Processing biomass

A method for increasing the nutrient availability of carbohydrates in a native biomass material, the method comprising:

• comminuting a native biomass material comprising polysaccharides selected from the group consisting of cellulose, pectin, hemicellulose, lignocellulosic and mixtures thereof, to produce a starting biomass, wherein the starting biomass comprises less than 5% water, and wherein comminuting comprises shearing, cutting, crushing, smashing, or grinding;
• and
• treating the starting biomass material by irradiating the starting biomass material with a first electron beam irradiation to produce a first treated biomass material;
• cooling the first treated biomass material;
• and
• irradiating the first treated biomass material with a second electron beam irradiation to produce a second treated biomass material;
• thereby increasing the nutrient availability of the carbohydrates in the native biomass material;
• wherein nutrient availability is determined by mixing the second treated biomass with water, removing the liquid portion, and analyzing the removed liquid portion for glucose content,
• the first and second electron beam radiation is applied at a dose rate of 1 Mrad/s to 10 Mrad/s,
• and the first and second electron beam radiation power is selected from 1 kW, 5 kW, 10 kW, 20 kW, 50 kW, 100 kW, 250 kW, or 500 kW, and
• prior to irradiation substantially no chemicals or swelling agents are added to the biomass.