Abstract: The disclosure provides a process for producing a fermentation product from a lignocellulosic feedstock. The process describes soaking a lignocellulosic feedstock in an aqueous solution to produce a soaked feedstock. The soaked feedstock is at least partially dewatered and the at least partially dewatered feedstock is subjected to pretreating in the presence of sulfur dioxide, sulfurous acid or a combination thereof to produce a pretreated feedstock composition. The pretreated feedstock composition is fed to an enzymatic hydrolysis in which the concentration of dissolved solids fed to the enzymatic hydrolysis is at least 50% (w/w) of the concentration of dissolved solids in the pretreated feedstock composition. The cellulose in the pretreated feedstock composition is hydrolyzed with cellulase enzymes in the presence of the dissolved solids to produce glucose. The glucose is fermented to produce the fermentation product.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a fermentation product from a lignocellulosic feedstock. The process comprises soaking a lignocellulosic feedstock in an aqueous solution to produce a soaked feedstock. The soaked feedstock is at least partially dewatered and the at least partially dewatered feedstock is subjected to pretreating in the presence of sulfur dioxide, sulfurous acid or a combination thereof to produce a pretreated feedstock composition. The pretreated feedstock composition is fed to an enzymatic hydrolysis in which the concentration of dissolved solids fed to the enzymatic hydrolysis is at least 50% (w/w) of the concentration of dissolved solids in the pretreated feedstock composition. The cellulose in the pretreated feedstock composition is hydrolyzed with cellulase enzymes in the presence of the dissolved solids to produce glucose. The glucose is fermented to produce the fermentation product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for hydrolyzing a pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock. The process comprises hydrolyzing the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock with an enzyme mixture comprising at least cellulase enzymes to produce a hydrolyzed slurry comprising glucose and lignin solids. The hydrolyzing is conducted in the presence of a polymer, such as for example an aliphatic polyether. A solids-liquid separation is conducted to recover lignin solids from a process stream comprising the lignin solids and the polymer. A process stream is then obtained comprising recovered lignin solids resulting from the solids-liquid separation. Also provided are processes for recovering the polymer from the lignin solids and/or from solution.

Abstract: A process for recovering a volatile carboxylic acid from an aqueous stream containing same comprising the steps of: (a) evaporating the aqueous stream to produce a vapour stream comprising the volatile carboxylic acid that has been vapourized and water vapour, which aqueous stream is produced by a conversion process using a lignocellulosic feedstock as a substrate; (b) contacting the vapour stream with an organic solvent so as to extract the volatile carboxylic acid present in the vapour stream, thereby producing a liquid stream comprising the organic solvent and the volatile carboxylic acid, and a water vapour stream, wherein the organic solvent has an atmospheric boiling point of at least about 150° C. and is insoluble in water; and (c) separating the volatile carboxylic acid from the organic solvent.

Abstract: A process for recovering a volatile carboxylic acid from an aqueous stream comprising same, the process comprising the steps of: (i) steam stripping the carboxylic acid from the aqueous stream, which aqueous stream is produced by a conversion process using a lignocellulosic feedstock as a substrate, the steam stripping comprising contacting the aqueous stream with steam by flowing the aqueous stream and the steam countercurrent to one another, thereby producing a vapor stream comprising vaporized carboxylic acid and steam and a stripped aqueous stream; (ii) extracting the vaporized carboxylic acid with an organic solvent by contacting the vapor stream with the organic solvent to produce (a) a stream comprising the organic solvent and the carboxylic acid and (b) the steam at least substantially depleted of the carboxylic acid, wherein the organic solvent has an atmospheric boiling point of at least about 150° C.

Abstract: A process for the production of glucose from a pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock is provided. The method comprises enzymatically hydrolyzing the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock with cellulase enzymes to produce a hydrolyzate slurry comprising glucose and unhydrolyzed cellulose and fermenting the hydrolyzate slurry in a fermentation reaction to produce a fermentation broth comprising alcohol. A process stream is obtained comprising unhydrolyzed cellulose, which is then subjected to a denaturing step, preferably comprising exposing the unhydrolyzed cellulose to elevated temperatures, thereby producing a heat-treated stream comprising the unhydrolyzed cellulose. The heat-treated stream comprising unhydrolyzed cellulose is then further hydrolyzed with cellulase enzymes to hydrolyze the cellulose to glucose.

Abstract: A method of producing hardwood pulp is provided. This method comprises treating hardwood chips with one or more than one Family 11 xylanase enzyme in the absence of adding an oxidizing enzyme for about 5 minutes to about 120 minutes, to produce a treated chip mixture. The treated chip mixture is then mechanically refined to produce the hardwood pulp.

