Solvo-thermal fractionation of biomass
AssigneeRenmatix, Inc.
InventorsSrinivas Kilambi, Kiran L. Kadam
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a process for producing xylose and cellulose from a biomass comprising: (a) mixing a biomass with a reactive fluid comprising water and a supercritical C1-C5 alcohol to form a mixture at a first temperature and a first pressure; (b) maintaining the mixture at the first temperature and first pressure for a first time period, wherein a reaction occurs; and (c) quenching the reaction to form at least one reaction product mixture; wherein xylose and cellulose are produced by the process. Lignin may also be produced by the processes of the invention.
Claims17
A process comprising:
- (a) contacting a biomass and a reactive fluid comprising water and supercritical C1-C5 alcohol to form a reactant mixture at a first temperature and a first pressure;
- wherein the C1-C5 alcohol is present at a level of about 40 wt % to about 55 wt % in said reactive fluid;
- wherein the first temperature is about 243° C. to about 300° C.;
- (b) maintaining the reactant mixture at the first temperature and first pressure for a first time period, wherein a reaction occurs;
- and
- (c) optionally quenching the reaction to form at least one reaction product mixture;
- wherein a product selected from the group consisting of xylose and cellulose is produced by the process.
A process for fractionating a biomass comprising:
- (a) feeding a slurry comprising a biomass in a first fluid comprising water and a C1-C5 alcohol and optionally CO2 to a reactor, wherein the biomass, first fluid, and optional CO2 form a reactant mixture;
- wherein the C1-C5 alcohol is present at a level of about 40 wt % to about 55 wt % in said first fluid;
- (b) maintaining the reactant mixture in the reactor at a first temperature and first pressure for a first time period, wherein the C1-C5 alcohol is supercritical at the first temperature and first pressure, and wherein a reaction occurs;
- wherein the first temperature is about 243° C. to about 300° C.;
- (c) quenching the reaction, wherein one or more reaction product mixtures comprising one or more fractionated products are produced;
- and
- (d) recovering one or more fractionated products from the one or more reaction product mixtures.
A process for fractionating a biomass comprising:
- (a) forming a first reactant mixture comprising a biomass, water, and CO2 at a first temperature and a first pressure;
- (b) maintaining the first reactant mixture at the first temperature and the first pressure for a first time period, wherein the CO2 is supercritical and the water is sub-critical, and wherein a first reaction occurs;
- wherein the first temperature is about 243° C. to about 300° C.;
- (c) recovering a solid from the first reaction mixture;
- (d) contacting the solid with a second fluid comprising a C1-C5 alcohol to form a second reactant mixture at a second temperature and a second pressure;
- (e) maintaining the second reactant mixture at the second temperature and the second pressure for a second time period, wherein a second reaction occurs;
- and
- (f) quenching the second reaction to form at least one reaction product mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.