a purity of 75%-96%.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein said xylose has a purity of 80%-96%.