Biomass conversion systems having a fluid circulation loop containing a centripetal force-based separation mechanism for control of cellulosic fines and methods for use thereof

Abstract

Digestion of cellulosic biomass to produce a hydrolysate may be accompanied by the formation of cellulosic fines which may be damaging to system components. Biomass conversion systems that may address the issue of cellulosic fines may comprise a fluid circulation loop comprising: a hydrothermal digestion unit; a solids separation unit that is in fluid communication with an outlet of the hydrothermal digestion unit; where the solids separation unit comprises a centripetal force-based separation mechanism that comprises a fluid outlet and a solids outlet; and a catalytic reduction reactor unit that is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the centripetal force-based separation mechanism and an inlet of the hydrothermal digestion unit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.