Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing alcohol from a cellulosic material, said process comprising the steps of: (i) hydrolyzing said cellulosic material with an aqueous acid to produce a hydrolysate; (ii) extracting acid and water from said hydrolysate with a water-miscible organic extraction solvent to yield (a) a first aqueous acidic solution containing said extraction solvent and (b) a residue containing sugars, —(iii) subjecting said residue to an oligosaccharide cleavage reaction to yield an aqueous solution of fermentable sugars; (iv) fermenting said fermentable sugars and distilling alcohol from the resulting fermented mixture; (v) evaporating said extraction solvent from said first solution to yield (a) a second aqueous acid solution containing no more than 10% wt., preferably no more than 5% wt.

Abstract: The GreenBox+ technology is suitable to extract hemicellulose sugars prior to pulping of biomass into pulp products. The revenue obtainable from the sugar stream can significantly improve the economics of a pulp and paper mill. An initial extraction and recovery of sugars is followed by production of a pulp product with similar or better properties. Other co-products such as acetates and furfural are also possible. Some variations provide a process for co-producing pulp and hemicellulosic sugars from biomass, comprising: digesting the biomass in the presence of steam and/or hot water to extract hemicellulose into a liquid phase; washing the extracted solids, thereby generating a liquid wash filtrate and washed solids; separating the liquid wash filtrate from the washed solids; refining the washed solids at a refining pH of about 4 or higher, thereby generating pulp; and hydrolyzing the hemicellulose to generate hemicellulosic fermentable sugars.

Abstract: Digestion of cellulosic biomass solids to form a hydrolysate may be accompanied by decomposition if the soluble carbohydrates produced from the biomass under hydrothermal digestion conditions are not transformed into a more stable reaction product. Biomass conversion systems may be configured to address this issue and others. Biomass conversion systems can comprise: a hydrothermal digestion unit; a first catalytic reduction reactor unit fluidly coupled to the hydrothermal digestion unit along its height by two or more fluid inlet lines and two or more fluid return lines, the first catalytic reduction reactor unit containing a catalyst capable of activating molecular hydrogen; and a fluid circulation loop comprising the hydrothermal digestion unit and a second catalytic reduction reactor unit that contains a catalyst capable of activating molecular hydrogen.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic material. The present invention further provides for pretreated lignocellulosic material that can be used to produce useful products, such as fermentable sugars.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic material. The present invention further provides for pretreated lignocellulosic material that can be used to produce products, such as fermentable sugars.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for fabricating a sugar product is provided. The method includes mixing formic acid and lithium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, zinc chloride or iron chloride or lithium bromide, magnesium bromide, calcium bromide, zinc bromide or iron bromide or heteropoly acid to form a mixing solution, adding a cellulosic biomass to the mixing solution for a dissolution reaction, and adding water to the mixing solution for a hydrolysis reaction to obtain a sugar product. The present disclosure also provides a sugar product fabricated from the method.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a sugar product and method for fabricating the same is provided. The method includes mixing an acid compound and lithium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, zinc chloride or iron chloride or lithium bromide, magnesium bromide, calcium bromide, zinc bromide or iron bromide or heteropoly acid to form a mixing solution, adding a cellulosic biomass to the mixing solution for a dissolution reaction, and adding water to the mixing solution for a hydrolysis reaction to obtain a sugar product. The present disclosure also provides a sugar product fabricated from the method.

Abstract: A method for the hydrolysis of cellulosic materials using spent liquor. The spent liquor is derived from a pulping operation or is hydrolyzate from another cellulosic biomass process. The process can be implemented in a batch or semi continuous or continuous process. The hydrolyzate is fermented to a useful product and purified. Combustible biomass residues and chemicals are used to provide energy and chemical recovery.

Abstract: This invention provides processes and apparatus to convert biomass, including wood and agricultural residues, into low-ash biomass pellets for combustion, alone or in combination with another solid fuel. Some embodiments provide processes for producing hemicellulosic sugars and low-ash biomass from cellulosic biomass, comprising providing an aqueous extraction solution with acetic acid; extracting the feedstock to produce an extract liquor containing soluble ash, hemicellulosic oligomers, acetic acid, dissolved lignin, and cellulose-rich solids; dewatering and drying the cellulose-rich, lignin-rich solids to produce a low-ash biomass; hydrolyzing the hemicellulosic oligomers to produce fermentable hemicellulosic sugars, wherein additional acetic acid is generated; removing a vapor stream comprising vaporized acetic acid from the extract; recycling the vapor or its condensate to provide some starting acetic acid for the extraction solution; and recovering fermentable hemicellulosic sugars.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing micro- and nanocrystailine cellulose material in the presence of an acid. More specifically, the invention relates to a process, in which the cellulose material is hydrolyzed in the presence of an acid in the gas phase while the moisture content of cellulose is between 1% and 80%, the cellulose material is surface-modified, and mech anically treated in order to obtain micro- and/or nanocrystailine cellulose material. The invention also relates to a cellulose product prepared by the said process and the use thereof in food and liquid crystal applications as well as in optical, cosmetic and medical applications.

