Abstract: The invention relates, in general, to methods of processing Lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars and to methods that rely on hydrothermal pretreatment. Xylose monomer yields comparable to those achieved using two-stage pretreatments can be achieved from soft Lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks by pretreasting to very low severity in a single-stage pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis to release xylose retained in the solid state. In some embodiments, pretreated biomass is separated into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction, the solid fraction subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis, and the separated liquid fraction subsequently mixed with the hydrolysed solid fraction.

Abstract: The invention relates, in general, to methods of processing Lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars and to methods that rely on hydrothermal pretreatment. Xylose monomer yields comparable to those achieved using two-stage pretreatments can be achieved from soft Lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks by pretreasting to very low severity in a single-stage pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis to release xylose retained in the solid state. In some embodiments, pretreated biomass is separated into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction, the solid fraction subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis, and the separated liquid fraction subsequently mixed with the hydrolysed solid fraction.

Abstract: The invention relates, in general, to methods of processing Lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars and to methods that rely on hydrothermal pretreatment. Xylose monomer yields comparable to those achieved using two-stage pretreatments can be achieved from soft Lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks by pretreasting to very low severity in a single-stage pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis to release xylose retained in the solid state. In some embodiments, pretreated biomass is separated into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction, the solid fraction subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis, and the separated liquid fraction subsequently mixed with the hydrolysed solid fraction.

Abstract: The invention relates, in general, to methods of processing lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars and to methods that rely on hydrothermal pretreatment. Xylose monomer yields comparable to those achieved using two-stage pretreatments can be achieved from soft lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks by pretreating to very low severity in a single-stage pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis to release xylose retained in the solid state. In some embodiments, pretreated biomass is separated into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction, the solid fraction subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis, and the separated liquid fraction subsequently mixed with the hydrolysed solid fraction.

Abstract: Provided is a discharge device for discharging pretreated biomass from a pressurized reactor. The device comprises: a vessel having an opening to a high pressure region at the top, and configured to be connected with a pressurized biomass pretreatment device; one or more inlet openings situated along the sides of the vessels through which water or liquid may be added; an orifice or valve at a lower part of said vessel, said orifice or valve being configured to eject pretreated biomass, optionally into a pipeline. The discharge device is characterised in that it comprises mechanical agitation means, said agitation means comprising an agitation element arranged in the interior of said vessel at a lower part of said vessel, and being configured to provide agitation of the content of said vessel, wherein said agitation means being adapted to withstand a pressure in the interior of a said vessel of 10 bar or more.

Abstract: Methods of processing lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars are provided which rely on hydrothermal pretreatment. Soft lignocellulosic biomass feedstock is pretreated in a single-stage pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment to very low severity. The pre-treated biomass is hydrolysed, typically as a whole slurry, using enzymatic hydrolysis catalysed by an enzyme mixture comprising endoglucanase, exoglucanase, ?-glucosidase, endoxylanase, and ?-xylosidase activities at activity levels in nkat/g glucan of endoglucanase of at least 1100, exoglucanase of at least 280, ?-glucosidase of at least 3000, endoxylanase of at least 1400, and ?-xylosidase of at least 75, so as to produce a hydrolysate in which the yield of C5 monomers is at least 55% of the original xylose and arabinose content of the feedstock prior to pretreatment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of processing lignocellulosic biomass comprising: providing lignocellulosic biomass feedstock; pretreating said biomass feedstock by continuous hydrothermal pretreatment in a pressurized reactor; measuring xylan number or lignin number in the output stream of pretreated biomass from the pretreatment reactor; and controlling the pretreatment reactor so as to maintain, in the output stream of pretreated biomass, a pre-determined level of measured xylan number or lignin number. The method allows for continuously controlling the digestibility of a lignocellulosic biomass during the step of pretreatment, and accordingly provides a continuous estimate of the severity of the pretreatment.

Abstract: Provided is a discharge device for discharging pretreated biomass from a pressurized reactor. The device comprises: a vessel having an opening to a high pressure region at the top, and configured to be connected with a pressurized biomass pretreatment device; one or more inlet openings situated along the sides of the vessels through which water or liquid may be added; an orifice or valve at a lower part of said vessel, said orifice or valve being configured to eject pretreated biomass, optionally into a pipeline. The discharge device is characterised in that it comprises mechanical agitation means, said agitation means comprising an agitation element arranged in the interior of said vessel at a lower part of said vessel, and being configured to provide agitation of the content of said vessel, wherein said agitation means being adapted to withstand a pressure in the interior of a said vessel of 10 bar or more.

Abstract: Methods of processing lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars are provided which rely on hydrothermal pretreatment. Soft lignocellulosic biomass feedstock is pretreated in a single-stage pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment to very low severity. The pre-treated biomass is hydrolysed, typically as a whole slurry, using enzymatic hydrolysis catalysed by an enzyme mixture comprising endoglucanase, exoglucanase, ?-glucosidase, endoxylanase, and ?-xylosidase activities at activity levels in nkat/g glucan of endoglucanase of at least 1100, exoglucanase of at least 280, ?-glucosidase of at least 3000, endoxylanase of at least 1400, and ?-xylosidase of at least 75, so as to produce a hydrolysate in which the yield of C5 monomers is at least 55% of the original xylose and arabinose content of the feedstock prior to pretreatment.

Abstract: The invention relates, in general, to methods of processing lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars and to methods that rely on hydrothermal pretreatment. Xylose monomer yields comparable to those achieved using two-stage pretreatments can be achieved from soft lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks by pretreating to very low severity in a single-stage pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis to release xylose retained in the solid state. In some embodiments, pretreated biomass is separated into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction, the solid fraction subject to enzymatic hydrolysis, and the separated liquid fraction subsequently mixed with the hydrolysed solid fraction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of processing lignocellulosic biomass comprising: providing lignocellulosic biomass feedstock; pretreating said biomass feedstock by continuous hydrothermal pretreatment in a pressurized reactor; measuring xylan number or lignin number in the output stream of pretreated biomass from the pretreatment reactor; and controlling the pretreatment reactor so as to maintain, in the output stream of pretreated biomass, a pre-determined level of measured xylan number or lignin number. The method allows for continuously controlling the digestibility of a lignocellulosic biomass during the step of pretreatment, and accordingly provides a continuous estimate of the severity of the pretreatment.