Patent ID: 8241873
Filing Date: 2012-08-14
Classification: C08H,C10G,C10L,C12P,C13K,D21C,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for producing carbohydrate-enriched biomass with high retention of hemicellulose comprising: (a) providing lignocellulosic biomass comprising lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose; (b) suspending the biomass of (a) in an organic solvent solution comprising water, ammonia in an amount of about 2% to about 20% relative to weight of dry biomass and one or more nucleophile, whereby a biomass-solvent suspension is formed under alkaline conditions; (c) heating the biomass-solvent suspension to a temperature of about 100-220° C. for about 5 minutes to about 5 hours whereby lignin is fragmented and is dissolved in the suspension; and (d) filtering free liquid under pressure after heating the suspension in (c) whereby the dissolved lignin is removed and whereby carbohydrate-enriched biomass with high retention of hemicellulose is produced.