Wet oxidation of biomass
AssigneeClean-Vantage LLC
InventorsRICHARD ALAN MERRILL, Kenn Petersen
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Abstract
The present disclosure comprises methods, apparatus, components, and techniques for pretreatment of biomaterials using targeted wet oxidation. The targeted wet oxidation pretreatment is an upstream method for converting solid biomass into fuels and/or specialty chemicals. Embodiments of the present disclosure comprise methods carried out on biomaterials to selectively oxidize lignin components of the biomass, thereby resulting in bio accessible/digestible biomass fibers. In embodiments of the present disclosure, such methods may comprise pretreatment processes to prepare the biomaterials for a subsequent fermentation or other like conversion may be carried out to result in useful bio fuels or other bioproducts.
Claims14
A method of pretreating a biomass slurry, comprising:
- obtaining a dry matter content of the biomass slurry of 15-60% by weight;
- introducing a flow of steam to a reaction chamber containing the biomass slurry;
- while introducing the flow of steam to the reaction chamber, introducing a flow of oxygen to the reaction chamber and the biomass slurry, thereby causing oxidation of a lignin component of the biomass slurry;
- venting carbon dioxide from the reaction chamber to maintain the amount of available oxygen within the reaction chamber at 0.01-15% of chemical oxygen demand;
- and
- flashing the biomass to a secondary holding unit by utilizing a pressure difference.
A method of oxidizing lignin components in a biomass slurry, comprising:
- removing water from the biomass slurry to achieve a dry matter content of 15-60% by weight;
- subjecting the biomass slurry to a stream of oxygen and a stream of steam;
- venting carbon dioxide from the biomass slurry;
- and
- flashing the biomass to a secondary holding unit by utilizing a pressure difference.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.