Abstract: Variations of this invention reduce or avoid lignin precipitation during acidic hydrolysis of biomass hydrolysates (such as hemicellulose-containing liquid extracts). Net acid usage and byproduct salt formation are significantly reduced. In some embodiments, hemicellulosic oligomers are hydrolyzed, in the presence of sulfur dioxide, to produce fermentable hemicellulosic sugars; the process comprising recovering and recycling at least a portion of the sulfur dioxide, wherein at least a portion of the sulfur dioxide reacts with the lignin to produce hydrophilic sulfonated lignin that has less tendency to precipitate or stick.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention overcome the well-known recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass in an economically viable manner. A process and a system are provided for the efficient fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass into cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The cellulose and hemicellulose thus obtained are highly amorphous and can be readily converted into highly concentrated mixtures of five and six carbon sugars using known methods. Typical yields of sugars exceed 100 grams of sugars per liter of sugar solution. Other products, such as alcohols, can easily be prepared according to methods of the invention. The modest process conditions and low solvent/solid ratios of some embodiments of the invention require relatively low capital and processing costs.

Abstract: Cellulose nanofibers are produced by means of a method comprising a step (A) of oxidizing a cellulosic starting material in the presence of an N-oxyl compound and a step (B) of forming the oxidized cellulosic starting material into nanofibers by defibrating the oxidized cellulosic starting material, and a step (C) of performing at least one selected from the following steps: a step (C-1) of treating the cellulosic starting material in water having a hydroxide ion concentration of 0.75 to 3.75 mol/L prior to performing the step (A); and a step (C-2) of subjecting the oxidized cellulosic starting material obtained from the step (A) to hydrolysis in an alkaline solution having a pH between 8 and 14 after performing the step (A) and prior to performing the step (B).

Abstract: Methods and systems for fractionating lignocellulosic biomass including hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, including exploding the biomass cells to devolatilize the biomass, hydrolyzing the hemicellulose to produce a liquid component including hemicellulosic sugars and a solid component including less than 10% hemicellulose, separating the liquid and solid components, vaporizing the cellulose in the solid component, and condensing the cellulosic sugar vapors. The methods and systems may vaporize the cellulose in a continuous steam reactor at a temperature of about 400-550° C. and a pressure of about 1-3 bara. Electromagnetic and/or electroaccoustic treatment such as ultrasound and/or microwave treatment may be applied to the biomass immediately before or during cellulose hydrolysis.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for dissolving the cellulose component if a cellulose-containing biomass material in an Ionic Liquid medium. The biomass material contains minerals. At least part of the minerals are removed prior to contacting the biomass material with the Ionic Liquid medium. The Ionic Liquid medium preferably is an inorganic molten salt hydrate.

Abstract: A method for treating biomass is provided, which includes, in a reactor, allowing gaseous ammonia to condense on the biomass and react with water present in the biomass to produce pretreated biomass, wherein reactivity of polysaccharides in the biomass is increased during subsequent biological conversion as compared to polysaccharides in biomass which has not been pretreated. A method for treating biomass with a liquid ammonia and recovering the liquid ammonia is also provided. Related systems which include a biochemical or biofuel production facility are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a system for localizing and optimizing harvesting of woody biomass by providing a plurality of portable pretreatment units at harvesting or mill sites. The sugars derived from woody waste products can be transported to plants for processing or processing directly by plants located at mill sites to generate biofuels and other chemicals.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides methods of improving lignin separation during lignocellulosic biorefining, comprising the steps of (i) catalyzing fractionation or hydrolysis with an acid to release sugars into an acidified solution containing lignin, (ii) neutralizing the acidified solution with a base to form a salt in a neutralized solution; (iii) in a separation unit, separating the salt and the lignin, each in free or combined form, from the neutralized solution; and then (iv) recycling a portion of the salt and optionally a portion of the lignin to step (i) to combine, physically or chemically, with the lignin, to improve lignin separation in the separation unit. In certain embodiments, the acid is a sulfur-containing acid and the base is lime, forming gypsum which is then recycled, in part, to the hydrolysis reactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treatment of lignocellulosic organic waste or biomass, by which the carbohydrates are rendered more available for subsequent hydrolysis, e.g. by means of addition of enzymes or direct fermentation to one or more desired products. The invention more specifically relates to a method comprising a combination of the following process steps: thermal hydrolysis, wet oxidation and wet explosion. The method according to the present invention can operate with undivided or only poorly divided substrate having a high dry matter concentration.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for processing biomass by single-stage supercritical hydrolysis, wherein the biomass has been size reduced.

