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US 9,428,621 B2Granted
Processing biomass
AssigneeXyleco, Inc.
InventorsMarshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
Claims18
A method of enhancing oxidative molecular weight reduction in cellulosic or lignocellulosic materials, the method comprising:
- providing a mixture comprising a first cellulosic or lignocellulosic material having been exposed to ionizing radiation by a beam of particles comprising oxygen ions, one or more oxidants comprising ozone generated in-situ by the beam of particles, and one or more compounds comprising one or more naturally-occurring, non-radioactive group 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 elements, the first cellulosic or lignocellulosic material having a first molecular weight;
- and
- maintaining conditions effective to allow the one or more naturally-occurring, non-radioactive group 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 elements to participate in a Fenton-type reaction, wherein hydroxyl radicals generated in the Fenton-type reaction then react with the first cellulosic or lignocellulosic material to produce a second cellulosic or lignocellulosic material having a second molecular weight lower than the first molecular weight.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.