Patent ID: 8394177
Filing Date: 2013-03-12
Classification: B01D,C12P,Y02A

Abstract:
1. A method of removing at least one gas component of a gas stream to produce a conditioned cellulosic material, comprising: sending a feed gas stream comprised of a water soluble gas component having a Henry's Law constant (K H ) at 25° C. of at least 0.002 mole/L-atm and a water insoluble gas component having a Henry's Law constant (K H ) at 25° C. of less than 0.002 mole/L-atm to contact cellulosic material within a vessel; retaining at least a portion of the water soluble gas component within the vessel, as the water insoluble gas component of the feed gas stream is flowed through the vessel, to produce a conditioned cellulosic material having increased enzyme digestibility, wherein the conditioned cellulosic material having increased enzyme digestibility is a cellulosic material that is more readily converted to its constituent sugar components by hydrolytic enzymes relative to that of the cellulosic material initially supplied to the vessel; collecting an effluent stream from the vessel depleted in concentration of the water soluble gas component; ceasing collection of the effluent gas stream and sending a purge gas stream different in composition from that of the feed gas stream to the vessel to remove at least a portion of the water soluble gas component retained within the vessel; and removing the conditioned cellulosic material from the vessel.