Pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass with sulfur dioxide and/or sulfurous acid
US10655149B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 16, 2016 |
| Grant date | May 19, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 12, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E50/10
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process for hydrolyzing lignocellulosic biomass includes feeding lignocellulosic biomass into a pretreatment reactor, wherein the pretreatment reactor has a headspace charged with sulfur dioxide previously used in the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. In addition, acid comprising sulfur dioxide and/or sulfurous acid is fed into the pretreatment reactor (e.g., with the lignocellulosic biomass, separate from the lignocellulosic biomass, or a combination thereof) and the lignocellulosic biomass is heated. As the pretreated lignocellulosic biomass is discharged from the pretreatment reactor, at least a portion of the sulfur dioxide used in the pretreatment is retained in the headspace.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.