Abstract: A method for torrefaction of lignocellulosic biomass using a torrefaction reactor vessel having stacked trays, the method including: continuously feeding the biomass to an upper inlet of the torrefaction reactor vessel such that the biomass material is deposited on an upper tray of a plurality of trays stacked vertically within the reactor; as the biomass moves across an upper surface of each of the trays, heating and drying the biomass material with a gas injected into the vessel, wherein the gas is substantially non-oxidizing of the biomass, is under a pressure of at least 20 bar gauge and at a temperature of at least 200° C.; cascading the biomass down through the trays by passing the biomass through an opening in each of the trays to deposit the biomass on a lower tray; discharging torrefied biomass from a lower outlet of the torrefaction reactor vessel, and circulating gas extracted from a lower elevation of the reactor vessel to an upper region of the reactor vessel.

Abstract: A method to wash and remove dissolved solids from biomass including: discharging a biomass slurry from a pretreatment vessel to a biomass slurry retention device; adding recovered wash liquid to dilute the biomass slurry in the retention device, wherein the recovered wash liquid is extracted from a drainer device upstream of the first retention device; discharging the diluted biomass slurry from the retention device to the drainer device; separating wash liquid with dissolved solids from the diluted biomass slurry in the drainer device and discharging a concentrated biomass slurry from the drainer device, and recovering the wash liquid from the diluted biomass slurry in the drainer device and transferring the recovered wash liquid to the retention device.