System and method for conditioning a hardwood pulp liquid hydrolysate

A hardwood pulp liquid hydrolysate conditioning system comprising:

• a first evaporator receiving a first extract derived from a quantity of hardwood mix and outputting a first quantity of vapor and a second extract;
• a hydrolysis unit positioned to receive the second extract and output a third extract;
• at least one lignin separation device positioned to receive the third extract from the hydrolysis unit, wherein the at least one lignin separation device separates and recovers a quantity of lignin from the third extract and outputs a fourth extract;
• a neutralization device positioned to receive a fourth extract, the neutralization device having a neutralizing agent input, wherein the neutralization device adjusts a pH of the fourth extract to form a quantity of solid precipitate and a fifth extract;
• a precipitate removal device positioned to receive the quantity of solid precipitate and the fifth extract from the neutralization device, wherein the precipitate removal device separates the quantity of solid precipitate from the fifth extract;
• a second evaporator positioned to receive the fifth extract from the precipitate removal device, wherein the second evaporator removes a first quantity of acid from the fifth extract, wherein the second evaporator outputs a second quantity of vapor having the first quantity of acid, and wherein the second evaporator outputs a sixth extract;
• and
• a desalination device, positioned to receive the sixth extract, wherein the desalination device removes a quantity of salt, heavy metal, residual acid, and lignin from the sixth extract and outputs a seventh extract comprising a desalinated solution containing sugar.