Patent ID: 8846993

Claim:
A method comprising: providing a biomass conversion system that comprises a fluid circulation loop comprising: a hydrothermal digestion unit; a solids separation unit that is in fluid communication with an outlet of the hydrothermal digestion unit; wherein the solids separation unit comprises a plurality of filters; and a catalytic reduction reactor unit that is in fluid communication with an outlet of the solids separation unit and an inlet of the hydrothermal digestion unit; providing a cellulosic biomass in the hydrothermal digestion unit; at least partially digesting the cellulosic biomass in the hydrothermal digestion unit to form a hydrolysate comprising soluble carbohydrates and cellulosic fines within a liquor phase; flowing the liquor phase through at least one of the filters to sequester the cellulosic fines; and backflushing at least a portion of the cellulosic fines to the hydrothermal digestion unit while the liquor phase continues to flow through one or more of the filters to the catalytic reduction reactor unit; and converting the hydrolysate into higher hydrocarbons.