Patent ID: 8540847

Claim:
An apparatus for processing cellulosic biomass to make ethanol and/or one or more bio-fuels, wood-based chemical and higher value materials comprising: a. at least one first vessel having at least one opening for receiving said cellulosic biomass and discharging a cellulosic biomass; b. conveying means in fluid communication with said at least one first vessel for receiving cellulosic biomass stored in said at least one first vessel, said conveying means engaging said first vessel to prevent discharge of a gas held under pressure to form a cellulosic biomass laden with a supercritical, critical or near critical gas; c. supercritical, critical or near critical fluid means in fluid communication with said conveying means for placing said cellulosic biomass held in conveying means in the presence of a supercritical, critical or near critical fluid selected from the group of gases comprising carbon dioxide and entrainers and modifiers; d. discharge means in fluid communication with said conveying means for receiving said cellulosic biomass laden with said a supercritical, critical or near critical gas, discharging said gas to form a disrupted cellulosic biomass; e. at least one second vessel in fluid communication with said discharge means for receiving said disrupted cellulosic biomass and performing at least one processing step selected from the group consisting of hydrolysis and fermentation and forming carbon dioxide, and at least one product selected from the group consisting of ethanol and/or a bio-fuel, wood-based chemical and higher value materials, said vessel having at least one opening for discharging said product and at least one gas discharge opening for discharging carbon dioxide wherein said second vessel gas discharge opening is in fluid communication with a gas recycling means for receiving said gas discharged in said second vessel and returning said gas to supercritical, critical or near critical conditions for reentry into said conveying means.