Abstract: A reactor for the treatment of lignocellulosic material and related methods. The reactor includes a vessel having an upper portion and a lower portion. A pressure envelope is formed between an outer wall of the vessel and at least one lower wall of the lower portion of the vessel, and the upper portion of the vessel and the pressure envelope are operatively connected with a pressurization line, such that a pressure of the pressure envelope and a pressure of the upper portion may be equalized.

Abstract: The invention relates to: a pre-treatment method for plant biomass hydrolysis reaction raw materials characterized in comprising a process for mixing a solid catalyst and solid substrate beforehand and grinding same simultaneously (grinding process); a plant biomass hydrolysis reaction raw material pre-treated by said pre-treatment method; and a plant biomass saccharification method comprising a process for hydrolyzing said hydrolysis reaction raw material. The invention provides an efficient and practical pre-treatment method for plant biomass hydrolysis reaction raw materials that can improve the saccharification yield and saccharide concentration of plant biomass hydrolysis reactions, a plant biomass hydrolysis reaction raw material obtained therefrom, and a plant biomass saccharification method.

Abstract: A method to treat a lignocellulosic material including: performing a steam explosion reaction on the lignocellulosic material and discharging a slurry from the; adding an alkali material to the slurry in a first conveyor; transferring the slurry with the alkali material from the first conveyor to a second conveyor; adding an enzyme solution to the slurry while in, entering or at the discharge of the second conveyor; transferring the slurry with the enzyme solution from the second conveyor slurry to a mixer; mixing the slurry in the mixer, wherein a second portion of the enzyme solution is added to the slurry during the mixing, and transferring the slurry with the enzyme solution from the mixer to a first reactor vessel wherein the slurry in the first reactor vessel undergoing enzymatic hydrolysis such that the viscosity of the slurry is reduced in the first reactor vessel.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for producing a useful substance by allowing a fluid containing a biomass raw material to act on a supercritical water and/or subcritical water, the fluid containing a biomass raw material in a high concentration is efficiently mixed with the supercritical water and/or subcritical water, whereby the amount of tar and carbon particles produced as by-products is decreased and blockage and abrasion of a pipe and an equipment is suppressed, or it is possible to easily remove the by-products. At least two inlet flow paths for flowing the raw material fluid and the supercritical water or subcritical water into the mixing flow path are provided, along with an agitation blade having a rotating shaft set on a center shaft of the mixing flow path and an agitation blade having a rotating shaft set on a center shaft of the mixing flow path.

Abstract: A system and method for hardwood pulp liquid hydrolysate conditioning includes a first evaporator receives a hardwood mix extract and outputting a quantity of vapor and extract. A hydrolysis unit receives the extract, hydrolyzes and outputs to a lignin separation device, which separates and recovers a quantity of lignin. A neutralization device receives extract from the lignin separation device and a neutralizing agent, producing a mixture of solid precipitate and a fifth extract. The solid precipitate is removed from the fifth extract. A second evaporator removes a quantity of acid from the fifth extract in a vapor form. This vapor may be recycled to improve total acid recovery or discarded. A desalination device receives the diluted extract, separates out some of the acid and salt and outputs a desalinated solution.

