Patent ID: 6090595
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: C12P,Y02E

Abstract:
An improved process for pretreating a lignocellulosic feedstock for conversion to fuel ethanol, consisting essentially of the following steps:a. Choosing a selectively bred feedstock, comprised of at least hemicellulose and cellulose, on the basis of an increased ratio of arabinan plus xylan to total nonstarch polysaccharides (AX/NSP) over a starting feedstock material, wherein the feedstock consists of corn, oats, wheat, sugar cane, or a component thereof, wherein the feedstock contains less than 10% starch; andb. Reacting the selectively bred feedstock at conditions which disrupt its fiber structure and effect an hydrolysis of a portion of the hemicellulose and cellulose, in order to create a pretreated feedstock with increased accessibility to being digested, during a treatment with cellulase enzymes.