AU2013273693A1

AU2013273693A1 - Method and apparatus for conversion of cellulosic material to ethanol

Info

Publication number: AU2013273693A1
Application number: AU2013273693A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Borge Holm Christensen; Lena Holm Christensen
Original assignee: Inbicon AS
Current assignee: Inbicon AS
Priority date: 2005-07-19
Filing date: 2013-12-19
Publication date: 2014-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-19
Also published as: AU2013273692B2; AU2013273693B2; AU2013273692A1

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for conversion of lignocellulosic biomass feedstock, such as wheat straw, to ethanol and other products. The feedstock is subjected to continuous pressurized hydrothermal pre-treatment without addition of chemicals, and a liquid and a fibre fraction are produced. The fibre fraction is subjected to enzymatic liquefaction and saccharification. (Fig. 1 to accompany the abstract) 0 (a C * C.C) C). EL (n ll C>-)

Description

162289 1 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION OF CELLULOSIC MATERIAL TO ETHANOL Technical field The present invention relates to sustainable methods for cost and energy effective conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol and other products based on continuous hydrothermal 5 pre-treatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis, ethanol fermentation and recovery. Background of the invention Lignocellulosic biomass contains variable amounts of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and small amounts of protein, pectin, wax, potassium chloride and other inorganic compounds. Lignocellulosic biomass should be understood in its broadest sense, so that it apart from 10 wood, agricultural residues, energy crops also comprises different types of waste from both industry and households. Cellulosic biomass is a vast poorly exploited resource, and in some cases a waste problem. However, hexoses from cellulose can be converted by yeast to fuel ethanol for which there is a growing demand. Pentoses from hemicellulose can not yet be converted to ethanol commercially but several promising ethanologenic microorganisms with 15 the capacity to convert pentoses and hexoses are under development. The production cost of fuel ethanol from lignocellulosic feedstocks is at present much higher than from starch/sugar feedstocks. Until recently, the cost of cellulytic enzymes for conversion of the pretreated cellulosic feedstock to fermentable sugars has been prohibitive. 20 This cost has been dramatically reduced caused by the successful research work carried out by Novozymes and Genencor, sponsored by Department of Energy, USA. More cost reductions are however needed to establish a commercially viable exploitation of the huge quantities of lignocellulosic feedstocks. Prior art 25 Most of the prior art methods grind or mill the feedstock into a powder, which afterwards is mixed with water to form a slurry. This has some disadvantages: . Large energy consumption for grinding or milling 162289 2 . Large capital and operational costs for grinding or milling . Large quantities of liquid are needed to suspend the particles into a pumpable slurry which can be processed * It is difficult to remove the liquid again by mechanical dewatering 5 Additionally, a large proportion of the prior art is only tested at laboratory scale, and fails to suggest solutions for up-scaling to industrial scale. Conversion of cellulosic material to ethanol usually comprises a pre-treatment before the actual hydrolysis of the cellulose into fermentable sugars, in order to make the cellulose accessible to either enzymes or chemicals. The total impact from elevated temperatures, 10 retention time, and chemicals are referred to as the severity of the process. This means, that the same results can be achieved with e.g. a shorter retention time, if the temperature is higher. In order to render the cellulose accessible for the cellulases, most of the pre treatment methods of the prior art attempt to dissolve and remove as much of the hemicellulose and lignin as possible, in order to create larger "pores" and allow greater 15 contact between cellulose and cellulase. The problems associated with inhibitors produced by this type of pre-treatment are solved in different ways, such as by introduction of a detoxification step, or by removal of the dissolved components as soon as possible. In "The Alcohol Textbook" third edition 1999, chapter 9, J.S. Tolan offers an overview of the production process of fuel ethanol from cellulosic biomass implemented at Iogen's pilot plant. 20 Tolan underlines that a preatreatment process is necessary in order to make the cellulose accessible to enzymes and compares 3 options: - Solvent based pre-treatment, where organic solvents dissolve the lignin. However lignin is not considered a significant barrier to cellulose. - Alkali pre-treatment, which will not form furfural, but destruction of the hemicellulose 25 has been reported - Dilute acid pre-treatment is preferred by Iogen, because it is mild to hemicellulose and produces a material with a high surface area. By this method, the lignin is depolymerised, but not dissolved, and the low levels of acid preclude the need for 162289 3 recovery. As a result of Iogen's pre-treatment, the fibrous structure of the feedstock is destroyed, and it gets a muddy texture and a dark brown colour. Cellulases are primarily made from the fungus Trichoderma in submerged liquid culture in fermentation vessels. Production of enzymes at the ethanol plant has the advantages that 5 purification, concentration and storage can be omitted, and some of the hydrolysis sugar can be used for the enzyme production. Following Iogen's pre-treatment, the feedstock is conveyed to the hydrolysis tank as a slurry with 15-20% solids, or as much as can be handled. The agitation in the tank is more gentle than that normally used in a fermentation tank, but has to be sufficient to keep solids 10 dispersed and move the material. The hydrolysis lasts for 5-7 days. The viscosity decreases, and the lignocellulosic particles become smaller. Approximately 80-95% of the cellulose will be converted, while the rest is inaccessible to the enzymes because it is covered with lignin. By enzymatic conversion of cellulose to glucose, product inhibition from cellobiose and glucose is a problem. It has often been suggested to conduct a simultaneous saccharification 15 and fermentation (SSF) process, in order to overcome product inhibition from glucose on 13 glucosidase. However the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process has non-optimal operation conditions, because the optimum temperatures for the enzymes (50 0 C) and the yeast (28 0 C) are too wide apart, and the medium temperature (37 0 C) has a high risk for microbial contamination. Another possibility is to produce 13-glucosidase 20 separately, which confers additional costs for a further fermentation process. Iogen has chosen to develop Trichoderma strains, which produces more 13-glucosidase. Tolan describes a dramatically declining conversion rate. After 24 hours it is less than 2% of the initial rate. The reasons for this decline are not fully understood. Tolan lists several possibilities to improve enzyme efficiency: 25 - More enzyme, shorter time, which, however, by the present inventors and Tolan is seen as being disadvantageous from an economical perspective. - Recycle of enzyme, which however requires more research. - Continuous or fed batch systems. This might allow for high cellulose concentration at all times.

162289 4 - Better cellulase enzymes. Much research was already done, but the approach can be developed further with new techniques in molecular biology - New reactors. Much research was already done, however a better understanding of how the enzymes function would be helpful in evaluating new reactors. 5 - Better pre-treatment. This approach has been widely studied, however it may still be possible to improve. After hydrolysis, the insoluble material, mainly lignin and residual cellulose, are separated from the liquid fraction by plate and frame filter, washed 2-3 times with water to obtain high sugar recovery. The liquid fraction is pumped to the fermentation tanks, the solid fraction is 10 spray-dried and combusted to generate power for the plant. Tolan refers to the on-going work of finding microorganisms, which can ferment C5 sugars to ethanol, which at that time still was not successful. NREL report 99-10600/18 "Acid hydrolysis reactors, Batch system"" Process design and cost estimate of critical equipment in the biomass to ethanol process" describes that corrosion of 15 the equipment is a severe problem, under acidic conditions and high temperatures (high severity). By batch processes it is a further problem for the equipment, that the temperature is alternating between the maximum processing temperature and the loading temperature.. US patent 5,503,996 (Torget) discloses a prehydrolysis of lignocellulose, in which an acidic solution is passed through lignocellulosic particles with removal of soluble components as 20 they are formed using a flow-through system where fluid moves with respect to the solid lignocellulose. During prehydrolysis, the hot biomass is separated in a solid fraction and a hydrolysate, of which the latter contains more than 90% of hemicellulose sugars, up to 25% of the cellulose sugars and 20-50% of the Klason lignin. The method of US patent 5,503,996 achieves this degree of hydrolysation with a relatively small amount of added acid. 25 US patent 6,228,177 (Torget) discloses a hot wash process after the pre-treatment, in order to prevent the lignin from recondensing/reprecipitate on the cellulose. The hot wash is carried out at about 140 0 C, which is a significantly lower temperature than the temperature of the pre-treatment. Acid is either added during the pre-treatment or during the hot wash. Improved cellulase digestibility has been measured after the hot wash. By combining the two 30 processes disclosed by Torget, a substantial part of the lignin (20-50%) is solubilized of which the major part is washed out together with the hemicellulose by the hot wash. The 162289 5 wash water with the mixture of hemicellulose sugars and solubilized lignin is however very difficult to convert economically into marketable products. Enerkem Technologies, Canada, have developed the "FIRST" pre-treatment method, wherein the feedstock is impregnated with acid followed by rapid steam treatment. This method has 5 the advantage, that it can operate with high dry matter to liquid ratio. The use of acid leads to different problems such as formation of inhibitors and extra cost connected to the recovery and handling of the acid. Us patent no 6,555,350 B2 (Birgitte Ahring and Anne Belinda Thomsen) discloses a pre treatment method based on alkaline wet oxidation or steam explosion where the effluent 10 from the ethanol fermentation is treated with microorganisms to generate biogas and to reduce the content of inhibitory substances in the water effluent to a level which permits a larger part of it to be recycled into the process, than by a process without the biogas. US 2005/0069998 (Ballesteros) describes a pre-treatment method without the use of acid or other chemicals. The method is based on steam explosion followed by separation in a liquid 15 and solid fractions. The solid fraction is subject to simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF), using a heat resistant yeast strain in order to overcome the problem of different optimum temperatures described by Tolan. It is described, that the method is discontinuous, and that the reactor is opened and closed by hand. There is no indication of how to upscale the method to an industrial production method. 20 The energy consumption for production of ethanol from grain is relatively high because of the great steam demand for distillation, evaporation, heating etc. The total consumption per kg ethanol in modern operations amount to about 3.25 Mcal steam and 0.33 Mcal or 0.38 KWh electricity corresponding to about 50% of the gross heating value of ethanol (7 Mcal/kg). To cover this demand, most ethanol plants have steam generation facilities but obtain electricity 25 from the grid. Some ethanol plants have a combined heat and power plant (CHP) with the capacity to produce all the steam and electricity required by the production process, but are connected to the grid, which allow them to obtain and deliver moderate amounts of electricity. The energy consumption for production of ethanol from lignocellulosic feedstocks such as 30 cereal straw and corn stover using the methods described in the prior art is much higher in terms of both steam and electricity than in respect of starch/sugar based production. Integration with a combined heat and power plant (CHP) is therefore of great interest.

