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US 2019/0316161 A1Published application
Processing biomass
AssigneeXyleco, Inc.
InventorMarshall MEDOFF
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods are provided for reducing one or more dimensions of individual pieces of biomass; treating biomass, such as size-reduced biomass; changing a molecular structure of a biomass material; and, optionally, subjecting the biomass to a primary process to form a product. The methods include processing biomass materials using a screw extrusion process, and treating the biomass material with a screw extrusion process in size-reduction and treating steps.
Claims14
A method of processing biomass, the method comprising:
- reducing one or more dimensions of individual pieces of biomass;
- exposing the biomass to a first dose of electron beam radiation using a scanning electron beam;
- conveying the biomass, using a screw;
- and exposing the biomass to a second dose of electron beam radiation using a scanning electron beam;
- wherein the electron beam radiation from the first dose and the second dose are each provided by a scanning electron beam device operated at a power from 50 kW to 500 kW, and the first dose and the second dose of electron beam radiation are each provided at a dose rate of at least 1 Mrad per second;
- and wherein the biomass comprises cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic material.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.