Abstract: A method for recovering inorganic salt during processing of a lignocellulosic feedstock is provided. The method comprises pretreating the lignocellulosic feedstock by adding an acid to the feedstock to produce a pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock. A soluble base is then added to the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock to adjust the pH and produce a neutralized feedstock. The neutralized feedstock is then enzymatically hydrolyzed to produce an enzyme hydrolyzed feedstock and a sugar stream. Inorganic salt is recovered from either a stream obtained from the lignocellulosic feedstock prior to the step of pretreating, a stream obtained from the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock, a stream obtained from the neutralized feedstock, a stream obtained from the sugar stream, or a combination of these streams. The inorganic salt may be concentrated, clarified, recovered and purified by crystallization, electrodialysis drying, or agglomeration and granulation, and then used as desired, for example as a fertilizer.

Abstract: A process for the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose to produce a hydrolysis product from a pre-treated cellulosic feedstock is provided. The process comprises introducing an aqueous slurry of the pre-treated cellulosic feedstock at the bottom of a hydrolysis reactor. Axial dispersion in the reactor is limited by avoiding mixing and maintaining an average slurry flow velocity of about 0.1 to about 20 feet per hour, such that the undissolved solids flow upward at a rate slower than that of the liquid. Cellulase enzymes are added to the aqueous slurry before or during the step of introducing. An aqueous stream comprising hydrolysis product and unhydrolyzed solids is removed from the hydrolysis reactor. Also provided are enzyme compositions which comprise cellulase enzymes and flocculents for use in the process. In addition, a kit comprising cellulase enzymes and flocculent is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing fermentable sugar or a fermentation product from a lignocellulosic feedstock. The process comprises leaching the lignocellulosic feedstock with an aqueous solution to remove at least potassium salts from the lignocellulosic feedstock and without significantly hydrolyzing hemicellulose and cellulose, thereby producing a leached feedstock and leachate. The leachate is removed from the leachate and concentrated. The leached feedstock is hydrolyzed to produce fermentable sugar, which may be fermented to produce a fermentation broth comprising the fermentation product. The concentrated leachate is recirculated to one or more stages in the process involving alkali addition to adjust the pH of a process stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the conversion of a lignocellulosic feedstock involving acid pretreatment. The process comprises the steps of treating the lignocellulosic feedstock with alkali at a pH of between about 8.0 and about 12.0 so as to dissolve acetyl groups present on said lignocellulosic feedstock, while converting less than about 10% of the xylan present in the lignocellulosic feedstock to xylose and less than about 10% of the cellulose to glucose, thereby producing an alkali conditioned feedstock. The alkali conditioned feedstock is then pretreated at a temperature of about 160° C. to about 250° C., at a pH of about 0.5 to about 2.5 for about 0.5 to about 10 minutes so as to hydrolyze about 80 to 100% of the xylan and about 3 to about 15% of the cellulose to produce an acid pretreated feedstock comprising cellulose. The cellulose in the pretreated feedstock can be hydrolyzed to glucose with cellulase and the glucose can be fermented to produce a fermentation product.

Abstract: The present invention comprises pretreating a lignocellulosic feedstock with acid at a pH between about 2.0 and about 3.5 to produce a composition comprising an acid pretreated feedstock. The acid pretreated feedstock is then enzymatically hydrolyzed with cellulases and ?-glucosidase. The glucose is fermented by microorganisms to produce a fermentation broth comprising the fermentation product, followed by recovery of the fermentation product. The steps of enzymatically hydrolyzing and fermenting are conducted at a pH below about 4.0.

Abstract: A method for recovering inorganic salt during processing of a lignocellulosic feedstock is provided. The method comprises pretreating the lignocellulosic feedstock by adding an acid to the feedstock to produce a pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock. A soluble base is then added to the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock to adjust the pH and produce a neutralized feedstock. The neutralized feedstock is then enzymatically hydrolyzed to produce an enzyme hydrolyzed feedstock and a sugar stream. Inorganic salt is recovered from either a stream obtained from the lignocellulosic feedstock prior to the step of pretreating, a stream obtained from the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock, a stream obtained from the neutralized feedstock, a stream obtained from the sugar stream, or a combination of these streams. The inorganic salt may be concentrated, clarified, recovered and purified by crystallization, electrodialysis drying, or agglomeration and granulation, and then used as desired, for example as a fertilizer.

