Abstract: It is disclosed a process for producing a bio-product from a ligno-cellulosic biomass, wherein the ligno-cellulosic biomass, a gas and steam are introduced in a pressurized reactor operated in a continuous manner at conditions to have a vapor head space. In the pressurized reactor, the vapor head space is maintained at a vapor head space temperature and at a pressure which is at least 1 bar greater than a pure steam equilibrium pressure at the vapor head space temperature. The ligno-cellulosic biomass is then refined by rapidly releasing the pressure while discharging the ligno-cellulosic biomass from the pressurized reactor assembly to create a pre-treated ligno-cellulosic biomass, which is then hydrolyzed and converted to the bio-product. Preferably, at least a portion of the gas is air entrapped in the ligno-cellulosic biomass and it is introduced into the pressurized reactor as part of the ligno-cellulosic biomass.

Abstract: It is disclosed a process for propagating a yeast capable to ferment glucose and xylose of a lignocellulosic feedstock hydrolyzate, said process comprising propagating the yeast over at least two propagation cycles. The first propagation cycle comprises the steps of: contacting the yeast at a starting yeast density with a first cultivation medium comprising a first portion of the lignocellulosic feedstock hydrolyzate; and allowing the yeast to propagate to create a first populated broth comprising water and a first propagated yeast, wherein at least 50% of the glucose and less than 20% of the xylose in the first cultivation medium are consumed in the first propagation cycle.

Abstract: It is disclosed a process to produce a fermentation product from a ligno-cellulosic feedstock hydrolyzate slurry which comprises water, water soluble glucose and xylose and water insoluble pretreated ligno-cellulosic feedstock. The process comprises at least two conversion step. A first conversion medium comprising a first portion of the ligno-cellulosic feedstock hydrolyzate slurry and a yeast capable to ferment glucose and xylose is first created, then the yeast is allowed to convert at least 50% of the glucose and less than 20% of the xylose of the first conversion medium to a first propagated yeast and a first portion of the fermentation product in a first conversion step having a first sugar-to-cells conversion ratio in a range of from 5% to 25%.

Abstract: It is described herein a continuous process for soaking a ligno-cellulosic biomass stream in an extraction solution comprising water and dissolved water soluble species derived from a previously treated ligno-cellulosic biomass. In the process, water insoluble contaminants are separated according to their apparent mass densities. The ligno-cellulosic biomass stream may be further subjected to a second optional soaking step in a counter flow configuration. The process is useful to remove non-ligno-cellulosic water soluble compounds from the ligno-cellulosic biomass with a low consumption of water.

Abstract: It is disclosed a process to transfer a ligno-cellulosic feedstock from a low pressure zone to a high pressure zone. A slurry the ligno-cellulosic feedstock is first provided, which is then subjected to a multi-step liquid removal process comprising draining by gravity at least a portion of the free liquid; removing a first portion of the capillary liquid in a low pressure zone by continuously compressing a stream of the ligno-cellulosic feedstock to reach a moisture content in a first target range; removing a second portion of the capillary liquid by shearing and compressing the ligno-cellulosic stream in a plug forming device, to form a ligno-cellulosic feedstock plug having a moisture content in a second target range at an outlet of the plug forming device connected to the high pressure zone.

Abstract: The process for the hydrolysis of ligno-cellulosic biomass comprises the steps of A) Contacting a ligno-cellulosic feedstock, the feedstock comprised of biomass having a dry content and water with at least a portion of a solvent, the solvent comprised of water soluble hydrolyzed species; wherein at least some of the water soluble hydrolyzed species are the same as the water soluble hydrolyzed species obtainable from the hydrolysis of the biomass in the feedstock; B) maintaining the contact between the feedstock of the feedstock stream and the solvent at a temperature in the range of 20° C. to 200° C. for a time in the range of 5 minutes to 72 hours to create a hydrolyzed product from the biomass in the feedstock.

Abstract: It is disclosed a continuous process for soaking a ligno-cellulosic biomass stream in an extraction solution comprising water and dissolved water soluble species derived from a previously treated ligno-cellulosic biomass, wherein the soaked ligno-cellulosic biomass stream is optionally rinsed with a rinse solution stream to produce a soaking liquid. The electrical conductivity of the extraction solution and/or the soaking liquid are controlled to a value in a suitable target range by regulating one or more dilution streams. The disclosed process is useful to remove non-ligno-cellulosic water soluble compounds from the ligno-cellulosic biomass with a low consumption of water.

Abstract: It is disclosed a continuous process for soaking a ligno-cellulosic biomass stream in an extraction solution comprising water and dissolved water soluble species derived from a previously treated ligno-cellulosic biomass, wherein the soaked ligno-cellulosic biomass stream is optionally rinsed with a rinse solution stream to produce a soaking liquid. The electrical conductivity of the extraction solution and/or the soaking liquid are controlled to a value in a suitable target range by regulating one or more dilution streams. The disclosed process is useful to remove non-ligno-cellulosic water soluble compounds from the ligno-cellulosic biomass with a low consumption of water.

Abstract: It is disclosed a continuous process for soaking a ligno-cellulosic biomass stream in an extraction solution comprising water and dissolved water soluble species derived from a previously treated ligno-cellulosic biomass. In the process, water insoluble contaminants are separated according to their apparent mass densities. The ligno-cellulosic biomass stream may be further subjected to a second optional soaking step in a counter flow configuration. The disclosed process is useful to remove non-ligno-cellulosic water soluble compounds from the ligno-cellulosic biomass with a low consumption of water.

