Methods for hydrothermal digestion of cellulosic biomass solids using a glycerol solvent system

Abstract

Hydrothermal digestion of cellulosic biomass solids in a glycerol solvent system can convert both the cellulosic biomass solids and the glycerol into a glycol reaction product for subsequent processing without the need for further solvent separation. Methods for digesting cellulosic biomass solids in a glycerol solvent system can comprise: providing cellulosic biomass solids and a slurry catalyst in a hydrothermal digestion unit, the slurry catalyst being capable of activating molecular hydrogen; heating the cellulosic biomass solids in the hydrothermal digestion unit in the presence of the slurry catalyst, molecular hydrogen, and a solvent system comprising glycerol, thereby forming soluble carbohydrates; and at least partially converting the soluble carbohydrates and the glycerol into a reaction product comprising a glycol within the hydrothermal digestion unit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.