GB940314A - Process for the saccharification of cellulose-containing material - Google Patents

Abstract

In saccharifying particulate cellulose-containing material by the hydrogen chloride gas-suspension method, there is added to the cellulose-containing material a non-tacky substance which is inert under the reaction conditions, has an average particle size less than that of the cellulose-containing material and is dry or has a water content such that its water vapour pressure is less than that of the ambient atmosphere. The suspension may be effected by fluidizing in hydrochloric acid gas, by entraining in a flow of hydrochloric acid gas, or by mechanical stirring. Examples are of impregnating 10 kg. of beechwood chips treated with hydrochloric acid to remove hemicellulose and of average particle size 0.5 mm., or such beechwood chips untreated, with sufficient aqueous hydrochloric acid to provide 6 kg. of water, mixing in 1 kg. of pure lignin, industrial cellulose-containing lignin or diatomaceous earth of particle size less than 0.1 mm., placing the mixture in a column, passing cooled hydrochloric acid gas upwards to fluidize the mixture and, while maintaining fluidization, passing heated hydrochloric acid gas upwards to provide a temperature of 40-50 DEG C. until hydrolysis is 95% complete. Other examples are of passing wheat straw cut into 1 mm. lengths and impregnated with aqueous hydrochloric acid at 100 DEG C., cut wheat straw not so treated, acid-treated or untreated beechwood, sawdust or bagasse, disintegrated waste paper or disintegrated rag through a cooled glass tube by a high speed flow of hydrochloric acid gas to which diatomaceous earth, pure lignin, industrial cellulose-containing lignin, coke powder, charcoal powder, carbon black, acid-treated peat powder, dry clay, fine sand, brick powder or glass powder of particle size less than 0.1 mm. has been added, and then passing the mixture through a tube for hydrolysis at 45 DEG C. by a high speed flow of hydrochloric acid gas. U.S.A. Specification 2,900,284 is referred to.