Patent ID: 9611494
Date: 2017-04-04
CPC Classifications: C12P,D21C

Claim:
1. A process for the treatment of lignocellulosic biomass for producing biofuels/chemicals and/or a lignin fraction for chemical production, comprising: a) providing a lignocellulosic biomass; b) treating the lignocellulosic biomass with water or steam having a temperature of from about 100° C. to about 260° C. and at least one carbonium ion scavenger, thereby producing a biomass comprising cellulose and pre-depolymerized lignin, wherein the treating with water or steam is a multi-step treatment comprising a mild treatment stage comprising treatment at a temperature above 100° C. and below 190° C. for greater than 60 minutes, and the harsh treatment stage comprising treatment at a temperature of from 190° C. to 260° C. for from 3 to 60 minutes; and c) adding one or more cellulolytic enzymes to the biomass comprising cellulose and pre-depolymerized lignin, thereby hydrolyzing the cellulose and producing a mixture comprising sugars and pre-depolymerized lignin.