Patent ID: 9090915
Filing Date: 2015-07-28
Classification: C07G,C08B,C08H,C08L,C10L,C12P,C13K,D21C,Y02E,Y02W

Abstract:
1. A method for treating a cellulose-containing material to produce sugars comprising the steps of: (a) providing cellulose-containing woody biomass comprising hemicellulose and lignin; (b) treating the woody biomass of step (a) for 0.1 to 120 minutes with a solution comprising a base of sulfite or bisulfite adjusted to have an initial pH of from about 1.5 to 5.0, wherein said treating is at a temperature of about 150 to 250° C., wherein sulfite or bisulfite charge (w/w), based on oven dried woody biomass, is no more than 9%, but greater than 0, and wherein treating removes hemicellulose and produces only partial delignification; and (c) enzymatically hydrolyzing the resultant treated biomass of step (b) to produce sugars, wherein the woody biomass is mechanically size-reduced or treated by steam explosion prior to or during step (a) or (b).