162289 6 A review of the state of the art in this field is offered in the paper "Co-production of bio ethanol, electricity and heat from biomass residues" J.H. Reith et al, presented on the 12th European Conference and Technology Exhibition on Biomass for Energy, Industry and Climate protection, 2002. 5 This paper compares the existing production of ethanol based on starch/sugar crops with the cellulose-to-ethanol production under development. The paper proposes a thermal conversion of the substantial amount of non-fermentable residues in an integrated gasifier and combined cycle system to provide the total steam and electricity requirement for the production process and an electricity surplus for export to the 10 grid, resulting in a total system energy efficiency of 56-68%. The paper underlines - that no suitable fermentation system is available for the fermentation of pentoses from the hemicellulose fraction, - that at least a 10 fold increase of cellulase cost-effectiveness is required, 15 - that the water consumption is 3-5 times higher than by ethanol production from starch/sugar, and that - capital costs need to be reduced by 30% in order to reach ethanol production costs competitive with ethanol from sugar/starch crops. NREL report "Bioethanol Co-location study" concludes that there are large advantages by co 20 location of a cellulosic material ethanol plant with a combined heat and power (CHP) plant, and that the advantages are even larger by co-location with a CHP that is fired with fossil fuel. Some of the main advantages are: - reduced capital costs, - easy access to low cost steam and electricity, 25 - equipment to combust the lignin/cellulose residue, 162289 7 - reduced operating costs, - safe fuel supply, - Access to established transmission and distribution network for bioelectricity. The report underlines that handling and co-firing of lignin is likely to lead to technical 5 problems, because lignin is a material very different from coal. Another problem underlined in the report is the difficulty to achieve economy of scale with lignocellulosic residues alone, since long transportation is environmentally and economically prohibitive. The report suggests that methods are developed, to use a mixture of lignocellulosic residues and starch/sugar feedstocks or lignocellulosic energy crops in order to 10 achieve economy of scale. Description of the invention In a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus and a method for conversion of cellulosic material, such as chopped straw and corn stover, chopped whole cereal and corn crops, bagasse wood chips and household waste, to ethanol and other products, the cellulosic 15 material comprising primarily cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose and ash. In the method of the first aspect of the present invention, the cellulosic material (also referred to as raw material) is cleaned and subjected to continuous hydrothermal pre-treatment without addition of acids or bases or other chemicals, which must be recovered, and a liquid and a fibre fraction are produced. While different options exist for utilisation of the liquid fraction, the fibre fraction is 20 subjected to enzymatic liquefaction and saccharification. The method further includes ethanol fermentation and product recovery. The method of the first aspect of the present invention comprises: - performing the hydrothermal pre-treatment by subjecting the cellulosic material to at least one soaking operation, and conveying the cellulosic material through at least one pressurised 25 reactor defining a reactor pressure zone at an elevated pressure; the cellulosic material being heated to a temperature between 170 and 230 0 C, and subjecting the cellulosic material to at least one pressing operation, creating a fibre fraction and a liquid fraction; - selecting the temperature and residence time for the hydrothermal pretreatment, so that the fibrous structure of the feedstock is maintained and at least 80% of the lignin is 30 maintained in the fibre fraction; - unloading the pressed fibre fraction from the reactor pressure zone to a downstream closed zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, while collecting the released steam without access for air; 162289 8 - unloading the liquid fraction from the pressurised reactor to a second closed zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, while collecting released steam without access for air. The first aspect of the invention also provides an apparatus for conversion of cellulosic 5 material to ethanol and other products, the cellulosic material comprising at least cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose and ash, the apparatus comprising a cleaning device for cleaning the cellulosic material, a hydrothermal pre-treatment device for subjecting the cellulosic material to continuous hydrothermal pre-treatment without addition of acids or bases or other chemicals, which must be recovered, the apparatus being suitable for producing a liquid and 10 a fibre fraction, the apparatus further including structure for subjecting the fibre fraction to enzymatic liquefaction and saccharification, and structure for ethanol fermentation and product recovery, wherein the hydrothermal pre-treatment device is arranged to perform the hydrothermal pre-treatment by subjecting the cellulosic material to at least one soaking operation; the apparatus comprising: 15 - at least one pressurized reactor, through which the cellulosic material may be conveyed, the at least one pressurized reactor defining a reactor pressure zone operable at an elevated pressure; the pressurized reactor being arranged to heat the cellulosic material to a temperature between 170 and 230 0 C, the pressurized reactor further including a pressing device for pressing the cellulosic material to thereby create a fibre fraction and a liquid 20 fraction, whereby the hydrothermal pre-treatment device is adapted to maintain such temperatures and residence times for the hydrothermal pretreatment that the fibrous structure of the feedstock is maintained and at least 80% of the lignin is maintained in the fibre fraction; - a fibre fraction unloading mechanism for unloading the pressed fibre fraction from the 25 reactor pressure zone to a downstream closed zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, while collecting the released steam without access for air; - a liquid fraction unloading mechanism for unloading the liquid fraction from the pressurised reactor to a second closed zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, while collecting released steam without access for air. 30 In embodiments of the invention, the pressurised reactor may constitute or be comprised in the hydrothermal pre-treatment device. The method and apparatus of the present invention may also provide for optional integration with ethanol production from sugar/starch feedstocks and optional integration with a combined heat and power (CHP) plant.

162289 9 It is a goal of preferred embodiments of the invention to improve the economical and environmental viability of conversion of cellulosic material to ethanol. In order to achieve this it is desirable that: * the method, besides ethanol, provides a residual organic product with a low content 5 of KCI, which can be converted to more energy than the demand for the process. . The method may utilize various types of feedstock, so that the most profitable feedstocks can be used. * All of the components of the cellulosic material are converted to marketable products. . The process is continuous. 10 . All process steps can work with high concentration of dry matter. * There is no waste water. . The usage of make-up water is very low. . That the production is safe and reliable . There is no risk of air pollution. 15 . That the ethanol production is sustainable In preferred embodiments of the invention, some measures to achieve these goals are: . Applying a soaking - pressing based hydrothermal pretreatment process at low severity, allowing at leat 80% of the lignin content of the cellulosic material to be maintained in the fibre fraction in solid form. 20 . Collecting the steam released from the hydrothermal pre-treatment process and reuse it in evaporation processes. * Utilisation of condensate from evaporation processes as make-up water. * Utilisation of all liquid non-fermentables as feed or fertilizer.

162289 10 * Utilisation of solid non-fermentables as a solid biofuel for generation of more energy than used in the process. Instead of relying on a flow through system, where a liquid must move in respect to the solids, the method of the invention preferably utilises a soaking-pressing system. 5 In this context, soaking implies that there is sufficient fluid present that a substantial part of it can be removed by the chosen pressing device. Pressing implies that a substantial part of the liquid is removed again by mechanical means. The soaking-pressing operations require that the fibrous structure of the feedstock is maintained. Therefore it is preferred that the method is carried out with a high content of 10 rather large particles. By using soaking-pressing operations: . The need for energy demanding and expensive milling and grinding may be eliminated or at least reduced. . The water to cellulosic material dry matter ratio can be reduced to 6: 1 or even lower. 15 . A reliable contact between solids and liquid can be secured with a higher concentration of solids dry matter in the reactor, than by a flow trough system. . The equipment is able to handle large objects, such a books and large lumps of wasted food from household waste, and make it ready for the liquefaction process. Even nonfermentable objects such as pieces of plastic can pass the hydrothermal pre 20 treatment and be sorted out after liquefaction. Opposite most of the prior art, it is not a goal of the method according to the invention to remove as much hemicelluloses and lignin from the fibre fraction as possible during the pre treatment. While applicants do not wish to be bound by any particular theory, they believe that when lignin is melted in the presence of water, the hydrophobic lignin will form micro 25 droplets which will solidify at lower temperatures and form micro-particles without any or very little cellulose protective effect. When hemicellulose and lignin do not have to be removed from the fibre fraction, the pre-treatment can take place at a lower severity. Operating at low severity conditions has the following advantages: 162289 11 * Acids and bases, which have to be recovered can be omitted, this saves substantial capital and operational costs, since equipment for recovery can be saved, and problems with corrosion are substantially reduced * the fibrous structure of the feedstock can be maintained 5 . the formation of inhibitors is reduced . very little lignin is dissolved Certain steps of preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described further: Cleaning of the raw material 10 Since the cellulosic material often contains impurities like stone, sand and other undesired objects, it is an advantage to clean it to some degree. In respect of some types of dry feedstock such as straw, dust constitutes a problem, since it leads to poor working environment, risk for fires and dust explosions. A wet stonetrap will, at the same time clean the cellulosic material from stones, sand and other heavy items, and wet the cellulosic 15 material, which will solve the dust problems. If the cellulosic material has to be chopped, it is an advantage to chop it after it has been wetted in the stonetrap, since most cellulosic materials are easier to chop when they are wet. The wet stonetrap can be combined with the pre-soaking step explained later, so that the pre-soaking reactor also works as a stonetrap. Hydrothermal soaking- pressing pre-treatment 20 - The hydrothermal pre-treatment is performed as an extraction with hot water, thereby producing a fibre fraction containing the major part of the cellulose, more than 80% of said lignin comprised in the cellulosic material, and a liquid fraction containing some C5 sugars from the hemicellulose, a majority of said alkali chlorides comprised in the cellulosic material and a majority of fermentation inhibitors (mainly acetic acid) produced by the hydrothermal 25 pre-treatment. - The cellulosic material is conveyed through at least one pressurised reactor, defining a reactor pressure zone at an elevated pressure, the cellulosic material being heated to a temperature between 170 and 230 0 C for effecting the hydrothermal pre-treatment. The temperature may be between 180 and 210 0 C, such as between 190 and 200 0 C. 30 - Unloading the fibre fraction from the reactor pressure zone to a downstream pressure zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, while collecting released steam 162289 12 without access for air. A preferred dry matter content is between 20-60% and more preferred 30-50% and most preferred 35-45%. - Unloading the liquid fraction from the pressurised reactor to a upstream pressure zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, while collecting released steam 5 without access for air. One first step of the hydrothermal pre-treatment may comprise soaking under ambient pressure and at temperatures up to 100 0 C, which may take place in the acetic acid containing liquid fraction from a subsequent step. The objective of the soaking is to drive out air from the feedstock and to ensure that all of the feedstock is saturated with the liquid. A 10 further objective is to utilise some of the energy of the liquid fraction to increase the temperature of the feedstock. Further objectives of the soaking step are to increase the dry matter content in the liquid fraction and to impregnate the feedstock with the organic acids generated by subsequent steps. Before or during transfer to the next step, the cellulosic material may be subjected to a 15 pressing operation. The objectives of the pressing operation are to increase the solids concentration, to avoid heating of unnecessary liquid, and to transfer dissolved material to the liquid fraction. The next step may be a pressurized treatment at temperatures between 170 0 C and about 230 0 C, carried out e.g. as a high-solids plug flow process. The high temperature is achieved 20 by adding hot water or steam. If steam is added, a part of it will condense on the colder cellulosic material. The addition of water or steam lets this process step have the function of a second soaking operation. In order to achieve the desired economical benefit, at least the pressurised part of the hydrothermal pre-treatment should preferably take place with a high concentration of solids 25 dry matter in the reactor. Thus, the reactor is preferably 100% filled, and for voluminous feedstocks compaction is an envisaged option. Continuous reactors with high solids dry matter content, based on a screw device, are often a cost effective solution, but in case of 100% filling, the transport function of the screw device may be insufficient. Embodiments of the reactor may thus include an intermeshing twin screw device or a single screw device with 30 reciprocating axial movement. By an industrial scale production, these reactors, and the screw devices will be so large, that they can easily handle large objects. The pre-treatment is based on treatment with water without addition of acids, bases or other chemicals which have to be recovered. This means that less dry matter is transferred from the feedstock to the liquid fraction (the extract) than by most other pre-treatment processes.

