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US 8,083,906 B2Granted
Processing biomass
AssigneeXyleco, Inc.
InventorMarshall Medoff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy or sugary materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
Claims13
A method comprising:
- providing a biomass feedstock that has been irradiated with electron beam radiation such that the biomass feedstock is ionized and has a first level of radicals;
- and then quenching the biomass feedstock, to an extent that the quenched biomass feedstock has a second level of radicals lower than the first level, by contacting the biomass with a gas capable of reacting with the radicals, wherein the level of radicals is measured in a solid state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.