Method and apparatus for treating lignocellulosic material

An apparatus for processing lignocellulosic material comprising:

• a vessel comprising an exterior vessel wall, a vessel cover, and a vessel floor,
• a fluid separator plate disposed within the vessel below the vessel cover, above the vessel floor and between the vessel wall, the fluid separator plate having at least one fluid channel through the fluid separator plate allowing fluid to pass from a material containment area above the fluid separator plate into a fluid containment area below the fluid separator plate,
• a conveyor having a conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor is proximate to the fluid separator plate, wherein the conveyor is perforated in whole or in part to allow fluid to pass into the fluid containment area,
• a fluid circulating system in fluid communication with the vessel, the fluid circulating system comprising—
• a fluid input nozzle positioned on or in the vessel above the fluid separator plate,
• a fluid input line fluidly connecting a fluid containment tank and the fluid input nozzle,
• a fluid discharge valve positioned on or in the vessel below the fluid separator plate,
• a fluid discharge line fluidly connecting the fluid discharge valve and the fluid containment tank, and
• a pump fluidly connected to the fluid input line and the fluid discharge line.