162289 13 The transfer of lignin will normally be less than 20% of the original content of the feedstock. A substantial part of the hemicellulose will normally be hydrolysed but mostly to oligomers and soluble polymers, of which only a minor part will be transferred to the liquid fraction. Omitting addition of acids lets the cellulosic material maintain the fibrous structure, which is 5 desirable in order to conduct said pressing operations, and it means low formation of fermentation inhibitors. Furthermore, the small amounts of inhibitors (mainly acetic acid) will be concentrated in the liquid fraction of the pre-treatment where a detoxification, if needed, can be conducted at low cost. If needed, detoxification with NH 3 is preferred for the method according to the invention 10 The solids dry matter concentration during soaking will typically be 10-20%, and after pressing 30-40% such that approximately 2.5 - 3.5 kg liquid per kg solids dry matter is added during soaking and removed again during pressing. Each soaking and pressing step will transfer dry matter from the solids to the liquid fraction. The main objective of the hydrothermal pre-treatment of the invention is to make the 15 cellulose accessible for enzymatic hydrolysis/attack. In opposition to, e.g., the method of Torget, it is not a particular objective to remove the hemicellulose and lignin from the fibre fraction, but to neutralize their protection of the cellulose. While applicants do not wish to be bound by any particular theory, they believe that when lignin is melted in the presence of water, the hydrophobic lignin will form micro-droplets which will solidify at lower 20 temperatures and form micro-particles without any or very little cellulose protective effect. The lignin melting conditions of the hydrothermal pre-treatment will hydrolyse the hemicellulose to a degree, where it will no longer protect the cellulose against enzymatic attack. It is also believed that the lignin melting conditions will eliminate crystallinity of the cellulose which is beneficial to achieve efficient enzymatic hydrolysis, however the fibrous 25 structure of the cellulosic material is maintained. In order to improve the release of the melted lignin from the cellulose fibres, the feedstock is subjected to shearing forces. This will rub the lignin from the cellulose and facilitate the formation of free hydrophobic lignin droplets. The droplets seem to be coated by hydrophilic compounds mainly deriving from the partly hydrolysed hemicellulose. The resulting lignin microparticles have surprisingly very 30 little or no inhibiting effect on the enzymatic hydrolysis and ethanol fermentation based on yeast. The main advantages of this approach are: . The hydrothermal pre-treatment of the invention can be carried out at less severe conditions, which as described earlier reduces capital and operational costs 162289 14 The separation of the pretreated cellulosic material in a fibre fraction and a liquid fraction is facilitaded The shearing forces can be applied by different means e.g. by the transportation device in the reactor, by devices moved by the transportation device or by pressing during loading and 5 unloading of the reactor. Shearing forces can also be applied by steam explosion, applied during unloading, which primarily have the effect of blowing up the cells and capillaries. The means for applying shearing forces can be applied alone or as a combination of more than one means. It is an interesting effect of the present invention that chopped straw subjected to the 10 hydrothermal pre-treatment has a much higher feeding value than the untreated straw, because of the improved access for digestive enzymes. One of the problems of industrial scale continuous, pre-treatment of voluminous feedstocks with high concentration of long particles, such as cereal straw or corn stover, is to transfer the feedstock into the pressurized reactor in a safe, efficient and reliable way. It is an 15 advantage to load feedstocks into the reactor in portions with a sluice type loading device such as the particle pump described in WO 03/013714A1, wherein at any time at least one pressure lock secures pressure tight sealing between the pressurized reactor and the soaking vessel. This particle pump can remove liquid from soaked feedstock by pressing during loading and unloading of the reactor, and unloading can be combined with steam 20 explosion. Also household waste from which the large or heavy components have been removed in an upstream separation process, but which still comprise remaining large particles such as cans, plastic bottles, pieces of plastic and wood can be loaded and unloaded by the said particle pump, and processed in the pre-treatment and liquefaction reactors. The non-liquefied 25 particles can be removed before or after fermentation. This is possible because all preferred process equipment of the invention can accept relatively large particles. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pressurized part of the hydrothermal pre-treatment can be conducted at one or more sets of temperature/pressure conditions. Transfer of the feedstock from one pressure zone to another will normally be 30 conducted by a sluice system with a pressing device such as the particle pump described in WO 03/013714A1. Additional pressing/soaking operations can be conducted within each pressure zone.

162289 15 According to an embodiment of the invention, when the hydrothermal pre-treatment is carried out in several sets of temperature/pressure conditions, the temperature/pressure will increase for each step. Since it is a counter current process with pressing between each set of temperature/pressure conditions, the chemical severity will drop as the thermal severity 5 rises, which is important to avoid corrosion problems of the equipment. Since acids are formed during the hydrothermal pre-treatment, this also has the advantage that the pH will be relatively close to neutral in the fibre fraction, because the liquid added to the last step is not acidic. This means that the pH will be close to the optimum for the enzymatic liquefaction, and only limited adjustment is required. The removal of acid from the fibre 10 fraction is also an advantage when the feedstock is silage, because the high content of lactic acid will be washed out already during the pre-soaking. The pretreated feedstock can either be pressed, while it is still under high temperature conditions with lignin in the form of micro-droplets, or it can be pressed after it has been unloaded from the hydrothermal pre-treatment reactor with lignin in the form of solid micro 15 particles. One advantage of pressing before the feedstock is unloaded is that a higher dry matter content in the fibre fraction can be achieved. Another advantage by pressing under hot pressurized conditions is that the shearing forces generated during pressing will provide improved release of lignin droplets and disintegration of lignocellulosic particles. The 20 advantage of pressing at temperatures below 100 0 C is that the cost is lower and that more lignin will remain in the fibre fraction. The depressurization of both the solid and the liquid fraction may be carried out in closed systems without access of air, in order to collect the released steam and to use the thermal energy of the steam for concentration purposes and the condensate as process water. 25 The unloading of the fibre fraction can also be carried out by a pressing device, e.g. a screw press, since the high pressure will fill channels with material, so that leakage is avoided. This type of unloading will preferably be carried out with a first step, where the pressure lock between the pressurized reactor and a downstream closed compartment with a lower pressure is provided by a screw press, conducting the pressing operation at the outlet of the 30 pressurised reactor, the resulting liquid is sent upstream and the resulting solids are the fibre fraction going downstream. The pressure of said closed compartment is preferable 2-6 bar. By the second step, the fibre fraction is conveyed downstream to a second closed compartment with a pressure of 1 bar or lower by a second screw press providing the pressure lock between the two compartments. Process water at a temperature lower than 162289 16 that of the fibre fraction is injected into the second screw press at the first part of the screw, reducing the temperature of the fibre fraction to 100 0 C or lower. In order to achieve an efficient enzymatic liquefaction, it is desirable that as many enzymes as possible are placed on the surfaces of the accessible cellulose fibres contained in the 5 particles of the pretreated fibre fraction. To achieve this, the relatively warm pressed fibre fraction is mixed with a relatively cold enzyme preparation which may be sucked into the cavities of the particles. The steam trapped in the cavities condenses as it is cooled by the enzyme preparation and creates a vacuum pulling the enzyme preparation into the cavities. By adjusting the concentration of enzymes in the preparation, the desired amount of 10 enzymes can be placed at the inner and outer surfaces of the particles, adhering to the cellulose fibres. By virtue of this adhesion, the dry matter content of the enzyme-loaded fibre fraction can be increased by pressing, while preventing removal of enzymes to an unacceptable extent. By adjusting the temperature and pH of the enzyme preparation before mixing with the 15 warmer pretreated SF, liquefaction conditions can be improved. As described by Tolan, enzyme preparations for hydrolysis of cellulose will normally contain three types of enzymes: endogluconase, cellobiohydrolase and beta-glucosidase. The first two hydrolyse the polymer cellulose to its soluble dimer cellobiose which is then hydrolysed to glucose by the third type. Product inhibition from cellobiose and glucose can be prevented 20 or reduced by increasing the concentration of beta-glucosidase and use separate hydrolysation and fermentation. Another solution is to use the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process, wherein the cellobiose and the glucose are converted to ethanol by the fermenting organism. One embodiment of the present invention is based on a succesfull development of thermophilic ethanologenic microorganisms with the capacity to 25 ferment both C5 and C6 sugars and compatible enzyme systems with high hemicellulase and cellulase activity at temperatures around 60 0 C and at pH around 6. Of special interest for the present invention is thermophiles with the capacity to ferment not only monomers but also small oligomers such as cellobiose, maltose and raffinose simultaneously, which together with a compatible enzyme system will create a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation 30 process (SSF) to convert the pretreated biomass of the invention to ethanol. As an alternative, the method according to the invention may use an approach, in which a separate liquefaction step is introduced, providing optimal conditions for the activity of the enzymes followed by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF) with the liquefied fraction as substrate and with optimal conditions for the fermentation organism, but 35 suboptimal conditions for the enzymes.

162289 17 During the liquefaction step catalysed for example by Tricoderma cellulases at pH around 5 and temperature around 50 0 C the endogluconases may provide most of the depolymerisation because the activity of the cellobiohydrolases is swiftly inhibited by accumulated cellobiose and the beta-glucosidase is inhibited by accumulated glucose. 5 The liquefaction can be conducted by two principles, liquid or solid state liquefaction. By solid state liquefaction, the enzyme-loaded fibre fraction is transferred into a mixer, which does not contain free liquid in the inlet area. At solid state liquefaction on industrial scale, the microscopic movement of the enzymes from attack to attack on the cellulose may not always be provided by conventional stirring, 10 because of the great power input required to overcome friction between the particles. Instead, technology used in the composting industry can be applied, such as composting drums, where the fibre fraction loaded with enzymes is subjected to a number of lifts and falls during the transport through the cylindrical drum, which is rotating or stationary and equipped with a rotor with lifting devices. After few hours, the liquid produced will make it 15 possible to finalize the process as liquid state liquefaction. By liquid state liquefaction, the incoming enzyme loaded particles of the fibre fraction is submerged into the viscous fluid of liquefied material. Even though the mixture may be highly viscous, the mixing can be carried out by a variety of known mixing devices. Some advantages of liquid state liquefaction are: 20 - dry matter loading of the reactor can be high, - transmission of suitable forces to ensure that the enzymes move from attack to attack on the cellulose fibres is facilitated by the liquid, - recycling of liquefied fraction with free enzymes to the inlet region is possible, which will create good conditions for active enzymes to adhere and attack fresh cellulose 25 fibres. The liquid state liquefaction reactor according to the present invention can be based on an elongated horizontal cylindrical container with an inlet for the enzyme-loaded fibre fraction at a top section of one end of the container and an outlet for the liquefied fraction at a bottom section of the other end of the container.

