US 2014/0227742 A1 · C1-C2 Organic Acid Treatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Produce Acylated Cellulose Pulp, Hemicellulose, Lignin and Sugars and Fermentation of the Sugars

Abstract

A process for production of C5 and C6 sugar enriched syrups from lignocellulosic biomass and fermentation products therefrom is described. A lignocellulosic biomass is treated with a C1-C2 acid (e.g., acetic acid) with washing thereof with a C1-C2 acid miscible organic solvent, (e.g., ethyl acetate). A soluble hemicellulose and lignin enriched fraction is obtained separately from a cellulose pulp enriched fraction and lignin is removed from the soluble hemicellulose fraction. These fractions contain acylated (e.g., acetylated) cellulose and hemicellulose, which are deacylated by treatment with an alkali and/or with an acetyl esterase enzyme. The deacylated fractions are then digested with suitable cellulolytic and/or hemicellulolytic enzymes, preferably in the presence of non-ionic detergent to yield the C5 and C6 enriched syrups. Also described are method of fermentation of the syrups to make ethanol to at least 7% w/vol by separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) or simultaneous hydrolysis and fermentation (SSF) methods.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method of processing lignocellulosic biomass to form an acylated cellulose pulp, comprising:

a. contacting a lignocellulosic biomass with a first amount of as C1-C2 acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, formic acid and mixtures of the same;
b. heating the contacted lignocellulosic biomass to a temperature and for a time sufficient to hydrolytically release as first portion of hemicellulose and lignin, forming a hydrolysate liquid and an acylated lignocellulose cake;
c. separating the acylated lignocellulosic cake from the first hydrolysate liquid;
d. contacting the acylated lignocellulose cake with a second amount of the C1-C2 acid to wash hemicellulose and lignin from the acylated lignocellulosic cake and separating the acid wash liquid from the acid washed acylated lignocellulosic cake;
and
e. contacting the acid washed acylated lignocellulose cake with a first amount of a C1-C2 acid-miscible organic solvent to wash the C1-C2 acid, hemicellulose and lignin from the acid washed acylated lignocellulosic cake resulting in an acylated cellulose pulp and separating the C1-C2 acid-miscible solvent wash liquid from the solvent washed acylated cellulose pulp.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

C1-C2 Organic Acid Treatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Produce Acylated Cellulose Pulp, Hemicellulose, Lignin and Sugars and Fermentation of the Sugars

Life of this patent

C1-C2 Organic Acid Treatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Produce Acylated Cellulose Pulp, Hemicellulose, Lignin and Sugars and Fermentation of the Sugars

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21