Methods and apparatus for processing cellulosic biomass

A method of making ethanol and/or one or more bio-fuels, wood-based chemical and higher value materials from a cellulosic biomass comprising the steps of

• a. providing at least one apparatus having a first vessel, conveying means, supercritical, critical or near critical fluid means, discharge means, and at least one second vessel;
• i. said at least one first vessel having at least one opening for receiving said cellulosic biomass and discharging a cellulosic biomass;
• ii. said conveying means in fluid communication with said at least one first vessel for receiving cellulosic biomass stored in said at least one first vessel, said conveying means engaging said first vessel to prevent discharge of a gas held under pressure to form a cellulosic biomass laden with a supercritical, critical or near critical gas;
• iii. said supercritical, critical or near critical fluid means in fluid communication with said conveying means for placing said cellulosic biomass held in conveying means in the presence of a supercritical, critical or near critical fluid selected from the group of gases comprising carbon dioxide and entrainers and modifiers;
• iv. said discharge means in fluid communication with said conveying means for receiving said cellulosic biomass laden with said supercritical, critical or near critical gas, discharging said gas to form a disrupted cellulosic biomass;
• v. said at least one second vessel in fluid communication with said discharge means for receiving said disrupted cellulosic biomass and performing at least one processing step selected from the group consisting of hydrolysis and fermentation and forming carbon dioxide, and at least one product selected from the group consisting of ethanol and/or a bio-fuel, wood-based chemical and higher value materials, said vessel having at least one opening for discharging said product and at least one gas discharge opening for discharging carbon dioxide;
• and,
• vi. loading said first vessel with a cellulosic biomass and processing said cellulosic biomass through said conveying means, discharge means and said at least one second vessel with a gas under supercritical, critical or near critical conditions to produce ethanol and/or one or more bio-fuels, wood-based chemical and higher value materials wherein said second vessel gas discharge opening is in fluid communication with a gas recycling means for receiving said gas discharged in said second vessel and returning said gas to supercritical, critical or near critical conditions for reentry into said conveying means said method further comprising the step of recycling said gas.