162289 18 At the inlet, a perforated device may force the particles of the fibre fraction towards the outlet, completely submerged in the liquefied fraction. At the outlet, a screening device may separate the residual macroparticles, consisting mainly of cellulose and lignin, from the liquefied fraction consisting mainly of a solution of liquefied polysaccharides and suspended 5 lignin microparticles. During the passage through the reactor, the structure of most of the lignocellulosic particles will gradually disappear, while residual macroparticles may be sorted out, disintegrated and recycled to the inlet of the reactor. Alternatively, the residual macroparticles can be added to a solid biofuel product. Both the solid state and the liquid state liquefaction are unsensitive to large objects. 10 The micro-particles of lignin can be removed either after the separate liquefaction process or after the fermentation process by known means such as pressure or vacuum filtration providing a filter cake with a high dry matter content, whereby low drying costs are achieved. This product usually has a low content of KCI and can therefore be combusted in combined heat and power plants with high electricity efficiency. The filtrate may be pumped to a feed 15 tank, where temperature, pH and the content of nutrients may be adjusted to optimize the conditions of the subsequent simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF). If the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF) is based on yeast, the temperature should be lowered to about 35 0 C whereas the pH 5 can be maintained. If the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF) process is based on a C6 20 and C5 fermenting thermophile microorganism, such as TMO Biotec's thermophiles, the temperature may have to be increased to about 60 0 C and the pH to about 6. The simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF) disclosed herein can be carried out as a fed batch or a continuous process relying on equipment known per se, as described in "The alcohol textbook 3 rd Edition 1999 Nottingham University Press. 25 Recovery of ethanol can be carried out by conventional distillation technology. A preferred recovery technology for the present invention is to use a stripping technology, such as vacuum stripping, gas stripping or spray evaporation, by which the temperature of the broth can be kept close to the fermentation temperature during removal of the ethanol.Thereby, thermal inactivation of enzymes and fermenting organisms is limited, and 30 the enzymes and fermenting organisms can therefore be recycled and provide further cost reductions.

162289 19 The lignin microparticles can be kept in the liquefied fraction during fermentation because no or very little inhibitory effect is associated with the microparticles of macromolecular lignin. Simultaneous ethanol fermentation and recovery is an interesting cost reducing option for the method according to the invention wherein the ethanol will be removed before inhibition 5 starts to slow down the rate of saccharification or fermentation. The use of the liquid fraction from the hydrothermal pretreatment, depends on many factors, e.g. whether the process is integrated with ethanol production from sugar/starch feedstock, and whether competitive organisms for C5 fermentation are available. A preferred option of the invention is to neutralize the content of acetic acid with NH 3 , and combine it with the thin 10 stillage from the fibre fraction conversion, and concentrate mixture and use the syrup in ruminant feed, since ruminants can easily digest C5 sugars. This option has the advantage, that N,P,K and other plant nutrients can be led back to the fields. If a suitable microorgansim for conversion of C5 sugars to ethanol is developed, the mixture can be used as fermentation feedstock. It can also be used as feedstock for production of single cell protein, lactic acid 15 and enzymes. The integration of ethanol production from lignocellulosic feedstocks with ethanol production from starch/sugar feedstocks is an advantageous option for the method of the invention because it can provide substantial reductions both in capital cost and cost of operation, especially in cases where it is difficult to collect enough lignocellulosic feedstock to produce 20 about 100 000 t/y or more of fuel ethanol which is needed to take full advantage of the economy of scale. Furthermore, cost reductions can be achieved by using at least a part or a fraction of the liquid fraction from the pre-treatment to replace the water or part of it required in the mashing of starch/sugar feedstocks with high dry matter content. This is possible if the liquid fraction produced according to the invented method has a low or no 25 content of inhibitors, which is usually the case. A significant part of the hemicellulose dissolved in the liquid fraction will be oligomers, and it is therefore possible to separate the liquid fraction into two fractions by ultra filtration. One fraction contains mainly pentose oligomers and has a high dry matter content, and the other fraction (the permeate) with low dry matter content contains mainly alkali chlorides and small organic molecules. This fraction 30 is particularly suited for replacing make-up water in the grain mashing process. The oligomeric pentose fraction can be used as fermentation feedstock for ethanol production when relevant C5 sugar fermenting microorganisms are available. In the meantime it can be further concentrated and sold as feed for ruminants. Microorganisms in the ruminant can convert the pentose oligomers to short-chain fatty acids.

162289 20 When the sugar/starch feedstock produces a lignocellulosic residue (e.g. distillers grain from grain, bagasse form sugar cane), the residue can be used directly as a lignocellulosic feedstock. The integration with ethanol production from sugar/starch feedstock also opens the 5 possibility for procuring raw material from the world market, which secures a safer raw material supply. It also opens the possibility to use whole crops as feedsstocks, which can substantially reduce the costs related to harvesting, storage and transportation. Another advantageous option of the invented method is to integrate ethanol production with central power plants and take advantage of some of the low value thermal energy otherwise 10 disposed of (sent to a condensing system). Additional cost reductions derive from lower investment costs by exploitation of the infrastructure of the power plant. If the residues (mainly lignin) are combusted at the power plant, further economical improvement can be achieved. Preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention produce a combustible residue of microparticles with a low content of KCI, which is well-suited for co 15 combustion with pulverized coal at central CHP plants with high electricity efficiency, which means that the value of the residues will be increased with around 30% compared with the value achieved when the residues are combusted in a small CHP designed for the energy demand of the biomass plant. Example: Conversion of wheat straw 20 The conversion method of the invention has been tested on chopped wheat straw at pilot plant facilities comprising wet cleaning and chopping of straw, pre-soaking and pressurized pre-treatment in a reactor with two sections, with a first particle pump to load the soaked feedstock into the first section, and a second particle pump to transfer the feedstock into the second section, and a third particle pump to unload the fibre fraction from the second 25 section. The particle pumps used in the pilot plant are described in WO 03/013714A1. This means, that three soaking-pressing operations could be conducted, using the particle pumps for the pressing process. In addition a washing step at ambient pressure was tested, by which the fibre fraction after soaking was pressed to around 40% dm with a screw press. Evaluation of the effect of different pre-treatment conditions was based on data from 30 downstream liquefaction, ethanol fermentation and distillation trials on pretreated straw. Typical results from the conversion of pretreated straw are as follows. Composition 1000 kg wheat straw: 162289 21 Moisture 140 kg Cellulose 350 kg Hemicellulose 250 kg Lignin 150 kg Ash 50 kg Others 60 kg Process Conditions: Presoaking: 80 0 C, 15 min Pressurized reactor: 5 1. section: 180 0 C, 10 min 2. section: 195 0 C, 3 min 3 soaking pressing operations Water:straw ratio: 5:1 Yields: Bioethanol 150 kg Solid biofuel (90% dm) 250 kg (lignin and residual carbohydrates) C5 Molasses (70% dm) 450 kg Hemicellulose sugars, acetate, and others 10 At these process conditions a maximum of 4% lignin or products deriving from lignin were contained in the C5 molasses (dry matter), corresponding to 12,6 kg or 8,4% of the lignin content of straw. This means that 91,6% of the lignin content of the straw is maintained in the fibre fraction.

