Processes for converting biomass into high-value products

A biomass processing system comprising:

• a first and second fermentation stage, each of the first and second fermentation stages yielding a desired product, the first fermentation stage yielding a higher concentration of the desired product than the second fermentation stage;
• a first ion exchange resin bed associated with the first fermentation stage;
• a second ion exchange resin bed associated with the second fermentation stage;
• a countercurrent flow path that extends from the second ion exchange resin bed to the first fermentation stage without passing through the first ion exchange resin bed
• a first separator associated with the first fermentation stage, the first separator configured to separate a combination of solids and liquids from the first fermentation stage in order to send liquids to the first ion exchange resin bed and solids to the second fermentation stage;
• a third fermentation stage;
• and
• a second separator associated with the second fermentation stage, the second separator configured to separate a combination of solids and liquids from the second fermentation stage in order to send liquids along a first path to the second ion exchange resin bed and solids along a second path, separate from the first path, to the third fermentation stage.

A biomass processing system comprising:

• a first and second fermentation stage, each of the first and second fermentation stages yielding a desired product, the first fermentation stage yielding a higher concentration of the desired product than the second fermentation stage;
• a first extraction stage associated with an output of the first fermentation stage,
• a second extraction stage associated with an output of the second fermentation stage, the second extraction stage having:
• a first output with a flow that feeds the first fermentation stage;
• and
• a second output with a countercurrent flow path that extends from the second extraction stage to the first extraction stage, wherein the flow from the first output of the second extraction stage does not pass through the first extraction stage;
• a first separator associated with the first fermentation stage, the first separator configured to separate a combination of solids and liquids from the first fermentation stage in order to send liquids to the first extraction stage and solids to the second fermentation stage;
• a third fermentation stage;
• and
• a second separator associated with the second fermentation stage, the second separator configured to separate a combination of solids and liquids from the second fermentation stage in order to send liquids to the second extraction stage and solids to the third fermentation stage.