# US 10,767,204 B2 · Advanced auger and filtration system for the saccharification of biomass > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,204 B2 - Document ID: US10767204B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/654,411 - Filed: 2013-12-20 - Published: 2015-12-03 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-21 - Assignees: Edeniq, Inc. - Applicants: Edeniq, Inc. - Inventors: James Kacmar; Rich Kleinke; Bernard Cooker; Chris Kalinowski; Jon Van Volkinburg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767204B2 ## CPC - C12P 19/02: Monosaccharides (2-ketogulonic acid C12P7/60) - C07H 1/08: from natural products - C12M 27/02: {Stirrer or mobile mixing elements} - C12M 27/20: {Baffles; Ribs; Ribbons; Auger vanes} - C12M 47/10: {Separation or concentration of fermentation products (bioreactors combined with means for distillation or extraction of liquid fuel C12M43/02)} - C12P 7/10: substrate containing cellulosic material - C12P 19/14: produced by the action of a carbohydrase {(EC 3.2.x)}, e.g. by alpha-amylase {, e.g. by cellulase, hemicellulase} - C13K 1/02: obtained by saccharification of cellulosic materials (manufacture of fodder A23K10/32) - Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel - C12P: FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {(brewing of beer C12C; producing vinegar C12J; producing specific peptides or proteins C07K; producing enzymes C12N9/00; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q; measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844; fermentation processes to form a food composition, A21 or A23; compounds in general, see the relevant compound class, e.g. C01, C07)} - C07H: SUGARS; DERIVATIVES THEREOF; NUCLEOSIDES; NUCLEOTIDES; NUCLEIC ACIDS (derivatives of aldonic or saccharic acids C07C, C07D; aldonic acids, saccharic acids C07C59/105, C07C59/285; cyanohydrins C07C255/16; glycals C07D; compounds of unknown constitution C07G; polysaccharides, derivatives thereof C08B; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; sugar industry C13) - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} - 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) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract The present disclosure provides methods and systems for generating sugars from biomass. The methods and systems provide increased yields of carbohydrates and fermentable sugars by combining enzyme recycling with removal of saccharification enzyme inhibitors and increased solids loading. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for generating glucose from biomass, comprising: (a) pretreating the biomass at a temperature of about 150° C. to about 210° C. and a pH of 4.0 to 6.0; (b) contacting the biomass with cellulase and hemicellulase under conditions suitable to hydrolyze components of the biomass to sugars, thereby producing a mixture of solids, liquids, and sugars; (c) once formed, separating the mixture into a liquid phase containing sugars and a solids phase; (d) prior to further hydrolysis steps, washing the solids phase to remove at least a portion of the sugars, thereby forming a washed solids phase, wherein the sugars inhibit saccharification enzyme activity; followed by (e) incubating the washed solids phase with cellulase and hemicellulase to hydrolyze components of the solid phase to glucose, thereby producing additional glucose; then (f) separating the liquid phase into a permeate comprising dissolved solids and sugars and a retentate comprising undissolved solids, enzymes, and sugars; and (g) combining the retentate with the biomass or solids phase under conditions wherein the biomass is converted to glucose. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the retentate is combined with additional unhydrolyzed biomass under conditions suitable to hydrolyze components of the biomass to sugars. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising washing the retentate to remove at least a portion of the sugars, thereby forming a washed retentate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the washed retentate is further separated into a liquid comprising sugars and solids comprising enzymes, and optionally wherein the sugars are further concentrated by reverse osmosis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid phase is separated from the solids phase by a screen, vibrating screen, a press, or a centrifuge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid phase is incubated under conditions suitable to produce sugars. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the permeate is separated from the retentate by a filter or membrane, and optionally separating the permeate into a concentrated sugars portion and a liquid portion by reverse osmosis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising separating the washed solids phase into a liquid comprising sugars, and solids. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting occurs in an auger. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein step (e) comprises a counter-current flow such that the liquid phase moves in an opposite direction to the solid phase. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising concentrating the solids phase and separating at least a portion of any remaining liquid from the solids. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises a counter-current flow such that the liquids move in an opposite direction to the solids. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the contacting occurs in a first auger, the first auger comprising: a solids inlet; a screw inside the auger to direct a solid mass in the auger from a first end to a second end; a liquid outlet at the first end; a solids outlet at the second end; and a separator suitable for separating the biomass into a liquid phase and a solids phase and positioned between (i) the liquid outlet and (ii) the screw and the solids outlet; and the method further comprises contacting a solids phase from the first auger with at least a second auger comprising: an inlet in fluid communication with the solids outlet for receiving a solids mass from the first auger; and a solids outlet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass comprises corn stover. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pretreatment duration is 5 to 60 minutes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the yield of glucose from the biomass is increased without having to increase the solids concentration of the biomass above 30% w/v.