Abstract: A process for the production of cellulose, lignocellulosic sugars, lignosulfonate, and ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass. The process comprises steaming, pretreatment, chemical recovery, saccharification, and optionally fermentation. The pretreatment conditions use only sulfur dioxide and water, simultaneously resulting in high glucan conversion to glucose at low enzyme charges, high recovery of hemicellulose-derived monomeric sugars, high lignosulfonate yield, and the absence of lignin precipitates. High-yield production of ethanol through fermentation can be obtained using this process.

Abstract: A process for the production of ethoxylated and hydroxylated lignin fractions, cellulose, lignocellulosic sugars, and ethanol in high yields is provided. The process comprises steaming, pretreatment, chemical recovery, saccharification, and optionally fermentation. A combination of pretreatment conditions is provided resulting in simultaneously high yields of ethoxylated or hydroxylated lignin and cellulose or cellulosic sugars and hernicellulosic sugars. High yield production of ethanol through fermentation can be obtained using this process.

Abstract: A process for the production of ethoxylated and hydroxylated lignin fractions, cellulose, lignocellulosic sugars, and ethanol in high yields is provided. The process comprises steaming, pretreatment, chemical recovery, saccharification, and optionally fermentation. A combination of pretreatment conditions is provided resulting in simultaneously high yields of ethoxylated or hydroxylated lignin and cellulose or cellulosic sugars and hernicellulosic sugars. High yield production of ethanol through fermentation can be obtained using this process.

Abstract: A process for the production of cellulose, lignocellulosic sugars, lignosulfonate, and ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass. The process comprises steaming, pretreatment, chemical recovery, saccharification, and optionally fermentation. The pretreatment conditions use only sulfur dioxide and water, simultaneously resulting in high glucan conversion to glucose at low enzyme charges, high recovery of hemicellulose-derived monomeric sugars, high lignosulfonate yield, and the absence of lignin precipitates. High-yield production of ethanol through fermentation can be obtained using this process.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, methods including the steps of providing a cellulosic biomass, associating the cellulosic biomass with an organic liquid to form a mixture, treating the mixture to reduce the moisture content of the mixture to 30% or below (if necessary), and processing the mixture to produce cellulose nanofibrils in a slurry. In some embodiments, provided methods allow for the production of high solids content slurries containing 4% or more cellulosic nanofibrils.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, methods including the steps of providing a cellulosic biomass, associating the cellulosic biomass with an organic liquid to form a mixture, treating the mixture to reduce the moisture content of the mixture to 30% or below (if necessary), and processing the mixture to produce cellulose nanofibrils in a slurry. In some embodiments, provided methods allow for the production of high solids content slurries containing 4% or more cellulosic nanofibrils.

Abstract: A process for fractionating high-ash lignocellulosic biomass is provided, comprising: (a) providing a biomass feedstock comprising lignocellulosic material and ash, some of which may be removed before digestion; (b) contacting the feedstock with a digestor solution comprising a first organic solvent, an acid catalyst, and water, under effective digestor conditions and controlled acidity to produce intermediate solids and a first liquid phase comprising hemicelluloses and lignin; (c) separating the first liquid phase from the intermediate solids; (d) washing the intermediate solids with a wash solution comprising a second organic solvent and water, under effective washing conditions to produce cellulose-rich solids and a second liquid phase comprising hemicelluloses and lignin; and (e) separating the cellulose-rich solids from the second liquid phase. The solvent type is optimized to control acidity in the digestor. Controlling the acidity may also include adjusting digestor pH to a value between about 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, methods including providing a biomass comprising lignin, associating the biomass with between 1-50 g/L formic acid at a temperature between 80° C. and 230° C. for at least 30 seconds to form an extraction liquor and an extraction solid, and separating at least a fraction of the extraction liquor from the extraction solid, wherein an amount of lignin equal to or less than 1.6% of the lignin present in the biomass precipitates in the extraction liquor after cooling to below 100° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to producing chemicals and biofuels from wood material, e.g. mixed forest biomass. Specifically, the invention concerns a process for conditioning spent liquor produced by SO2-ethanol-water (SEW) fractionation of wood chips for fermentation to butanol, ethanol and acetone/isopropanol (so called ABE process) by Clostridia bacteria.

Abstract: The present invention relates to producing chemicals and biofuels from wood material, e.g. mixed forest biomass. Specifically, the invention concerns a process for conditioning spent liquor produced by SO2-ethanol-water (SEW) fractionation of wood chips for fermentation to butanol, ethanol and acetone/isopropanol (so called ABE process) by Clostridia bacteria.

Abstract: In a process for recovering acetic acid from a wood extract, an aqueous wood extract is provided that contains acetic acid and dissolved hemicellulose containing uronic acid. A water insoluble solvent containing an extractant for the acetic acid is also provided. In a preferred embodiment, the solvent is undecane and the extractant is trioctylphosphine oxide. The wood extract is contacted with the solvent and extractant in order to extract the acetic acid from the wood extract. The acetic acid is then recovered from the solvent and extractant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to producing chemicals and biofuels from wood material, e.g. mixed forest biomass. Specifically, the invention concerns a process for conditioning spent liquor produced by SO2-ethanol-water (SEW) fractionation of wood chips for fermentation to butanol, ethanol and acetone/isopropanol (so called ABE process) by Clostridia bacteria.

Abstract: A process for upgrading an organic acid includes neutralizing the organic acid to form a salt and thermally decomposing the resulting salt to form an energy densified product. In certain embodiments, the organic acid is levulinic acid. The process may further include upgrading the energy densified product by conversion to alcohol and subsequent dehydration.

Abstract: In a process for recovering acetic acid from a wood extract, an aqueous wood extract is provided that contains acetic acid and dissolved hemicellulose containing uronic acid. A water insoluble solvent containing an extractant for the acetic acid is also provided. In a preferred embodiment, the solvent is undecane and the extractant is trioctylphosphine oxide. The wood extract is contacted with the solvent and extractant in order to extract the acetic acid from the wood extract. The acetic acid is then recovered from the solvent and extractant.

Abstract: A method for the fractionation of lignocellulosic materials into cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin in a batch or continuous process in a treatment with vaporous mixture of aliphatic alcohol, sulfur dioxide and water. Cooking conditions are varied to get different proportions of cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin. Chemical recovery through pressure release is described.

Abstract: A method for the fractionation of lignocellulosic materials into cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin in a batch or continuous process in a treatment with vaporous mixture of aliphatic alcohol, sulfur dioxide and water. Cooking conditions are varied to get different proportions of cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin. Chemical recovery through pressure release is described.