Abstract: This is a method to create water soluble carbohydrates from lignocellulose containing cellulose by providing enzymes to the lignocellulose cellulose and subjecting the cellulose to hydrolysis. By combining an extractate, from a previous extraction, to the lignocellulose containing enzymes, hydrolysis of cellulose continues and creates water soluble carbohydrates and produces a residue containing lignins. Filtering the residue from water soluble carbohydrates containing enzymes will produce a filtrate and a filtered residue. The filtered residue is subjected to extraction by water to provide a water extracted residue and an extractate for recycle in subsequent hydrolysis, The filtrate containing water soluble carbohydrates and enzymes, is subjected to membrane filtration to substantially separate enzymes from the water soluble carbohydrates and produce enzymes for recycle and water soluble carbohydrates substantially devoid of enzymes.

Abstract: Partial oxidation of a biomass is employed to provide producer gas followed by complete combustion of resulting solid remains from partial oxidation to provide a flue gas to furnish heat for the method. Producer gas is subjected to a steam reforming catalyst provided by heat from the flue gas for reforming of hydrocarbons contained in the producer gas to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Following reforming, the gas, containing water vapor, is subjected to a steam shifting catalyst provided by heat from the flue gas to replace endothermic heat required to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Remaining residue from combustion of the biomass is subjected to heat exchange to heat air for combustion. Shifted gas, containing substantial sensible heat, is employed to transfer heat to air and furnish heated air for partial oxidation.

Abstract: Heterocyclic compounds containing furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural are derived from acidic hydrolysis of biomass. Heterocyclic compounds are vaporized and subjected to reforming and steam shifting to produce a gas containing hydrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. The gas containing hydrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide is scrubbed by a solvent, capable of dissolving carbon monoxide, to produce a gas containing hydrogen, carbon dioxide and substantially devoid of carbon monoxide. The solvent containing dissolved carbon monoxide is heated to provide a solvent for scrubbing and a vapor containing carbon monoxide recycled for additional steam shifting. The gas containing hydrogen, carbon dioxide substantially devoid of carbon monoxide, is further scrubbed of carbon dioxide to produce a gas substantially devoid of carbon monoxide and substantially devoid of carbon dioxide containing hydrogen suitable for use in a fuel cell.

Abstract: The method described herein will produce depolymerized lignins substantially free from sodium compounds. Black liquor supplied from a pulping process is utilized for providing a mixture of depolymerized lignins dispersed and dissolved in a solution containing sodium hydroxide. The mixture is then separated to form depolymerized lignins and a solution containing sodium hydroxide. Following separation, the depolymerized lignins are then extracted with water to produce an extractate containing sodium compounds. The extracted depolymerized lignins, containing sodium compounds, are then reacted with an acid to form sodium salts to form a slurry. The slurry containing sodium salts is, by means of a salt splitting method, separated from the extracted depolymerized lignins to produce substantially sodium free depolymerized lignins.

Abstract: A method to produce hydroxymethylfurfural from cellulose contained within lignocellulose solids is disclosed. Hemicellulose contained in lignocellulose solids is converted to furfural. Lignocellulose solids, containing cellulose, is added to a vessel containing an aqueous acidic solution which is employed for hydrolysis of cellulose, contained within lignocellulose solids, to form glucose. Subjecting the glucose to additional hydrolysis to convert glucose and form hydroxymethylfurfural and removing hydroxymethylfurfural from the vessel are procedures applied. Solids remaining from hydrolysis containing lignins are filtered and then extracted with water to remove aqueous acidic solution contained within solids and form an extractate containing dilute aqueous acidic solution. The extactate is combined with a dilute solution of aqueous acidic solution removed from the vessel.

Abstract: Sugars derived from acidic hydrolysis of biomass consist of glucose and xyloses which are subjected to dehydration, within the hydrolysis environment, to form heterocyclic compounds, furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural. By providing a vessel for hydrolysis with a supply of a biomass, hydrolysate, containing acid and heterocyclic compounds, is formed. Upon withdrawing the hydrolysate from the vessel, and subjecting the hydrolysate to extracting with a hydrocarbon forms an extractate, containing dissolved heterocyclic compounds within the hydrocarbon, and a raffinate, providing a hydrolysate substantially devoid of heterocyclic compounds for recycle to the hydrolysis vessel. Withdrawing residue remaining from hydrolysis, containing lignins, from the vessel, and subjecting the residue to filtering, resulting in a filtrate for recycle to the vessel and provides filtered residue for subsequent processing. Thereby, heterocyclic compounds are derived from a biomass and withdrawn from the hydrolysis vessel.

Abstract: A method to separate ethanol from a solution containing sulfuric acid and ethanol which employs a vessel in which ethanol is humidified from a gas. By adding a gas to a solution containing sulfuric acid and ethanol in the vessel a gas is utilized to form humidified ethanol. Heat is provided to the solution to replace heat of vaporization of the humidified ethanol to maintain a substantially constant thermal equilibrium condition within the vessel to compensate for the energy of ethanol evaporation. The gas humidified with ethanol is then parted from the vessel to remove ethanol from the solution. The sulfuric acid, substantially devoid of ethanol, is likewise removed from the vessel. The ethanol humidified gas is thereupon separated from the ethanol to provide ethanol and a gas containing ethanol.