162289 22 Similar results could be achieved at process conditions where the first section of the pressurized reactor was operated at 180 C in 17 min. and the second section was by-passed. The experience with wheat straw demonstrates that embodiments of the method of the invention can provide high conversion of the cellulose content of the straw to ethanol leaving 5 around 90 % of lignin as solid suspended particles which can be recovered by known means. The process conditions (temperatures and retention times) of the invention can be adjusted to the economical optimum for each raw material. End of Example It should be understood that all features and achievements discussed above in relation to the 10 invention of the first aspect of the invention and embodiments thereof apply to the invention of the second aspect of the invention discussed below and/or to embodiments thereof. In a second aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus and a method for conversion of cellulosic material (CM) to ethanol and other products, the cellulosic material preferably comprising cellulose, as well as lignin, hemicellulose and alkali chlorides, and optionally 15 sugars. The method of the second aspect of the present invention comprises continuous hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP) without addition of acids or bases or other chemicals, which must be recovered, and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis (EH), ethanol fermentation and recovery. The method comprises the steps of: - Adjusting the particle size of long-particle cellulosic material (CM), such as straw and stalks, 20 by cutting and/or chopping before the cellulosic material (CM) is subjected to the hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP). In a preferred particle size distribution, less than 5% of the particles are longer than about 20 cm, and less than 20% of the particles are between about 10 and about 20 cm. Cellulosic material (CM) including pieces of wood are preferably made into standard chips. 25 - Maintaining the adjusted particle size, i.e. maintaining the particle structure during the hydrothermal pre-treatment and an initial part of the enzymatic hydrolysis (EH). - Performing the hydrothermal pre-treatment as an extraction with hot water, thereby producing a solid fraction (SF) containing more than 80% of said lignin comprised in the cellulosic material (CM), and a liquid fraction (LF) with a preferred content of hemicellulose 30 sugars less than 80% of the original content in the CM, more preferred less than 70% of the original content in the CM, even more preferred less than 60% of the original content in the CM containing a majority of said alkali chlorides comprised in the cellulosic material (CM) and a majority of fermentation inhibitors produced by the hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP). - Conveying the cellulosic material (CM) through at least one pressurised reactor defining a 162289 23 reactor pressure zone at an elevated pressure, the cellulosic material being heated to a temperature between 170 and 230 0 C for effecting the hydrothermal pre-treatment. The temperature may be between 180 and 210 0 C, such as between 190 and 200 0 C. - Unloading the solid fraction (SF) from the reactor pressure zone to a first downstream 5 pressure zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, preferably while collecting released steam without access for air. A preferred dry matter content is between 20-60% and more preferred 30-50% and most preferred 35-45%. - Unloading the liquid fraction (LF) from the pressurised reactor to a second pressure zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, preferably while collecting 10 released steam without access for air. The second aspect of the invention also provides an apparatus for conversion of cellulosic material (CM) to ethanol and other products, the cellulosic material preferably comprising cellulose, as well as lignin, hemicellulose and alkali chlorides, and optionally sugars, the apparatus conferring continuous hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP) without addition of acids 15 or bases and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis (EH), ethanol fermentation and recovery, the apparatus comprising: - a cutting or chopping device for adjusting the particle size of long-particle cellulosic material (CM), such as straw and stalks, before the cellulosic material (CM) is subjected to the hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP); 20 - a hydrothermal pre-treatment device for effecting hydrothermal pre-treatment as an extraction with hot water, the hydrothermal pre-treatment device being adapted to maintain the adjusted particle size during the hydrothermal pre-treatment and to produce a solid fraction (SF) containing more than 80% of said lignin comprised in the cellulosic material (CM), and a liquid fraction (LF) containing a majority of said alkali chlorides comprised in the 25 cellulosic material (CM), and a majority of fermentation inhibitors produced by the hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP); - at least one pressurised reactor defining a reactor pressure zone at an elevated pressure, the cellulosic material being heated to a temperature between 170 and 230 0 C for effecting the hydrothermal pre-treatment; 30 - an unloading mechanism for unloading the solid fraction (SF) from the reactor pressure zone to a first downstream pressure zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, the unloading mechanism being preferably arranged to allow unloading while released steam is collected without access for air, and for unloading the liquid fraction (LF) from the pressurised reactor to a second pressure zone, which is at a lower pressure than the 35 reactor pressure zone, preferably while collecting released steam without access for air. In embodiments of the inventions of the first and second aspects of the invention, the second pressure zone may be an upstream pressure zone, such as a zone upstream of the reactor 162289 24 pressure zone. It may be downstream in relation to other zones, e.g. downstream of a cutting or chopping device for adjusting particle size of long-particle cellulosic material, and/or downstream of equipment for carrying out the hydrothermal pre-treatment. Preferred embodiments of the method and apparatus of the second aspect of the present 5 invention comprise particle size adjustment, hydrothermal pre-treatment with separation in a liquid and a solid fraction, different options for utilisation of the liquid fraction, enzymatic liquefaction and saccharification of the solid fraction, fermentation and recovery of ethanol, optional integration with ethanol production from sugar/starch feedstocks and optional integration with a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. 10 One effect of the embodiments of the present invention is improved economy of the conversion of lignocellulosic feedstock to ethanol. By introducing a method, wherein the particle structure of the feedstock is maintained, until the structure disappears during the enzymatic liquefaction (EL) step, and wherein the pre-treatment is conducted without addition of chemicals which have to be recovered, a number of interdependent cost reducing 15 innovations can be implemented, and provide fuel ethanol from lignocellulose to a price similar to or lower than the price for ethanol from starch/sugar feedstocks. The integration of ethanol production from lignocellulosic feedstocks with ethanol production from starch/sugar feedstocks is an advantageous option for the method of the invention because it can provide substantial reductions both in capital cost and cost of operation, 20 especially in cases where it is difficult to collect enough lignocellulosic feedstock to produce about 100 000 t/y or more of fuel ethanol which is needed to take full advantage of the economy of scale. Furthermore, cost reductions can be achieved by using at least a part or a fraction of the liquid fraction (LF) from the pre-treatment to replace the water or part of it required in the mashing of starch/sugar feedstocks with high dry matter content. This is 25 possible if the liquid fraction (LF) produced according to the invented method has a low or no content of inhibitors, which is usually the case. A significant part of the hemicellulose dissolved in the liquid fraction (LF) will be oligomers, and it is therefore possible to separate the liquid fraction (LF) into two fractions with ultra filtration. One fraction contains mainly pentose oligomers and has a high dry matter content, and the other fraction (the permeate) 30 with low dry matter content contains mainly alkali chlorides and small organic molecules. This fraction is particularly suited for replacing water in the grain mashing (optionally cutting or chopping) process. During pre-treatment, the pH of the liquid fraction (LF) normally drops to around 3,5, which is preferably adjusted to the optimum for yeast by NH 3 . The pentose fraction can be used as fermentation feedstock for ethanol production when relevant C5 35 sugar fermenting microorganisms are available. In the meantime it can be further 162289 25 concentrated and sold as feed for ruminants. Microorganisms in the ruminant can convert the pentose oligomers to short-chain fatty acids. When the sugar/starch feedstock produces a lignocellulosic residue (e.g. distillers grain from grain, bagasse form sugar cane), the residue can be used directly as a lignocellulosic 5 feedstock. The integration with ethanol production from sugar/starch feedstock also opens the possibility for procuring raw material from the world market, which secures a safer raw material supply. It also opens the possibility to use whole crops as feedsstocks, which can substantially reduce the costs related to harvesting, storage and transportation. 10 Another advantageous option of the invented method is to integrate ethanol production with existing power plants and take advantage of some of the low value thermal energy otherwise disposed of (sent to a condensing system). Additional cost reductions derive from lower investment costs by exploitation of the infrastructure of the power plant. If the residues (mainly lignin) are combusted at the power plant, further economical improvement can be 15 achieved. Preferred embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of the invention produce a combustible residue of microparticles with a low content of KCI, which is well-suited for co-combustion with pulverized coal at central CHP plants with high electricity efficiency, which means that the value of the residues will be increased with around 30% compared with the value achieved when the residues are combusted in a small CHP designed 20 for the energy demand of the biomass plant. Grinding of the lignocellulosic feedstocks before pre-treatment is one of the most electricity consuming process steps involved in the conversion cellulosic material (CM) of to ethanol. Most of the prior art methods use hammermills to produce small particles with a large surface area, but the effect of lignin as a strong thermoplastic glue makes it necessary at low 25 temperatures to apply very strong mechanical forces to achieve the desired particle size. Preferred embodiments of the present conversion method do not use grinding before pre treatment at all, but maintain the particle structure throughout the pre-treatment in order to take advantage of the huge surface area provided by the cavities of cells and capillaries of the plant particles to create good reaction conditions for the hydrothermal pre-treatment 30 (HTP) and for the following liquefaction step. At the high temperature of the hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP), lignin is transformed to a liquid, loosing its properties as a glue, which means that only weak mechanical forces are required to open up the cell cavities to facilitate the access of the cellulytic enzymes to the interior surfaces of the particles.

162289 26 Therefore, grinding can be replaced by a chopping process producing particles, where the major part have a length of less than about 10 cm and a minor part have a length of up to about 20 cm or about 30 cm. It is an interesting effect of the apparatus and method of the present invention that chopped 5 straw subjected to the hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP) may have an energy content for ruminants more than twice the energy content of untreated straw, because of the improved access for digestive enzymes. In respect of some types of dry feedstock such as straw, dust constitutes a problem, since it leads to poor working environment, risk for fires and dust explosions. These problems can be 10 solved by wetting the feedstock, which will also facilitate the chopping process and reduce the specific energy consumption to a low level, which for straw is only about 25% of the demand for hammer milling. For straw and similar feedstocks it will often be advantageous to remove stones and other impurities and to perform the wetting in a wet stone trap. The chopping of voluminous feedstock such as straw can be facilitated by compacting the 15 feedstock before it enters into the chopping zone. For forestry feedstocks, the chopping device may comprise or be replaced with a chipping device. By feedstocks with small particles such as citrus, potato and sugar beet pulp, distillers grain and saw dust, no particle size reductions are needed, instead it can be an advantage to mix 20 with a more fibrous feedstock. The particle size adjustment is followed by the hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP). The objective of the hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP) is to make the cellulose accessible for enzymatic hydrolysis/attack. The pre-treatment is based on extraction with water without addition of acids, bases or other 25 chemicals which have to be recovered. This means that less dry matter is transferred from the feedstock to the liquid fraction (the extract) than by most other pre-treatment processes. The transfer of hemicellulose sugars will normally be less than 60% and of lignin less than 20% of the original content of the feedstock. The hemicellulose will be hydrolysed but mostly to oligomers and soluble polymers, which can be further hydrolysed to fermentable sugars by 30 enzymes.

162289 27 Omitting addition of acids means low formation of fermentation inhibitors. Furthermore, the small amounts of inhibitors will be concentrated in the liquid fraction of the pre-treatment where a detoxification, if needed, can be conducted at low cost. If needed detoxification with

NH

3 is preferred for the method according to the invention 5 Omitting addition of acids, bases or other chemicals which have to be recovered also implies reduction of operational costs. One first step of the hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP) may comprise soaking, which may take place in the acetic acid containing liquid fraction from a subsequent step under ambient pressure and at temperatures up to 100 0 C. The objective of the soaking is to drive out air 10 from the feedstock and to ensure that all of the feedstock is saturated with the liquid. A further objective is to utilise some of the energy of the liquid fraction to increase the temperature of the feedstock. Further objectives of the soaking step is to increase the dry matter content in the liquid fraction and to impregnate the feedstock with the organic acids generated by subsequent steps. 15 The next step may be a pressurized treatment at temperatures between 100 0 C and about 230 0 C, carried out e.g. as a high-solids plug flow process. In order to achieve the desired economical benefit, at least the pressurised part of the hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP) should preferably take place with a high concentration of solids dry matter in the reactor. Thus, the reactor is preferably 100% filled, and for 20 voluminous feedstocks compaction is an envisaged option. Continuous reactors with high solids dry matter content, based on a screw device, are often a cost effective solution, but in case of 100% filling, the transport function of the screw device may be insufficient. Embodiments of the reactor may thus include an intermeshing twin screw device or a a single screw device with reciprocating axial movement. 25 The high concentration of solids dry matter in the reactor renders a flow through system as disclosed in US patent 5,503,996 (Torget) in which flow through system fluid moves with respect to the solids unsuitable for most embodiments of the second aspect of the present invention. Instead, preferred embodiments of the second aspect of the present invention utilize a soaking/pressing system. In this context, soaking implies that the void volume of the 30 solid is completely filled with liquid, whereas pressing implies that the major part of the liquid is removed again. The solids dry matter to liquid ratio during soaking should be as high as possible to produce high dry matter concentration in the liquid.

