Abstract:
The present invention describes a process for quenching a hydrothermal, dilute acid hydrolysis reaction of a biomass feedstock, wherein degradation of an aqueous monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture is slowed down or stopped by flash cooling of the aqueous monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture, and wherein the flash cooling ensures that a fraction of dissolved and volatile degradation byproducts are removed by a forming vapor stream, and wherein a lignin component, if present, is solidified into a structure with good de-watering characteristics, allowing for subsequent removal of the lignin component by separation, said process resulting in a hydrolyzed solution of sugar monomers and/or oligomers.