Abstract: Described are processes that include the non-enzymatic, hydrolytic liquefaction of lignocellulosic biomass to form digest slurries and heat recovery from such digest slurries. Due to enhanced flow properties of the digest slurries such heat recovery can be efficiently conducted in spiral, plate and frame or other heat exchanger designs, with the recovered heat going to unit operations of the process such as heating incoming pretreatment media for the liquefaction. Processes can also involve additional hydrolytic digestion of some or all of the initial slurry components with enzyme and/or additional heat recovery from the initial slurry by direct contact heat exchange in which a portion of the digest slurry liquids is flashed to vapor and that vapor is condensed onto incoming lignocellulosic biomass to the process. Processes as described can be integrated into ethanol manufacture by fermentation of sugars from the digested compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase I activity and polynucleotides having a nucleotide sequence which encodes for the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acid constructs as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase I activity and polynucleotides having a nucleotide sequence which encodes for the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acid constructs as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to dispose plant cellulose materials, in particular to a method for preparing a main hydrolysate by hydrolyzing the plant cellulose materials with concentrated sulfuric acid. The plant cellulose materials are mixed with sulfuric acid in batches, and the main hydrolysate is obtained after hydrolysis. The batch mixing includes the following procedures: (1) sulfuric acid solution is used to dissolve part of the plant cellulose materials thereby forming a hydrolysate; (2) when the plant cellulose materials can not be dissolved any more, concentrated sulfuric acid with the concentration more than 80 wt % is successively added into the hydrolysate, and another part of the plant cellulose materials are added; (3) and then the procedure as step (2) is repeated until all the plant cellulose materials are completely hydrolyzed.

Abstract: A material which is suitable as filler or coating pigment for a fibrous web and a method for manufacturing thereof. According to the method, a feed comprising organic polymer material is cooled to at least approximately ?50° C., after which it is refined in a jet refiner to a desired particle size. The present invention generates uniform pigment particles which comprise, for instance, starch esters, and which particles have a porous surface structure, in which case they are suitable for instance as coating pigments and fillers for offset and ink-jet papers.

Abstract: A system for pre-treating biomass for the production of ethanol is provided. The system comprises a method for pre-treating biomass. The method comprises supplying biomass to a steaming bin, wherein the biomass is mixed with water, and inputting the steamed biomass to a first pretreatment reactor, wherein the steamed biomass comprises liquids and solids. The method also comprises removing a bulk of liquids from the solids and feeding the solids into a second pretreatment reactor. The method further comprises applying a pressure drop to the solids in the second pretreatment reactor, wherein the pressure drop opens up a structure of the solids, and sending the solids to a fermentation process for ethanol processing.

Abstract: A method for the production of alcohol and other bioproducts hemicelluloses extracted from biomass prior to thermal conversion of the biomass to energy. The process can be integrated with the host plant process to minimize the energy loss from extracting hemicelluloses. Also disclosed is a Stepwise enzymatic break down of cellulose fibers from a pulping operation which is performed with the redeployment of equipment and vessels contained within typical existing pulp and paper manufacturing mills. The preferred feedstock is highly delignified pulp from acid or alkaline pulping process or from bleaching stage.

Abstract: This invention provides processes to convert biomass into energy-dense biomass for combustion, alone or in combination with another solid fuel. In some variations, biomass is extracted to produce an extract liquor containing hemicellulosic oligomers and cellulose-rich solids; hemicellulosic oligomers are removed; and the cellulose-rich solids are torrefied to produce energy-dense biomass. In some embodiments, hydrotorrefaction is employed to produce hydrophobic, energy-dense biomass in an energy-efficient process that avoids intermediate drying between extraction/hydrolysis and torrefaction. The energy-dense biomass may be pelletized or directly combusted or gasified. The hemicellulosic oligomers may be hydrolyzed to fermentable sugars and then fermented to ethanol or other products, or further reacted to produce furfural or other products.

Abstract: A process is described for the preparation of water-soluble cellulose hydrolysis products, which comprises admixing cellulose with an ionic liquid capable of solvating or dissolving at least some of the cellulose, said ionic liquid being a compound comprised solely of cations and anions and which exists in a liquid state at a temperature at or below 150° C.

Abstract: A method comprising: (a) providing a lignocellulosic substrate; (b) contacting said lignocellulosic substrate with an extractant comprising a water-soluble organic solvent to form an extracted substrate and a miscella; (c) removing miscella from said extracted substrate; and (d) hydrolyzing said extracted substrate using a chemically catalyzed process.

Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for high yields while using reduced enzyme loads in saccharification and fermentation processes. These methods increase the efficiency of enzymes and result in improved yields and composition of saccharification and fermentation end products.

Abstract: A method and system for hydrolyzing cellulose and/or hemicellulose contained in a biomass into monosaccharides and oligosaccharides by using high-temperature and high-pressure water in a subcritical condition is provided. In hydrolyzing cellulose or hemicellulose into saccharides by using high-temperature and high-pressure water in a subcritical condition, a large amount of slurry is cooled into a condition below the subcritical condition by subjecting the slurry contained in a pressure vessel under a high-temperature and high-pressure condition to flash evaporation in a pressure vessel charged with a slurry of a cellulosic biomass and heated halfway. It is possible to prevent saccharides from degrading into organic acids and to save energy by recovery of thermal energy. The cellulosic biomass is charged into a water-permeable vessel and then the water-permeable vessel is encapsulated into the pressure vessel together with water.

