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US 2017/0362618 A1Published application
High solids enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of pretreated biomass
OwnerQuang A. Nguyeninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to a methods and systems for conversion of chemically pretreated lignocellulosic biomass to monosaccharides by enzymatic hydrolysis at high total solids concentration to provide for increased throughput and reduced enzyme usage in commercial scale processes.
Claims31
A method for hydrolyzing lignocellulosic biomass, the method comprising:
- (1) contacting the lignocellulosic biomass with an aqueous acid to form an acid impregnated lignocellulosic biomass having a pH of less than 4 and a total solids content of from about 30 percent by weight to about 70 percent by weight;
- (2) contacting the acid impregnated lignocellulosic biomass with steam to achieve a temperature of from about 150° C. to about 250° C. and a pressure of from about 380 kPa gauge to about 3870 kPa gauge;
- (3) depressurizing the acid impregnated lignocellulosic biomass to a pressure of from about 20 kPa to about 100 kPa gauge and reducing the temperature of from about 105° C. to about 120° C. to form steam pretreated acid impregnated lignocellulosic biomass and flashed condensate;
- (4) extracting the steam pretreated acid impregnated lignocellulosic biomass with a sufficient amount of a chilled aqueous alkaline solution to form (i) an extracted lignocellulosic biomass slurry comprising less than 25 percent by weight total solids and having a temperature of from 30° C. to about 70° C. and a pH of from about 4 to about 6 and (ii) a rich liquor aqueous stream comprising at least 60 percent by weight of the soluble compounds present in the stream pretreated acid impregnated biomass;
- (5) dewatering the extracted lignocellulosic biomass slurry to form (i) an extracted dewatered lignocellulosic biomass comprising at least 25 percent by weight total solids and having a substantially uniform pH of from about 4 to about 6 and a substantially uniform temperature of from 30° C. to about 70° C. and (ii) a lean liquor aqueous stream;
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- (6) contacting the extracted dewatered lignocellulosic biomass with a first source of enzymes comprising at least cellulase to form a slurry having at least 25 percent by weight solids and hydrolyzing said slurry to form a primary hydrolyzate having a viscosity of less than about 10,000 centipoise and comprising hexose and pentose sugars.
4 more elements
3-4. (canceled)
6-8. (canceled)
10-17. (canceled)
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23-24. (canceled)
27-31. (canceled)
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36-38. (canceled)
A method for hydrolyzing lignocellulosic biomass, the method comprising:
- (1) contacting the lignocellulosic biomass with an aqueous acid to form an acid impregnated lignocellulosic biomass having a pH of less than 4 and a total solids content of from about 40 percent by weight to about 70 percent by weight;
- (2) contacting the acid impregnated lignocellulosic biomass with steam to achieve a temperature of from about 150° C. to about 250° C. and a pressure of from about 380 kPa gauge to about 3870 kPa;
- (3) depressurizing the acid impregnated lignocellulosic biomass in a flash tank to a pressure of from about 20 kPa to about 35 kPa gauge and reducing the temperature to from about 105° C. to about 108° C. to form steam pretreated acid impregnated lignocellulosic biomass and flashed condensate;
- (4) combining alkaline chilled cooling water with the steam pretreated acid impregnated lignocellulosic biomass in the flash tank and discharging the flash tank contents to a dynamic mixer;
- (5) adding additional alkaline chilled cooling water to the dynamic mixer and admixing the alkaline chilled cooling water and the steam pretreated acid impregnated lignocellulosic biomass in the dynamic mixer to produce adjusted steam pretreated acid impregnated lignocellulosic biomass, wherein the amount and pH of the alkaline chilled cooling water is sufficient to provide an adjusted steam pretreated acid impregnated lignocellulosic biomass having a total solid content of at least 30 percent by weight, an average temperature of from about 30° C. to about 70° C., an average pH of from about 4 to about 6, and a viscosity of greater than about 20,000 centipoise;
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- (6) contacting the adjusted steam pretreated acid impregnated lignocellulosic biomass with a first source of enzymes comprising at least cellulase in a primary enzymatic hydrolysis step to form a primary hydrolyzate having a viscosity of less than about 10,000 centipoise and comprising hexose and pentose sugars, and wherein the total solids content of the adjusted steam pretreated acid impregnated lignocellulosic biomass after contact with the first source of enzymes at least 25 percent by weight.
4 more elements
43-49. (canceled)
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54-57. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.