Abstract: The process for the hydrolysis of ligno-cellulosic biomass comprises the steps of A) Contacting a ligno-cellulosic feedstock, the feedstock comprised of biomass having a dry content and water with at least a portion of a solvent, the solvent comprised of water soluble hydrolyzed species; wherein at least some of the water soluble hydrolyzed species are the same as the water soluble hydrolyzed species obtainable from the hydrolysis of the biomass in the feedstock; B) maintaining the contact between the feedstock of the feedstock stream and the solvent at a temperature in the range of 20° C. to 200° C. for a time in the range of 5 minutes to 72 hours to create a hydrolyzed product from the biomass in the feedstock.

Abstract: It is disclosed a continuous process for pre-treating a ligno-cellulosic feedstock. The ligno-cellulosic feedstock is introduced in a pressurized reactor vessel and subjected to a hydrothermal treatment with steam by inserting steam from at least a two steam streams having different temperatures. The ligno-cellulosic feedstock is then subjected to steam explosion. Preferably, at least a portion of the steam in the reactor is superheated steam and the superheated steam is located in a superheated zone which is in proximity of the outlet of the pressurized reactor vessel.

Abstract: The process for the hydrolysis of ligno-cellulosic biomass comprises the steps of A) Contacting a ligno-cellulosic feedstock, the feedstock comprised of biomass having a dry content and water with at least a portion of a solvent, the solvent comprised of water soluble hydrolyzed species; wherein at least some of the water soluble hydrolyzed species are the same as the water soluble hydrolyzed species obtainable from the hydrolysis of the biomass in the feedstock; B) maintaining the contact between the feedstock of the feedstock stream and the solvent at a temperature in the range of 20° C. to 200° C. for a time in the range of 5 minutes to 72 hours to create a hydrolyzed product from the biomass in the feedstock.

Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is a process for the improved hydrolysis of glucans to glucose wherein a portion of the glucose is removed from the process to improve the yield of glucose.

Abstract: The process for the hydrolysis of ligno-cellulosic biomass comprises the steps of A) Contacting a ligno-cellulosic feedstock, the feedstock comprised of biomass having a dry content and water with at least a portion of a solvent, the solvent comprised of water soluble hydrolyzed species; wherein at least some of the water soluble hydrolyzed species are the same as the water soluble hydrolyzed species obtainable from the hydrolysis of the biomass in the feedstock; B) maintaining the contact between the feedstock of the feedstock stream and the solvent at a temperature in the range of 20° C. to 200° C. for a time in the range of 5 minutes to 72 hours to create a hydrolyzed product from the biomass in the feedstock.

Abstract: This specification describes a process of producing a monomeric sugar stream ligno-cellulosic biomass without enzymes or acid catalysts. This is accomplished by removing the water soluble C5 sugars from the ligno-cellulosic biomass feedstream, lowering the pH of the C5 solution with little or no addition of an acid, thermally treating the remaining ligno-cellulosic biomass, combining the thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass with the low pH C5 solution and then exposing the mixture to an elevated temperature greater than 80° C. for a time sufficient to hydrolyze at least some of the components of the ligno-cellulosic biomass. Preferably, the thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass is subjected to a fiber shives reduction step to reduce the amount of long fiber shives.

Abstract: This invention is to a biomass composition of 5 and 6 carbon sugars, lignin, and cellulose which has been steam exploded and the composition has a very high enzyme accessibility at 24 hours for hydrolysis.

Abstract: The process for the treatment of ligno-cellulosic biomass comprises the steps of: A) Soaking a ligno-cellulosic biomass feedstock in vapor or liquid water or mixture thereof in the temperature range of 100 to 210° C. for 1 minute to 24 hours to create a soaked biomass containing a dry content and a first liquid; B) Separating at least a portion of the first liquid from the soaked biomass to create a first liquid stream and a first solid stream; wherein the first solid stream comprises the soaked biomass; and C) Steam exploding the first solid stream to create a steam exploded stream comprising solids and a second liquid.

Abstract: The process for treating a ligno-cellulosic biomass feed stream comprised of solids, C5's, C6's, lignin, and water comprises the steps of: pretreating the ligno-cellulosic biomass feed stream by contacting the ligno-cellulosic biomass with water in the temperature range of 40 to 210° C. to create a pre-treated ligno-cellulosic biomass comprised of a pre-treatment ligno-cellulosic biomass liquid comprised of suspended solids, C5's, C6's, and acetic acid, wherein the ratio of the C6's to C5's is less than 0.8 to 1.

Abstract: This specification discloses an improved method for conducting the removal of C5 xylan based sugars from biomass. The improved method involves a series of soakings and washings of the biomass as opposed to conducting one soaking and washing step.

Abstract: The process for the hydrolysis of ligno-cellulosic biomass comprises the steps of A) Contacting a ligno-cellulosic feedstock, the feedstock comprised of biomass having a dry content and water with at least a portion of a solvent, the solvent comprised of water soluble hydrolyzed species; wherein at least some of the water soluble hydrolyzed species are the same as the water soluble hydrolyzed species obtainable from the hydrolysis of the biomass in the feedstock; B) maintaining the contact between the feedstock of the feedstock stream and the solvent at a temperature in the range of 20° C. to 200° C. for a time in the range of 5 minutes to 72 hours to create a hydrolyzed product from the biomass in the feedstock.