Abstract: A system is provided to produce sugars from a liquid-solid mixture containing biomass, and an acid, wherein the mixture is heated to an appropriate temperature to achieve hydrolysis. The liquid-solid mixture is introduced as a stream into the circular-cylindrical chamber of a cyclone reaction vessel and steam is introduced to the vessel to provide the necessary heat for hydrolysis as well as to establish the liquid-solid mixture in a rotary flow field whereby the liquids and solids of the mixture move along spiral paths within the chamber. The liquid-solid mixture may be introduced at the periphery of the chamber to spiral down toward and be discharged at or near the center of the chamber. Because of differing mass, the solid particles in the mixture move radially inward at a different rate than the liquid and that rate is controlled to maximize the hydrolysis of the solids and to minimize the decomposition of sugars, thus formed.

Abstract: A process for hydrolysis of biomass wherein the biomass is mixed with a small amount of an aqueous acid to produce a wet meal. A non-aqueous carrier fluid is used to form a slurry of the biomass, and the temperature and pressure are established at appropriate levels to effect hydrolysis of the biomass to decomposition products that include sugar for a time period that is sufficient for the hydrolysis to occur.