162289 28 During transfer of the biomass from the soaking step to a subsequent pressurized treatment, the biomass is preferably dewatered in order to reduce the energy required to increase the temperature of the biomass to the level of the pressurized part of the hydrothermal pre treatment (HTP). The temperature may be achieved by adding hot water and/or steam. The 5 feedstock may be subjected to shearing forces at high temperature conditions in order to release the soft lignin from the cellulose. The shearing forces can be applied by different means e.g. by the transportation device in the reactor, by devices moved by the transportation device or by pressing during loading and unloading of the reactor. Shearing forces can also be applied by steam explosion, which primarily have the effect of blowing up 10 the cells and capillaries . The means for applying shearing forces can be applied alone or as a combination of more than one means. The solids dry matter concentration during soaking will typically be 10-20%, and after pressing 30-40% such that approximately 2.5 - 3.5 kg liquid per kg solids dry matter is added during soaking and removed again during pressing. 15 Each soaking and pressing step may transfer dry matter from the solids to the liquid fraction. One objective of the hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP) is to make the cellulose accessible for enzymatic hydrolysis/attack. It is not a particular objective to remove the hemicellulose and lignin from the solid fraction, but to neutralize their protection of the cellulose. It is presently believed that when lignin is melted in the presence of water, hydrophobic lignin will form 20 micro-droplets which will solidify at lower temperatures and form micro-particles without any or very little cellulose protective effect. The lignin melting conditions of the hydrothermal pre treatment (HTP) will hydrolyse the hemicellulose to a degree, where it will no longer protect the cellulose against enzymatic attack. It is also believed that the lignin melting conditions will eliminate crystallinity of the cellulose which is crucial to achieve efficient enzymatic 25 hydrolysis. In order to improve the release of the melted lignin from the cellulose fibres , the feedstock is subjected to shearing forces. This will rub the lignin from the cellulose and facilitate the formation of free hydrophobic lignin droplets. The droplets seem to be coated by hydrophilic compounds mainly deriving from the partly hydrolysed hemicellulose. The resulting lignin microparticles have surprisingly no inhibiting effect on ethanol fermentation 30 based on yeast or the C5 and C6 fermenting thermophiles under development by TMO Biotec Ltd, Guildford, UK. One of the problems of industrial scale continuous, pre-treatment of voluminous feedstocks with high concentration of long particles is to transfer the feedstock into the pressurized reactor in a safe, efficient and reliable way. It is an advantage to load feedstocks into the 35 reactor in portions with a sluice type loading device such as the particle pump described in 162289 29 WO 03/013714A1, wherein at any time at least one pressure lock secures pressure tight sealing between the pressurized reactor and the soaking vessel. This particle pump can remove liquid from soaked feedstock by pressing during loading and unloading, and unloading can be combined with steam explosion. 5 According to an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, the pressurized part of the hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP) can be conducted at one or more sets of temperature/pressure conditions. Transfer of the feedstock from one pressure zone to another will normally be conducted by a sluice system with a pressing device. Additional pressing/ soaking operations can be conducted within each pressure zone. 10 The pretreated feedstock can either be pressed, while it is still under high temperature conditions with lignin in the form of micro-droplets, or it can be pressed after it has been unloaded from the hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP) reactor with lignin in the form of solid micro-particles. One advantage of pressing before the feedstock is unloaded is that a higher dry matter 15 content in the solid fraction (SF) can be achieved, possibly without extra drying. Another advantage by pressing under hot pressurized conditions is that the shearing forces generated during pressing will provide improved release of lignin droplets. One advantage of pressing at temperatures below 100 0 C is that the cost is lower and that more lignin will remain in the solid fraction. 20 The depressurization of both the solid and the liquid fraction may be carried out in closed systems without access of air, in order to collect the released steam and to use the thermal energy of the steam for concentration purposes and the condensate as process water. In order to achieve an efficient enzymatic liquefaction, it is desirable that as many enzymes as possible are placed on the surfaces of the accessible cellulose fibres contained in the 25 particles of the pretreated solid fraction (SF). To achieve this, the warm pressed solid fraction (SF) is mixed with a colder enzyme preparation which may be sucked into the cavities of the particles. The steam trapped in the cavities condenses as it is cooled by the enzyme preparation and creates a vacuum pulling the enzyme preparation into the cavities. By adjusting the concentration of enzymes in the preparation, the desired amount of enzymes 30 can be placed at the inner and outer surfaces of the particles, adhering to the cellulose fibres. By virtue of this adhesion, the dry matter content of the enzyme-loaded solid fraction (SF) can be increased by pressing, while preventing removal of enzymes to an unacceptable extent.

162289 30 By adjusting the temperature and pH of the enzyme preparation before mixing with the warmer pretreated SF the optimal liquefaction conditions can be achieved. As described by Tolan, enzyme preparations for hydrolysis of cellulose will normally contain three types of enzymes: endogluconase, cellobiohydrolase and beta-glucosidase. The first 5 two hydrolyse the polymer cellulose to its soluble dimer cellobiose which is then hydrolysed to glucose by the third type. Product inhibition from cellobiose and glucose can be prevented or reduced by increasing the concentration of beta-glucosidase and use separate hydrolysation and fermentation. Another solution is to use the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process, wherein the cellobiose and the glucose are converted to 10 ethanol by the fermenting organism. One embodiment of the present invention is based on a succesfull development of thermophilic ethanologenic microorganisms with the capacity to ferment both C5 and C6 sugars and compatible enzyme systems with high hemicellulase and cellulase activity at temperatures around 60 0 C and at pH around 6. Of special interest for the present invention is thermophiles with the capacity to ferment not only monomers but also 15 small oligomers such as cellobiose, maltose and raffinose simultaneously, which together with a compatible enzyme system will create the ideal simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF) to convert the pretreated biomass of the invention to ethanol. As an alternative, the method according to the invention may use an approach, in which a separate liquefaction step is introduced, providing optimal conditions for the activity of the 20 enzymes followed by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF) with the liquefied fraction as substrate and with optimal conditions for the fermentation organism, but suboptimal conditions for the enzymes. During the liquefaction step catalysed for example by Tricoderma cellulase at pH around 5 and temperature around 50 0 C the endogluconase may provide most of the depolymerisation 25 because the activity of the cellobiohydrolase is swiftly inhibited by accumulated cellobiose and the beta-glucosidase is inhibited by accumulated glucose. The liquefaction can be conducted by two principles, wet or solid state liquefaction. By solid state liquefaction, the enzyme-loaded solid fraction (SF) is transferred into a mixer, which does not contain free liquid in the inlet area. 30 At solid state liquefaction on industrial scale, the microscopic movement of the enzymes from attack to attack on the cellulose may not always be provided by conventional stirring, because of the great power input required to overcome friction between the particles. Instead, technology used in the composting industry can be applied, such as composting drums, where the solid fraction (SF) loaded with enzymes is subjected to a number of lifts 162289 31 and falls during the transport through the cylindrical drum, which is rotating or stationary and equipped with a rotor with lifting devices. By liquid state liquefaction, the incoming enzyme loaded particles of the solid fraction (SF) is submerged into the viscous liquid of liquefied material. Even though the mixture may be 5 highly viscous, the mixing can be carried out by a variety of known mixing devices. Some advantages of liquid state liquefaction are: - dry matter loading of the reactor can be high, - transmission of suitable forces to ensure that the enzymes move from attack to attack on the cellulose is facilitated by the liquid, 10 - recycling of liquefied fraction with enzymes to inlet region is possible. The liquefaction reactor according to the present invention can be based on an elongated cylindrical container with an inlet for the enzyme-loaded solid fraction (SF) at a top portion of one end of the container and an outlet for the liquefied fraction (LfF) at a bottom portion of another end of the container. 15 At the inlet, a perforated piston device may force the particles of the solid fraction (SF) towards the outlet, completely submerged in the liquefied fraction. At the outlet, a screening device may separate the residual particles (RP), consisting mainly of cellulose and lignin, from the liquefied fraction (LfF) consisting mainly of a solution of liquefied polysaccharides and lignin microparticles. During the passage through the reactor, the structure of most of 20 the (SF) particles will gradually disappear, while residual particles (RP) may be sorted out, disintegrated and recycled to the inlet of the reactor. The reactor can be stirred by appropriate conventional stirring devices, and additionally vibrations can be applied using oscillations from a few millimetres down to ultra sonic waves. After removal of the residual particles (RP) from the LfF, the micro-particles of lignin can be 25 removed on a plate and frame filter providing a filter cake with a dry matter content as high as 70 %, whereby low drying costs are achieved. This product usually has a low content of KCI and can therefore be combusted in combined heat and power plants with high electricity efficiency. The filtrate may be pumped to a feed tank, where temperature, pH and the content of nutrients may be adjusted to optimize the conditions of the subsequent 30 simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF). If the simultaneous 162289 32 saccharification and fermentation process (SSF) is based on yeast, the temperature should be lowered to about 35 0 C whereas the pH 5 can be maintained. If the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF) process is based on a C6 and C5 fermenting thermophile microorganism, such as TMO Biotec's thermophiles, the 5 temperature may have to be increased to about 60 0 C and the pH to about 6. The simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF) disclosed herein can be carried out as a fed batch or a continuous process relying on equipment known per se. Recovery of ethanol can be carried out by conventional distillation technology. A preferred recovery technology for the present invention is to use a stripping technology, 10 such as vacuum stripping, gas stripping or spray evaporation, by which the temperature of the broth can be kept close to the fermentation temperature during removal of the ethanol. Thereby, thermal inactivation of enzymes and fermenting organisms is limited, and the enzymes and fermenting organisms can therefore be recycled and provide further cost reductions. 15 The lignin microparticles can be kept in the liquefied fraction during fermentation because no inhibitory effect is associated with the microparticles of macromolecular lignin. Simultaneous ethanol fermentation and recovery is an interesting cost reducing option for the method according to the invention wherein the ethanol will be removed before inhibition starts to slow down the rate of fermentation. The recovery of ethanol during fermentation may be 20 conducted by gas stripping using the principle of spray-evaporation by which the ethanol can be removed from the broth without thermal inhibition of enzymes and microorganisms which can be recycled to the fermentor. The flow diagrams in Figs. 1-3 illustrate different examples of preferred embodiments of the present conversion method. 25 Fig. 1 shows conversion of baled straw and grain in a situation where the competitiveness of thermophilic C5 and C6 sugars fermentation is too low. Therefore, the C5 and C6 sugars released from the solid fraction (SF) of the straw are united with the C6 sugars from the grain and subjected to yeast fermentation. Only the C6 sugars are converted to ethanol. The C5 sugars increase the solubles dry matter of the stillage, and are together with the C5 30 sugars of the liquid fraction (LF) collected in the DDGS.

162289 33 Fig. 2 illustrates an embodiment, in which the thermophilic fermentation can compete with yeast when C5 and C6 sugars are mixed, but not by pure C6 fermentation. Furthermore, compatible systems of thermophiles and enzymes are not ready for industrial use. Therefore, two separate fermentations are employed. The permeate from ultra filtration of the liquid 5 fraction (LF) is used to replace water in the mashing of grain, as in the embodiment of Fig 1. The ethanol solution from the straw process is concentrated and dehydrated in the grain process. Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment involving C5 and C6 sugar fermenting thermophiles only. Because of the different enzyme systems needed for straw and grain, two separate 10 simultaneous saccharification and fermentation processes (SSF) are provided. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation processes (SSF) in respect of straw is conducted at a lower temperature and pH than the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation processes (SSF) in respect of grain in order to match the demand of the enzyme system. The liquid fraction is fed directly to the grain mashing process. 15 It should be understood that all features and achievements discussed above in relation to the invention of the second aspect of the invention and embodiments thereof apply to the invention of the first aspect of the invention discussed above and/or to embodiments thereof.