Abstract: A method for producing glucose from a lignocellulosic feedstock is provided. The method comprises pretreating the lignocellulosic feedstock with acid to produce a pretreated feedstock composition. A calcium-containing stream is provided that comprises calcium that is obtained from the lignocellulosic feedstock and a calcium carbonate-containing stream is obtained by precipitation of the calcium from the calcium-containing stream. The pH of the pretreated feedstock is adjusted with (a) the calcium carbonate-containing stream; (b) a calcium hydroxide-containing stream that is derived from said calcium carbonate-containing stream by subjecting said calcium carbonate-containing stream to calcination; or (c) a combination of the calcium carbonate-containing stream and the calcium hydroxide-containing stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for obtaining a product stream comprising one or more sulfate salts of potassium, sodium or ammonium from a sugar stream resulting from [processing a lignocellulosic feedstock, said sugar stream which includes calcium sulfate and one or more of these sulfate salts. The process comprises (i) treating the sugar stream to remove calcium, thereby producing a sugar stream containing substantially no calcium, and obtaining a salt stream comprising a calcium salt; (ii) choosing a feed stream that is either (a) a clarified salt stream derived from the salt stream of step (i) after removal of calcium therefrom; or (b) the sugar stream containing substantially no calcium that is produced in step (i); (iii) introducing the feed stream chosen in step (ii) to an ion exchange bed; and (iv) regenerating the ion exchange resin bed of step (iii) with sulfuric acid to produce the product stream.

Abstract: A process for recovering a volatile carboxylic acid from an aqueous stream containing same comprising the steps of: (a) evaporating the aqueous stream to produce a vapour stream comprising the volatile carboxylic acid that has been vapourized and water vapour, which aqueous stream is produced by a conversion process using a lignocellulosic feedstock as a substrate; (b) contacting the vapour stream with an organic solvent so as to extract the volatile carboxylic acid present in the vapour stream, thereby producing a liquid stream comprising the organic solvent and the volatile carboxylic acid, and a water vapour stream, wherein the organic solvent has an atmospheric boiling point of at least about 150° C. and is insoluble in water; and (c) separating the volatile carboxylic acid from the organic solvent.

Abstract: A method for recovering inorganic salt during processing of a lignocellulosic feedstock is provided. The method comprises pretreating the lignocellulosic feedstock by adding an acid to the feedstock to produce a pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock. A soluble base is then added to the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock to adjust the pH and produce a neutralized feedstock. The neutralized feedstock is then enzymatically hydrolyzed to produce an enzyme hydrolyzed feedstock and a sugar stream. Inorganic salt is recovered from either a stream obtained from the lignocellulosic feedstock prior to the step of pretreating, a stream obtained from the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock, a stream obtained from the neutralized feedstock, a stream obtained from the sugar stream, or a combination of these streams. The inorganic salt may be concentrated, clarified, recovered and purified by crystallization, electrodialysis drying, or agglomeration and granulation, and then used as desired, for example as a fertilizer.

Abstract: A process for obtaining inorganic salt and acetate salt from cellulosic biomass is disclosed. The cellulosic biomass is pretreated by adding one or more than one acid or base to produce a pretreated cellulosic biomass comprising acetic acid or acetate salt. One or more than one base or acid is then added to the pretreated cellulosic biomass to adjust the pretreated cellulosic biomass to a pH of about 4.0 to about 6.0 to produce a neutralized cellulosic biomass comprising inorganic salt and acetate salt. The neutralized biomass is then hydrolyzed by cellulase enzymes to produce a sugar stream. Streams arising from the processing of the cellulosic biomass to sugar are subjected to ion exclusion chromatography performed at pH 5.0 to about 10.0 to produce a stream comprising an inorganic salt and an acetate salt.

Abstract: A process for recovering a volatile carboxylic acid from an aqueous stream comprising same, the process comprising the steps of: (i) steam stripping the carboxylic acid from the aqueous stream, which aqueous stream is produced by a conversion process using a lignocellulosic feedstock as a substrate, the steam stripping comprising contacting the aqueous stream with steam by flowing the aqueous stream and the steam countercurrent to one another, thereby producing a vapour stream comprising vapourized carboxylic acid and steam and a stripped aqueous stream; (ii) extracting the vapourized carboxylic acid with an organic solvent by contacting the vapour stream with the organic solvent to produce (a) a stream comprising the organic solvent and the carboxylic acid and (b) the steam at least substantially depleted of the carboxylic acid, wherein the organic solvent has an atmospheric boiling point of at least about 150° C.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method of converting cellulose to glucose by treating a pretreated lignocellulosic substrate with an enzyme mixture comprising cellulase enzyme and endoglucanase core proteins, wherein the endoglucanase core proteins are present in the enzyme mixture at an amount relative to all endoglucanases from about 35 wt. % to about 100 wt. % and wherein the endoglucanase cellulase enzymes are present in the enzyme mixture at an amount relative to the amount of CBH and EG enzymes from about 2 wt. % to about 50 wt. %. The pretreated lignocellulosic substrate is selected from the group consisting of agricultural residues, residues after starch or sugar removal, dedicated ethanol crops, forestry products, and pulp and paper products, or combinations thereof.