Abstract:
A process of producing ethanol from whole stillage, includes obtaining a supply of whole stillage from an ethanol production facility after ethanol has been extracted therefrom; pre-treating the whole stillage to convert hemicellulose portions of the whole stillage into sugars; adding enzymes to the whole stillage to convert cellulose portions of the whole stillage to sugars; fermenting the whole stillage to create a beer mixture; and distilling the beer mixture to separate ethanol therefrom. The pre-treating step may include adding acid to the whole stillage to decrease its pH level; heating and pressurizing the whole stillage; holding the whole stillage under pressure and heat for a dwell time; removing pressure from the whole stillage to cause flashing; and cooling the whole stillage before the enzymes are added.
Abstract:
The invention relates to: a pre-treatment method for plant biomass hydrolysis reaction raw materials characterized in comprising a process for mixing a solid catalyst and solid substrate beforehand and grinding same simultaneously (grinding process); a plant biomass hydrolysis reaction raw material pre-treated by said pre-treatment method; and a plant biomass saccharification method comprising a process for hydrolyzing said hydrolysis reaction raw material. The invention provides an efficient and practical pre-treatment method for plant biomass hydrolysis reaction raw materials that can improve the saccharification yield and saccharide concentration of plant biomass hydrolysis reactions, a plant biomass hydrolysis reaction raw material obtained therefrom, and a plant biomass saccharification method.
Abstract:
Provided herein are methods of increasing the efficiency of biomass saccharification. In particular, the methods include ways of avoiding feedback inhibition during the production of useful products.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to enzyme compositions comprising a polypeptide having cellobiohydrolase II activity, a polypeptide having xylanase activity, and one or more cellulolytic proteins and their use in the degradation or conversion of cellulosic material.
Abstract:
Alcohols useful as fuel compositions are produced from biomass by pretreating the biomass prior to hydrolysis and fermentation. In the pretreatment, the biomass is contacted with an aqueous solution containing a dilute acid with concentration of up to 10 wt % producing a predigested stream containing an aqueous liquor that contains at least a portion of hemicelluloses and a residual biomass that contains celluloses and lignin; separating at least a portion of the aqueous liquor from the residual biomass providing an aqueous liquor stream and a pre-digested biomass stream; then contacting the pre-digested biomass stream with a cooking liquor containing at least one alkali selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfide, potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, ammonium hydroxide, and mixtures thereof and water. A process that allows for higher recovery of carbohydrates and thereby increased yields is provided.
Abstract:
The inventive process converts cellulosic biomass into a gel-like state that is readily hydrolyzed by appropriate enzymes. First the biomass is mechanically reduced in size. The biomass is then mixed and kneaded with an aqueous solution of a hydrophilic polymer that acts as a conditioning agent or as a co-solvent. During mixing the cellulose (and hemicellulose) in the biomass swells and becomes hydrated forming a viscous gel-like material. The processed material can then be thinned through the addition of water whereupon hydrolytic enzymes are mixed into the material and rapid hydrolysis into free sugars takes place. Dextrins are effective hydrophilic polymers for conditioning biomass. Polyvinyl alcohol is a particularly effective conditioning agent for use with biomass when converted into a viscous gel by adding borate ions.
Abstract:
A method for the dissolving and rapid hydrolyzing of the lignocellulose biomass and the device thereof are disclosed. The lignocellulose biomass is put in the pure water and rapidly heated to 330˜403° C., and then 89˜99% of the lignocellulose biomass is dissolved and rapidly hydrolyzed to saccharide in 3.38˜21.79 s. The following hydrolysis reaction can be carried out under the homogeneous phase condition for the dissolving of the lignocellulose biomass. At the same time, the solvated biomass could be easily used in the high pressure flow reactor to continuously pretreat the biomass and hydrolyze for producing saccharide, other biofuel and product. The present invention doesn't need any catalyst and doesn't pollute the environment, furthermore the process is simple and the cost is low, and it belongs to green, continuable industry encouraged by the state, and a good prospect of market application could be taken on.
Abstract:
Provided are methods and compositions for high yields while using reduced enzyme loads in saccharification and fermentation processes. These methods increase the efficiency of enzymes and result in improved yields and composition of saccharification and fermentation end products.
Abstract:
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, microbial, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as food products and amino acids.