RU99109039A - HYDROLYSIS AND Fractionation of Lignocellulose Biomass - Google Patents

Claims (12)

1. A multifunctional method of hydrolysis and fractionation of lignocellulose biomass to separate half cellulose sugars from other components of the biomass, such as extractables and proteins; a portion of soluble lignin; cellulose, glucose derived from cellulose and insoluble lignin from said biomass, which includes: step A) introducing a dilute acid with a pH value of 1.0-5.0 into a continuous reactor with a compressible layer containing either solid fresh biomass or solid partially fractionated lignocellulose biomass material at a temperature of approximately 140-220 ° C, for a time of approximately 10-60 minutes and with a volumetric flow rate sufficient to maintain a constant ratio of solid and liquid phases during this process process and, thus, increasing the linear velocity, maintaining a constant volumetric flow rate for dissolving half-cellulose sugars and amorphous glucans, and improving the output of half-cellulose sugars.  2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said flow rate is about 1-5 reactor volumes.  3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said diluted acid is a mineral acid.  4. The method of claim 3, wherein said diluted acid is carbonic acid.  5. The method according to p. 3, in which the specified mineral acid is administered in stages.  6. The method according to claim 2, in which the continuous reactor with a compressible layer is a conical flow reactor, into which the lignocellulose biomass is supplied as a solid in the direction of the narrowed end of the conical flow reactor.  7. The method according to claim 2, in which the continuous reactor with a compressible layer is a sequence of flow reactors of decreasing capacity, in which solids are transferred from a reactor of a larger capacity to a reactor of a smaller capacity depending on hydrolysis and / or fractionation of biomass.  8. The method according to claim 2, in which the continuous reactor with a compressible layer is a cylindrical flow reactor containing an actuating piston or a massive internal movable cover, to reduce the volume of the reactor as hydrolysis proceeds.  9. The method according to claim 2, in which the continuous reactor with a compressible layer is a reactor with a screw, which feeds solid lignocellulose in direct flow with respect to the supplied acid hydrolysis solution.  10. The method according to claim 2, in which, prior to stage A), dilute acid with a pH of about 1.0-5.0 is introduced into a continuous reactor with a compressible layer containing solid lignocellulose biomass material at a temperature of about 94-160 ° C in a flow of time of about 10-20 minutes, with a volumetric flow rate of about 1-5 volumes of the reactor, for the implementation of the dissolution of extractable substances, lignin and proteins, while maintaining a constant ratio of solid and liquid phases during the dissolution process.  11. The method according to claim 10, in which, after stage A), liquid dilute acid with a pH of 1.0-5.0 is introduced into a continuous reactor with a compressible layer containing solid partially fractionated lignocellulose biomass material from stage A) at a temperature approximately 180-280 ° C for a time of approximately 10-60 minutes and with a volumetric flow rate of approximately 1-5 volumes of the reactor, for the dissolution of cellulose sugars, while maintaining a constant ratio of solid and liquid phases during the dissolution process.  12. The method according to claim 11, in which, as a last step, dilute acid with a pH of 1.0-5.0 is introduced into a continuous reactor with a compressible layer containing a solid partially fractionated lignocellulose biomass material at a temperature of about 180-280 ° C. over a period of about 10-60 minutes and at a volumetric flow rate of about 1-5 reactor volumes, to dissolve the cellulose sugars while maintaining a constant ratio of solid and liquid phases during the dissolution process.