Abstract:
A method to treat biomass, e.g., lignocellulosic material, including: performing a pretreatment step on the biomass and discharging the pretreated biomass; in at least a first enzymatic hydrolysis reactor producing a liquefaction material, recirculating at least a portion of the liquefaction material from the at least first reactor to a location upstream of the addition of the enzymes as at least a portion of the coolant for the hot pretreated biomass.
Abstract:
A method to treat biomass, e.g., lignocellulosic material, including: performing a pretreatment step on the biomass and discharging the pretreated biomass; in at least a first enzymatic hydrolysis reactor producing a liquefaction material, recirculating at least a portion of the liquefaction material from the at least first reactor to a location upstream of the addition of the enzymes as at least a portion of the coolant for the hot pretreated biomass.
Abstract:
A method to process cellulosic material in a treatment vessel including: introducing the cellulosic material to a processing chamber of the vessel; adding heat energy or pressure to the vessel to hydrolyze the cellulosic material in the processing chamber and dissolve hemi-cellulosic from the cellulosic material; compressing the cellulosic material in the processing chamber; extracting the dissolved hemi-cellulosic material through a screen from the processing section; draining the extracted hemi-cellulosic material from the vessel; and discharging the cellulosic material from the vessel separately from the extracted hemi-cellulosic material.
Abstract:
A method to treat biomass, e.g., lignocellulosic material, including: performing a pretreatment step on the biomass and discharging the pretreated biomass; in at least a first enzymatic hydrolysis reactor producing a liquefaction material, recirculating at least a portion of the liquefaction material from the at least first reactor to a location upstream of the addition of the enzymes as at least a portion of the coolant for the hot pretreated biomass.
Abstract:
An apparatus, for the steam explosion treatment of biomass, having a pressurized reactor vessel to receive a biomass material and steam, discharge lines connecting the pressurized reactor vessel to the separation device, the lines sized and positioned to allow for the steam explosion of biomass material. At the outlet end of the discharge lines is a collection-expansion manifold to connect the outlet end of each of the discharge lines to a collection line, wherein the collection line provides a passage for biomass material and steam flowing from the discharge lines. The collection line passage has a substantially larger cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of a single discharge line. The collection line is coupled to a separation device such that the separation device receives the biomass material and steam from the collection line.
Abstract:
A method to process cellulosic material in a treatment vessel including: introducing the cellulosic material to a processing chamber of the vessel; adding heat energy or pressure to the vessel to hydrolyze the cellulosic material in the processing chamber and dissolve hemi-cellulosic from the cellulosic material; compressing the cellulosic material in the processing chamber; extracting the dissolved hemi-cellulosic material through a screen from the processing section; draining the extracted hemi-cellulosic material from the vessel; and discharging the cellulosic material from the vessel separately from the extracted hemi-cellulosic material.
Abstract:
A method for treating cellulosic biomass feed stock including: feeding the feed stock to an upper inlet of a vertical reactor vessel, wherein the feed stock is deposited on a pile of feed stock within the vertical reactor vessel; adding heat energy to heat the feed stock by injecting steam to an upper region of the vertical reactor vessel; propelling the feed stock through an outlet in a lower region of the vertical reactor vessel by injecting steam into the biomass at, near or after the bottom outlet of the vertical reactor vessel, and moving the propelled feed stock through an expansion device, such as a steam explosion device, to subject the feed stock to a steam explosion process.
Abstract:
A method to treat biomass, e.g., lignocellulosic material, including: performing a pretreatment step on the biomass and discharging the pretreated biomass; in at least a first enzymatic hydrolysis reactor producing a liquefaction material, recirculating at least a portion of the liquefaction material from the at least first reactor to a location upstream of the addition of the enzymes as at least a portion of the coolant for the hot pretreated biomass.
Abstract:
A reactor vessel system including: a first reactor vessel having a hydrolysate and liquid extraction screen, a first region above the extraction screen that is maintained at conditions promoting a hydrolysis reaction in the cellulosic material, a second region below the extraction screen in which the hydrolysis is substantially suppressed and a wash liquid inlet below the extraction screen providing wash liquid at a temperature below a hydrolysis temperature; a transport pipe having an inlet coupled to the first reactor vessel and an outlet coupled to a second reactor vessel, and the second reactor vessel includes a liquid discharge that extracts a portion of liquid from the second reactor vessel and directs the portion of liquid to the first reactor vessel or to the transport pipe.
Abstract:
A method for treating cellulosic biomass feed stock including: feeding the feed stock to an upper inlet of a vertical reactor vessel, wherein the feed stock is deposited on a pile of feed stock within the vertical reactor vessel; adding heat energy to heat the feed stock by injecting steam to an upper region of the vertical reactor vessel; propelling the feed stock through an outlet in a lower region of the vertical reactor vessel by injecting steam into the biomass at, near or after the bottom outlet of the vertical reactor vessel, and moving the propelled feed stock through an expansion device, such as a steam explosion device, to subject the feed stock to a steam explosion process.