Methods and apparatus for continuous enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated biomass

Abstract

Some variations provide an apparatus for enzymatically hydrolyzing pretreated lignocellulosic biomass, including at least one clarifying vessel comprising: an inlet well, disposed with walls at or near the top of the clarifying vessel, configured for continuously feeding pretreated lignocellulosic biomass; overflow weirs to allow liquid-phase hydrolysate to be continuously recovered from the clarifying vessel; and a controllable bottom outlet to allow a solid phase to be continuously or periodically recovered from the clarifying vessel. In certain embodiments, the clarifying vessel is an existing recausticizing clarifier in a pulp and paper mill. Other variations provide a method of enzymatically hydrolyzing pretreated lignocellulosic biomass, comprising: introducing pretreated lignocellulosic biomass to a clarifying vessel in the presence of cellulase enzymes, to hydrolyze the cellulose to a liquid-phase hydrolysate; separating, by sedimentation, the hydrolysate from the lignin; and recovering the hydrolysate from overflow weirs of the clarifying vessel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.