Abstract: This method will produce depolymerized lignins substantially free from sodium compounds. Black liquor supplied from a pulping process is utilized for providing a mixture of depolymerized lignins dispersed and dissolved in absolution containing sodium hydroxide. The mixture is then separated to form depolymerized lignins and a solution containing sodium hydroxide. Following separation, the depolymerized lignins are then extracted with water to produce an extractate containing water soluble sodium compounds. The extracted depolymerized lignins, containing sodium compounds, are then reacted with an acid to form sodium salts. The solution containing sodium salts is then separated from the extracted depolymerized lignins to produce substantially sodium free depolymerized lignins. The separated solution containing sodium hydroxide is combined with the extractate and the combination, subsequent to removal of water, is made available to reuse for recycle to depolymerize, disperse and dissolve additional lignins.

Abstract: A method to separate carbon monoxide from a gas obtained from a fuel reformer containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide is outlined. Reformer gas containing carbon monoxide is subjected to a steam shift reaction to produce additional hydrogen and reduce carbon monoxide to form carbon dioxide. Mingling the resulting gas in an alcohol capable of dissolving carbon monoxide forms a gas containing hydrogen substantially devoid of carbon monoxide. The alcohol containing dissolved carbon monoxide is then recycled to the reformer to repeat the method. The gas, substantially free of carbon monoxide containing carbon dioxide, is subjected to a solution capable of substantially removing carbon monoxide from the gas by scrubbing. The solution containing dissolved carbon dioxide is heated to produce gaseous carbon dioxide and a solution, for recycling toward additional scrubbing. The resulting gas is subjected to a medium for scrubbing the gas as a means for purification.

Abstract: This is a method to withdraw ethanol from a broth contained within a fermentation vessel. Fermentation broth contains sugars, microorganisms and nutrients maintained at a pH and temperature to influence rate of fermentation to form ethanol. Factors within the broth that also effect rate of fermentation are; concentration of sugars, activity of microorganisms and enzymes. These factors are controlled by addition of a mixture containing these constituents followed by removal of sludge and broth to substantially regulate broth volume within the vessel. Fermentation produces heat which must be removed from the broth in order to continue fermentation. Carbon dioxide, provided to the fermentation vessel, evaporates ethanol within the broth, by heat from fermentation, to humidify the carbon dioxide and accordingly regulate ethanol concentration of the broth. Withdrawal of ethanol from the broth achieves ethanol concentration of about 6% to about 12% within the broth.

Abstract: A method is presented that will produce fermentable sugars from a lignocellulose material employing concentrated sulfuric acid to dissolve cellulose and hemicellulose in a lignocellulose material followed by hydrolysis in place to depolymerize the cellulose and hemicellulose to produce fermentable sugars and separated water insoluble solids. The concentrated sulfuric acid, containing sugars and water insoluble solids, is then combined with ethanol from a previous extraction, containing ethanol, to precipitate the sugars and is co-mingled with the water insoluble solids to form solids and a solution of ethanol and sulfuric acid. The solution of ethanol and sulfuric acid containing solids is then separated to produce solids and a solution containing ethanol and sulfuric acid. The separated solids are extracted with ethanol and will substantially extract residual sulfuric acid from the separated solids creating ethanol extracted solids and provide an extractate to precipitate additional sugars.

Abstract: This is a method to furnish synthesis gas obtained from a biomass. A description of a synthesis gas production method is presented by providing a supply of biomass, air and steam to a vessel. A heat exchanger is provided for heating ambient air to provide a supply of heated air to the vessel and a dryer is provided to remove moisture from a biomass to provide a supply of substantially moisture free biomass to the vessel. Subsequently reacting with the substantially moisture free biomass in the vessel with the heated air forms incandescent carbon and a flue gas. A bed of solids for storage of thermal sensible heat from the flue gas is provided. Upon turning off the heated air, a supply of steam, created from water provided to the heated bed of solids, is employed to purge the remaining flue gas and form a blanket of steam above the incandescent carbon.

Abstract: A method to recycle aqueous acidic liquor used to form depolymerized cellulose and hemicellulose accompanying cellulose, contained in biomass, by hydrolysis in the aqueous acidic liquor. Cellulose is dissolved in the aqueous acidic liquor and then remains in place to hydrolyze cellulose to form depolymerized cellulose in the aqueous acidic liquor. The depolymerized cellulose, including dextrins, oligosaccharides, and glucose is substantially separated from the aqueous acidic liquor. The separated aqueous acidic liquor is then recycled to dissolve and hydrolyze additional cellulose to form additional depolymerized cellulose.

Abstract: A process to produce solid glucose from a hydrolyzate consisting of a mixture of glucose, water, and an acid used in the hydrolysis of a biomass material is covered herein. In the process, the hydrolyzate is concentrated, as required, to form two phases: a solid glucose phase and an acidic liquid phase. The phases are formed in a vessel where they are separated for recovery of the acidic liquid phase. The solid glucose phase, containing residual acidic liquid phase, is then extracted to remove most of the residual acid to produce solid glucose mostly free of acid. The recovered acid may then be recycled. The solid glucose may be further processed including purification and also drying.

Abstract: According to the method disclosed, a capillary tube is first dipped into a sample receptacle and filled through capillary action. The tube is then withdrawn from the receptacle and lowered over a chromatographic plate such that the lower end of tube either just touches the plate or is spaced therefrom such that there is a small gap between the end of the tube and the plate. Air pressure is then applied to the other end of the capillary tube -- in the first instance to drive the liquid in the capillary out onto the plate at a known rate; in the second instance air pressure is applied to the other end of the capillary tube to form a droplet that bridges the gap between the tube end and the plate. Once the droplet makes contact with the plate, it is sucked into the interstices of the coating material of the plate. In alternative methods of the invention, air pressure is used to control the volume of the sample admitted to the capillary tube.