Claims

1. A method for conversion of cellulosic material to ethanol and other products, the cellulosic material comprising at least cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose and ash, in which method the cellulosic material is cleaned and subjected to continuous hydrothermal pre 5 treatment without addition of acids or bases or other chemicals, which must be recovered, and in which method a liquid and a fibre fraction are produced, the fibre fraction being subjected to enzymatic liquefaction and saccharification, the method including ethanol fermentation and product recovery, the method comprising: - performing the hydrothermal pre-treatment by subjecting the cellulosic material to at 10 least one soaking operation, and conveying the cellulosic material through at least one pressurised reactor defining a reactor pressure zone at an elevated pressure; the cellulosic material being heated to a temperature between 170 and 230'C, and subjecting the cellulosic material to at least one pressing operation, creating a fibre fraction and a liquid fraction; 15 - selecting the temperature and residence time for the hydrothermal pretreatment, so that the fibrous structure of the feedstock is maintained and at least 80% of the lignin is maintained in the fibre fraction; - unloading the pressed fibre fraction from the reactor pressure zone to a downstream closed zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, while 20 collecting the released steam without access for air; - unloading the liquid fraction from the pressurised reactor to a second closed zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, while collecting released steam without access for air.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the cellulosic material is cleaned for sands, 25 stones and other undesirable heavy objects by wet cleaning using the liquid fraction as wash water.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein large objects, which flow together with the cellulosic material in the cleaning process, follow the cellulosic material and the fibre fraction downstream, and are removed before fermentation or before product 30 recovery.

4. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cellulosic material is loaded in portions into said pressurised reactor from an upstream pressure zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, the cellulosic material being loaded by a sluice system comprising at least two pressure locks, of which at least one 35 pressure lock at any time provides a pressure-tight sealing between said upstream pressure zone and said reactor pressure zone. 35

5. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the conversion of cellulosic material is integrated with an ethanol-production process based on starch and/or sugar.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein at least a part or a fraction of the liquid 5 fraction is used to lower the dry matter content in the sugar and/or starch feedstock.

7. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least a part or a fraction of the liquid fraction and the thin stillage from the ethanol recovery are used as animal feed.

8. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least a part or a 10 fraction of the liquid fraction and the thin stillage is used as substrate for production of microorganisms capable of converting C5 and C6 sugars.

9. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least a part or a fraction of the liquid fraction and the thin stillage is used as substrate for production of single cell protein. 15

10. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least a part or a fraction of the liquid fraction and the thin stillage is used as substrate for production of lactic acid.

11. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least a part or a fraction of the liquid fraction and the thin stillage is used as feedstock for production of 20 enzymes and C5 fermenting microorganisms.

12. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the conversion of cellulosic raw material is integrated with a central combined heat and power plant connected to the grid.

13. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the conversion of 25 cellulosic material is integrated with a starch and/or sugar to ethanol process and a combined heat and power plant (CHP) connected to the grid.

14. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein non-fibrous cellulosic material is mixed with fibrous cellulosic material.

15. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cellulosic material 30 is soaked in the liquid fraction in a soaking reactor at ambient pressure before it enters said pressurised reactor.

16 A method according to claim 15, wherein said wet cleaning for sand, stones and other undesirable heavy objects is carried out during said pre-soaking step.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the cellulosic material is dewatered 35 during transfer from the soaking reactor to the pressurised reactor. 36

18. A method according to claims 4 and 16 or 17, wherein the soaked cellulosic material is dewatered in said sluice system.

19. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cellulosic material is subjected to shearing forces in the pressurized reactor. 5

20. A method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one soaking operation after said pressing operation followed by at least one additional pressing operation in the pressurised reactor to enhance extraction of the solubilized material.

21. A method according to claim 16, wherein the pressurised reactor comprises at least 10 two sections, a first one of which is connected to the soaking reactor and operates at lower temperatures and pressures than a last section of the pressurised reactor, which operates at a temperature between 170 and 230'C.

22. A method according to claim 20 and 21, wherein at least one pressing operation takes place between said first and a second section, the resulting liquid is sent 15 upstream, and the resulting solids are sent downstream.

23. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure lock between the pressurized reactor and a downstream closed compartment with a lower pressure is provided by a screw press conducting the pressing operation at the outlet of the pressurised reactor, the resulting liquid is sent upstream and the resulting solids are 20 the fibre fraction going downstream.

24 A method according to claim 23 wherein the pressure of said closed compartment is 2-6 bar and wherein the fibre fraction is conveyed downstream to a second closed compartment with a pressure of 1 bar or lower by a second screw press providing the pressure lock between the two compartments.

25 25. A method according to claim 24 wherein process water at a temperature lower than that of the fibre fraction is injected into the second screw press at the first part of the screw, reducing the temperature of the fibre fraction to 100C or lower.

26. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein unloading and depressurisation of the fibre fraction are conducted as steam explosion. 30

27. A method according to claim 4 and 26, wherein separation of cellulosic material in liquid and fibre fractions is effected by a pressing device, and wherein steam-explosion unloading of the fibre fraction is carried out by said sluice system.

28. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the relatively warm fibre fraction is mixed into a solution of cellulytic enzymes, which are at a temperature 35 lower than that of the fibre fraction, and optionally controlling the temperatures of the mixture to achieve an optimum temperature for the activity of the enzymes. 37

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the cellulytic enzymes are produced on site and mixed with the fibre fraction together with the substrate.

30. A method according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the dry matter content of the enzyme-loaded fibre fraction is increased by pressing. 5

31. A method according to any of claims 28-30, wherein the enzyme-loaded particles of fibre fraction is fed into and moved through an elongated liquefaction reactor, filled with a fluid of liquefied fibre fraction.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the liquefied fibre fraction is conveyed to the fermentor after having passed through the incoming fibre fraction. 10

33. A method according to claim 32 wherein the liquefied fibre fraction is removed before all the fibres are liquefied, and the non-liquefied fibres and the non-liquefiable objects are separated from the liquefied fraction before it is added to the incoming fibre fraction at the top of the liquefaction reactor, and thereafter unloaded from the bottom section at the inlet end of the liquefaction reactor and conveyed to the fermentor. 15

34. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the temperature, pH and content of nutrients of the fibre mash are adjusted with regard to a subsequent simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process.

35. A method according to any of the preceding claims wherein the lignin microparticles are left in the fibre mash during fermentation. 20

36. A method according to any of the preceding claims wherein the lignin microparticles are separated from the fibre mash before fermentation.

37. A method according to claim 28, wherein enzyme-loaded particles of the fibre fraction are fed directly into a thermophilic simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF) converting both C5 and C6 sugars to ethanol. 25

38. A method according to any of claims 29-37, wherein the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF) is integrated with an ethanol stripping process operating with temperatures in the broth close to the fermentation temperature, and wherein the stripped fibre beer with active enzymes and microorganisms is recycled to the fermentation reactor. 30

39. A method according to claim 32, wherein stripping process employs spray evaporation.

40. A method according to claim 32 wherein the stripping process employs gas stripping based on recycling of CO 2 .

41. A method according to claim 32 wherein the stripping process employs vacuum 35 stripping. 38

42. A method according to any of the preceeding claims, wherein particulate lignin is removed from the fibre stillage.

43. A method according to claim 36 and 42, wherein the particulate lignin is co-fired in a combined heat and power plant (CHP). 5

44. A method according to any preceding claims, wherein condensate from evaporation processes is used as make-up water for the hydrothermal pre-treatment.

45. A method according to claim 6 and 44 wherein condensate from evaporation processes is used to lower the dry matter content in the sugar and/or starch feedstock.

46. An apparatus for conversion of cellulosic material to ethanol and other products, the 10 cellulosic material comprising at least cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose and ash, the apparatus comprising a cleaning device for cleaning the cellulosic material, a hydrothermal pre-treatment device for subjecting the cellulosic material to continuous hydrothermal pre-treatment without addition of acids or bases or other chemicals, which must be recovered, the apparatus being suitable for producing a liquid and a fibre 15 fraction, the apparatus further including structure for subjecting the fibre fraction to enzymatic liquefaction and saccharification, and structure for ethanol fermentation and product recovery, wherein the hydrothermal pre-treatment device is arranged to perform the hydrothermal pre-treatment by subjecting the cellulosic material to at least one soaking operation; the apparatus comprising: 20 - at least one pressurized reactor, through which the cellulosic material may be conveyed, the at least one pressureized reactor defining a reactor pressure zone operable at an elevated pressure; the pressurized reactor being arranged to heat the cellulosic material to a temperature between 170 and 230C, the pressurized reactor further including a pressing device for pressing the cellulosic material to thereby create 25 a fibre fraction and a liquid fraction, whereby the hydrothermal pre-treatment device is adapted to maintain such temperatures and residence times for the hydrothermal pretreatment that the fibrous structure of the feedstock is maintained and at least 80% of the lignin is maintained in the fibre fraction; - a fibre fraction unloading mechanism for unloading the pressed fibre fraction from the 30 reactor pressure zone to a downstream closed zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, while collecting the released steam without access for air; - a liquid fraction unloading mechanism for unloading the liquid fraction from the pressurised reactor to a second closed zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, while collecting released steam without access for air. 35

47. A method for conversion of cellulosic material (CM) to ethanol and other products, the cellulosic material comprising cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose and alkali chlorides, 39 the method comprising continuous hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP) without addition of acids or bases, and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis (EH), ethanol fermentation and recovery, the method comprising: - adjusting the particle size of long-particle cellulosic material (CM), such as straw and 5 stalks, by cutting and/or chopping before the cellulosic material (CM) is subjected to the hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP); - maintaining the adjusted particle size during the hydrothermal pre-treatment and an initial part of the enzymatic hydrolysis (EH); - performing the hydrothermal pre-treatment as an extraction with hot water, thereby 10 producing a solid fraction (SF) containing more than 80% of said lignin comprised in the cellulosic material (CM), and a liquid fraction (LF) containing a majority of said alkali chlorides comprised in the cellulosic material (CM) and a majority of fermentation inhibitors produced by the hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP); - conveying the cellulosic material (CM) through at least one pressurised reactor 15 defining a reactor pressure zone at an elevated pressure, the cellulosic material being heated to a temperature between 170 and 230C for effecting the hydrothermal pre treatment; - unloading the solid fraction (SF) from the reactor pressure zone to a first downstream pressure zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, while 20 collecting the released steam without access for air; - unloading the liquid fraction (LF) from the pressurised reactor to a second pressure zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, while collecting released steam without access for air.

48. A method according to claim 47, wherein the cellulosic material (CM) is loaded in 25 portions into said pressurised reactor from an upstream pressure zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, the cellulosic material (CM) being loaded by a sluice system comprising at least two pressure locks, of which at least one pressure lock at any time provides a pressure-tight sealing between said upstream pressure zone and said reactor pressure zone. 30

49. A method according to claim 47 or 48, wherein the conversion of cellulosic material (CM) is integrated with an ethanol-production process based on starch and/or sugar feedstocks with a relatively high dry matter content.

50. A method according to claim 49, wherein the liquid fraction (LF) is used to lower the dry matter content in the sugar and/or starch feedstock. 35

51. A method according to claim 49 or 50, wherein the liquid fraction (LF) is subjected to ultra filtration, resulting in a permeate and a solution of C5 sugars. 40

52. A method according to claim 51, wherein said permeate is used to lower the dry matter content in the sugar and/or starch feedstock.

53. A method according to claim 51 or 52, wherein said C5 sugars are used as animal feed. 5

54. A method according to any of claims 47-53, wherein the conversion of cellulosic material (CM) is integrated with a combined heat and power plant (CHP).

