Biomass pretreatment
AssigneePOET Research, Inc.
InventorsWilliam F. McDonald, David Charles Carlson, Wiley D. Bradford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for pre-treating biomass for the production of ethanol is provided. The system comprises a method for pre-treating biomass. The method comprises supplying biomass to a steaming bin, wherein the biomass is mixed with water, and inputting the steamed biomass to a first pretreatment reactor, wherein the steamed biomass comprises liquids and solids. The method also comprises removing a bulk of liquids from the solids and feeding the solids into a second pretreatment reactor. The method further comprises applying a pressure drop to the solids in the second pretreatment reactor, wherein the pressure drop opens up a structure of the solids, and sending the solids to a fermentation process for ethanol processing.
Claims43
A method for pre-treating biomass, comprising:
- (a) supplying biomass to a steaming bin, wherein the biomass includes water;
- (b) placing the pre-steamed biomass to a first pretreatment reactor, wherein the pre-steamed biomass includes acid, liquids, and solids;
- (c) removing at least some portion of the liquids from the solids to generate substantial solids;
- (d) feeding the substantial solids into a second pretreatment reactor;
- (e) applying a pressure drop to the substantial solids in the second pretreatment reactor, wherein the pressure drop opens up a structure of the solids;
- and
- (f) sending the substantial solids to at least one of a saccharification process and a fermentation process for ethanol processing.
An apparatus for pre-treating biomass, comprising:
- a steaming bin that receives and pre-steams biomass, wherein the biomass includes water;
- a first pretreatment reactor that receives the pre-steamed biomass, wherein the pre-steamed biomass includes acid, liquids, and solids;
- a drainer that removes at least some portion of the liquids from the solids to generate substantial solids;
- a second pretreatment reactor that receives and applies a pressure drop to the substantial solids, wherein the pressure drop opens up a structure of the substantial solids;
- and
- a valve that sends the substantial solids to at least one of a saccharification process or a fermentation process for ethanol processing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.