METHODS OF BIOMASS PRETREATMENT

• Main Authors: DAVISON, RICHARD, R, HOLTZAPPLE, MARK, T, NAGWANI, MURLIDHAR
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 17.02.1994
• Edition: 5
• Subjects: BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COMPOUNDS OF THE METALS BERYLLIUM, MAGNESIUM, ALUMINIUM,CALCIUM, STRONTIUM, BARIUM, RADIUM, THORIUM, OR OF THERARE-EARTH METALS; DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; ENZYMOLOGY; FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIREDCHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERSFROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE; FODDER; FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; INORGANIC CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINED SOIL SOIL; SACCHARIDES, OTHER THAN SUCROSE, OBTAINED FROM NATURAL SOURCESOR BY HYDROLYSIS OF NATURALLY OCCURRING DI-, OLIGO- ORPOLYSACCHARIDES; SEPARATION; SPIRITS; SUGAR INDUSTRY; THEIR TREATMENT, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES; TRANSPORTING; VINEGAR; WINE

The invention is directed to methods for the pretreatment of a lignocellulose-containing biomass. Pretreatment comprises the addition of calcium hydroxide and water to the biomass to form a mixture, and subjecting the mixture to relatively high temperatures for a period of time sufficient to render the biomass amenable to digestion. The pretreated biomass is digested to produce useful products such as feedstocks, fuels, and compounds including fatty acids, sugars, ketones and alcohols. Alternatively, the pretreatment process includes the addition of an oxidizing agent, selected from the group consisting of oxygen and oxygen-containing gasses, to the mixture under pressure. The invention is also directed to a method for the recovery of calcium from the pretreated biomass. L'invention concerne des procédés de prétraitement d'une biomasse contenant de la lignocellulose. Le prétraitement comprend l'apport d'hydroxyde de calcium et d'eau à la biomasse pour constituer un mélange, et la soumission dudit mélange à des températures relativement élevées pendant une durée suffisante pour amener la biomasse à la digestion. La biomasse prétraitée est digérée, de manière à obtenir des produits utiles, tels que des charges, des combustibles et des composés comprenant des acides gras, des sucres, des cétones et des alcools. En variante, le processus de prétraitement comprend l'apport sous pression au mélange d'un agent d'oxydation sélectionné dans le groupe constitué par l'oxygène et par des gaz contenant de l'oxygène. L'invention concerne également un procédé de récupération de calcium à partir de la biomasse prétraitée.