55. A method according to any of claims 47-54, wherein the conversion of cellulosic material (CM) is integrated with a starch and/or sugar to ethanol process and a combined heat and power plant (CHP) connected to the grid. 10

56. A method according to any of claims 47-55, wherein the step of cutting and/or chopping is carried out after wetting of feedstock comprising said cellulosic material (CM).

57. A method according to claim 56, wherein said wetting is combined with a stone trap for catching stones in the feedstock. 15

58. A method according to any of claims 47-57, wherein feedstock comprising said cellulosic material (CM) is compacted prior to the step of cutting and/or chopping.

59. A method according to any of claims 47-58, wherein non-fibrous cellulosic material (CM) is mixed with fibrous cellulosic material (CM).

60. A method according to any of claims 47-59, wherein the cellulosic material (CM) is 20 soaked in the liquid fraction (LF) in a soaking reactor at ambient pressure before it enters said pressurised reactor.

61. A method according to claim 60, wherein the cellulosic material (CM) is dewatered during transfer from the soaking reactor to the pressurised reactor.

62. A method according to claims 48 and 60 or 61, wherein the soaked cellulosic 25 material (CM) is dewatered in said sluice system.

63. A method according to any of claims 47-62, wherein the cellulosic material (CM) is subjected to shearing forces in the pressurized reactor.

64. A method according to any of claims 47-63, further comprising at least one pressing and/or soaking operation in the pressurised reactor to enhance extraction of the 30 cellulosic material (CM).

65. A method according to claim 60, wherein the pressurised reactor comprises two sections, a first one of which is connected to the soaking reactor and operates at lower temperatures and pressures than a second section of the pressurised reactor, which operates at a temperature between 170 and 230'C. 35

66. A method according to claim 65, wherein the cellulosic material (CM) is separated by a pressing device between said first and second sections, to achieve a liquid fraction 41 (LF) and a solid fraction (SF), of which the LF is sent to the soaking reactor and the SF is sent to the second section.

67. A method according to any of claims 47-66, wherein separation of the cellulosic material (CM) into liquid and solid fractions (LF and SF) is conducted by a pressing 5 device placed at the outlet of the pressurised reactor before pressure locks of a system for effecting the steps of unloading.

68. A method according to any of claims 47-67, wherein unloading and depressurisation of the solid fraction (SF) are conducted as steam explosion.

69. A method according to claim 48 and 68, wherein separation of cellulosic material 10 (CM) in liquid and solid fractions (LF and SF) is effected by a pressing device, and wherein steam-explosion unloading of the solid fraction (SF) is carried out in said sluice system.

70. A method according to any of claims 47-69, wherein the relatively warm solid fraction (SF) is mixed into a solution of cellulytic enzymes, which are at a temperature 15 lower than that of the solid fraction (SF), and optionally controlling the temperatures of the mixture to achieve an optimum temperature for the activity of the enzymes.

71. A method according to claim 70, wherein the cellulytic enzymes are produced on site and mixed with the solid fraction (SF) together with the substrate.

72. A method according to claim 70 or 71, wherein the dry matter content of the 20 enzyme-loaded solid fraction (SF) is increased by pressing.

73. A method according to any of claims 70-72, wherein the enzyme-loaded particles of solid fraction (SF) is fed into and moved through an elongated liquefaction reactor filled with a fluid of liquefied cellulose, enzymes and microparticles of liquefied fraction (LfF) lignin. 25

74. A method according to claim 73, wherein the liquefied fraction (LfF) is separated from residual cellulose and/or lignin particles (RP) at an outlet of said liquefaction reactor, and wherein the liquefied fraction (LfF) is removed after having passed through the incoming solid fraction (SF).

75. A method according to any of claims 47-74, wherein, following separation of the 30 particulate lignin from the liquefied fraction, the temperature, pH and content of nutrients of the liquid fraction are adjusted with regard to a subsequent simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process.

76. A method according to claim 70, wherein enzyme-loaded particles of the solid fraction (SF) are fed directly into a thermophilic simultaneous saccharification and 35 fermentation process (SSF) and converted to ethanol. 42

77. A method according to claim 75 or 76, wherein the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF) is integrated with an ethanol stripping process operating with temperatures in the broth close to the fermentation temperature, and wherein the stripping process is fed with fermentation broth with the highest ethanol 5 concentration, and wherein the stripped broth with active enzymes and microorganisms are recycled to the fermentation reactor.

78. A method according to claim 77, wherein stripping process employs spray evaporation.

79. A method according to any of claims 47-78, wherein particulate lignin is removed 10 from stillage.

80. A method according to claim 79, wherein the particulate lignin is co-fired in a combined heat and power plant (CHP).

81. A method according to any of claims 47-80, wherein the liquid fraction (LF) is used as substrate for production of microorganisms capable of converting C5 and C6 sugars. 15

82. A method according to any of claims 47-81, wherein the LF is used as substrate for production of lactic acid.

83. A method according to any of claims 47-82, wherein the liquid fraction (LF) is used as feedstock for production of enzymes and C5 fermenting microorganisms.

84. An apparatus for conversion of cellulosic material (CM) to ethanol and other 20 products, the cellulosic material comprising cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose and alkali chlorides, the apparatus conferring continuous hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP) without addition of acids or bases and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis (EH), ethanol fermentation and recovery, the apparatus comprising: - a cutting or chopping device for adjusting the particle size of long-particle cellulosic 25 material (CM), such as straw and stalks, before the cellulosic material (CM) is subjected to the hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP); - a hydrothermal pre-treatment device for effecting hydrothermal pre-treatment as an extraction with hot water, the hydrothermal pre-treatment device being adapted to maintain the adjusted particle size during the hydrothermal pre-treatment and to 30 produce a solid fraction (SF) containing more than 80% of said lignin comprised in the cellulosic material (CM), and a liquid fraction (LF) containing a majority of said alkali chlorides comprised in the cellulosic material (CM), and a majority of fermentation inhibitors produced by the hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP); - at least one pressurised reactor defining a reactor pressure zone at an elevated 35 pressure, the cellulosic material being heated to a temperature between 170 and 230C for effecting the hydrothermal pre-treatment; 43 - an unloading mechanism for unloading the solid fraction (SF) from the reactor pressure zone to a first downstream pressure zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, the unloading mechanism being preferably arranged to allow unloading while released steam is collected without access for air, and for unloading 5 the liquid fraction (LF) from the pressurised reactor to a second pressure zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, while collecting released steam without access for air.

85. A method of conversion of a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock, said method comprising continuous hydrothermal pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass feedstock 10 comprising: (i). soaking said feedstock, followed by (ii). continuous pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment at temperatures between 170 and 2000 C; wherein the pretreated feedstock is subsequently pressed while it is still under pressure 15 or after it has been unloaded from the pretreatment reactor to create a fibre fraction and a liquid fraction, wherein hydrothermal pretreatment is conducted without addition of acids, bases or other chemicals which must be recovered, and wherein temperature and residence time for hydrothermal pretreatment are selected at 20 lower severity than that required for pretreatments that seek maximal removal of hemicellulose from the fibre fraction, such that greater than 80% of the original lignin content of the feedstock prior to pretreatment remains in the fibre fraction, further characterized in that the fibre fraction having greater than 80% of the original lignin content of the feedstock is subsequently subject to enzymatic liquefaction and 25 saccharification.

86. The method of claim 85 further characterized by collecting the steam released from the hydrothermal pretreatment process and reusing it in evaporation processes.

87. The method of claim 85 further characterized in that at least a part or a fraction of the liquid fraction is used to lower the dry matter content in sugar and/or starch 30 feedstock of an ethanol-production process based on starch and/or sugar, such as a grain mashing process.

88. The method of claim 85 wherein the feedstock is wheat straw.

89. The method of claim 85 further characterized in that liquefaction of the fibre fraction is conducted by submerging enzyme loaded particles of fibre fraction into the 35 viscous fluid of liquefied material.

90. The method of claim 85 further characterized by SSF of the liquefied fibre fraction. 44

91. The method of claim 85 further characterized in that liquefaction of the fibre fraction is conducted in a cylindrical drum equipped with a rotor with lifting devices.

92. The method of claim 90 further characterized in that ethanol production is integrated with existing power plants. 5

93. The method of claim 90 further characterized in that SSF is integrated with an ethanol stripping process by which the temperature during removal of ethanol avoids thermal inactivation of enzymes thereby permitting enzyme recycling.

94. The method of claim 90 further characterized in that SSF is integrated with an ethanol stripping process based on gas stripping. 10

95. The method of claim 90 further characterized in that lignin microparticles are obtained from the SSF mixture that are suited for co-combustion as solid biofuel with pulverized coal.

96. The method of claim 90 further characterized in that ethanol production is integrated with an ethanol-production process based on starch and/or sugar. 15

97. The method of claim 90 further characterized by leaving lignin microparticles in the fermentation mixture.

98. The method of claim 85 further characterized in that at least a part or a fraction of the liquid fraction is used to obtain a ruminant animal feed.

99. The method of claim 85 further characterized in that at least a part or a fraction of 20 the liquid fraction is used as a feedstock for ethanol production.

100. The method of claim 85 wherein fibrous structure of cellulosic material is maintained during pretreatment.

101. The method of claim 85 further characterized in that lignin microparticles are obtained that are suited for co-combustion as solid biofuel with pulverized coal. 25

102. The method of claim 85 wherein the feedstock is subjected to cutting, chopping, grinding or milling for particle size adjustment.

103. The method of claim 85 wherein the feedstock is soaked at ambient pressures at temperatures up to 1000 C. prior to the pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment.

104. The method of claim 86 wherein liquid is removed from the feedstock by pressing 30 during unloading of the at least one pressurized reactor using a sluice device.

105. The method of claim 87 wherein unloading of feedstock from the at least one pressurized reactor is accomplished using steam explosion.

106. The method of claim 85 wherein the pressing under pressurized conditions is accomplished by a pressing operation at the outlet of at least one pressurized reactor. 35

107. The method of claim 85 wherein the pressing under pressure or after the feedstock has been unloaded from the pretreatment reactor is accomplished using a screw press. 45

108. The method of claim 85 wherein the feedstock is bagasse, corn stover or cereal straw.

109. The method of claim 85 wherein solids unloaded from the pretreatment reactor are subsequently subject to enzymatic liquefaction and saccharification and further 5 fermented to produce ethanol.

110. The method of claim 85 wherein the liquid fraction is subsequently subject to fermentation to produce ethanol using a microorganism for conversion of C5 sugars to ethanol.

111. The method of claim 85 wherein the pressing of the pretreated feedstock is 10 performed while it is still under high temperature conditions with lignin in the form of micro-droplets, or wherein the pressing of the pretreated feedstock is performed after it has been unloaded from the pretreatment reactor with lignin in the form of solid micro particles.

112. The method of claim 85 wherein the pretreatment of the lignocellulosic biomass 15 feedstock is being performed at acidic or neutral pH conditions.