Processing of lignocellulosic and related materials
AssigneeLignotech Developments Limited
InventorGraeme Douglas Coles
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for processing lignocellulosic precursors that includes the following steps: A. provide a suitably sized lignocellulosic precursor with less than 11% moisture content; B. pack a hydrothermal processing vessel with between 1 and 3 times the free flow volume of the lignocellulosic precursor; C. subject the lignocellulosic precursor in the hydrothermal processing vessel to steam below 100 bar for up to 10 minutes; E. explosively decompress to ambient pressure; and then dry the resultant lignocellulosic product to below about 15% moisture content.
Claims11
A method for processing lignocellulosic precursors that includes the following steps:
- A. provide a lignocellulosic precursor with less than 25% moisture content ;
- B. pack a hydrothermal processing vessel with lignocellulosic precursor, such that the density of lignocellulosic precursor in the hydrothermal processing vessel is between 1 and 3 times the free flow density of the lignocellulosic precursor;
- C. subject the lignocellulosic precursor in the hydrothermal processing vessel to steam below 100 bar for up to 10 minutes;
- D. slowly, within about 6 to 20 seconds, reduce the pressure within the hydrothermal processing vessel to between 10 and 20 bar;
- E. explosively decompress the hydrothermal processing vessel to ambient pressure;
- and then dry the resultant lignocellulosic product to below about 15% moisture content.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.