Abstract: A method for the dissolving and rapid hydrolyzing of the lignocellulose biomass and the device thereof are disclosed. The lignocellulose biomass is put in the pure water and rapidly heated to 330˜403° C., and then 89˜99% of the lignocellulose biomass is dissolved and rapidly hydrolyzed to saccharide in 3.38˜21.79 s. The following hydrolysis reaction can be carried out under the homogeneous phase condition for the dissolving of the lignocellulose biomass. At the same time, the solvated biomass could be easily used in the high pressure flow reactor to continuously pretreat the biomass and hydrolyze for producing saccharide, other biofuel and product. The present invention doesn't need any catalyst and doesn't pollute the environment, furthermore the process is simple and the cost is low, and it belongs to green, continuable industry encouraged by the state, and a good prospect of market application could be taken on.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for lignocellulosic conversion to sugar using an ionic liquid pretreatment for the saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass. Thus, cellulose, hemicellulose, when hydrolyzed into their sugars, can be converted to ethanol fuel through well-established fermentation technologies. These sugars also form the feedstocks for production of a variety of chemical and polymers. The complex structure of the biomass required pretreatment to enable efficient saccharification of cellulose and hemicellulose components to their constituent sugars.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods of pretreating cellulosic biomass with an ionic liquid. More specifically it relates to pretreating cellulosic biomass in an ionic liquid and adding a salt containing a kosmotropic anion to facilitate separation of precipitated solids, the aqueous phase, and the ionic liquid phase. The ionic liquid phase may be recycled in a subsequent pretreatment step, and the precipitated solids are enzymatically hydrolyzed to produce smaller oligomers of cellulose, cellbiose, and/or glucose. The kosmotropic anion facilitates phase separation where the aqueous phase contains very low concentrations of the ionic liquid.

Abstract: An efficient process for saccharifying lignocellulosic biomass in concentrated aqueous solutions of certain bromine salts, particularly LiBr and CaBr2. Real lignocellulose biomass, such as corn stover, switchgrass, waste paper, hardwood, and softwood, can be hydrolyzed without the need for any prior pretreatment. Complete saccharification of both cellulose and hemicellulose is achieved within 5-200 min at temperatures ranging from about 100 to about 160° C. Residual lignin is readily separated from product sugars by filtration or centrifugation and can be used to prepare beneficial coproducts. The bromine salt can be recovered and separated from product sugars (predominantly monosaccharides) by any art-known method and in particular solvent extraction, anti-solvent precipitation, ion-exclusion chromatography and/or ion-exchange chromatography can be employed. Hydrolysis product containing sugars can be employed for in fermentation for the production of value added products or useful fuels.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing biomass-based product from straw hemicellulose and utilizing the components thereof thoroughly. Steam-explosion and acid-hydrolysis are combined in the pre-treatment of straw in the process, thus a higher concentration of a sugar liquid can be obtained, and furfural and acetic acid can be recovered. The hemicellulose obtained by the pre-treatment can be used directly as ferment materials for producing butanol, succinic acid, butylene glycol, lactic acid, hydrogen and firedamp, which reduces the cost of these biomass-based products. The cellulose and lignin obtained by extracting the straw with an alkaline solution can produce products, such as sodium hydroxymethyl cellulose etc. In the process, all components in the straw can be utilized thoroughly and waste and pollutant will not be produced.

Abstract: This invention provides processes and apparatus to convert biomass, including wood and agricultural residues, into low-ash biomass pellets for combustion, alone or in combination with another solid fuel. Some embodiments provide processes for producing hemicellulosic sugars and low-ash biomass from cellulosic biomass, comprising providing an aqueous extraction solution with acetic acid; extracting the feedstock to produce an extract liquor containing soluble ash, hemicellulosic oligomers, acetic acid, dissolved lignin, and cellulose-rich solids; dewatering and drying the cellulose-rich, lignin-rich solids to produce a low-ash biomass; hydrolyzing the hemicellulosic oligomers to produce fermentable hemicellulosic sugars, wherein additional acetic acid is generated; removing a vapor stream comprising vaporized acetic acid from the extract; recycling the vapor or its condensate to provide some starting acetic acid for the extraction solution; and recovering fermentable hemicellulosic sugars.

Abstract: A method for the acid-catalyzed depolymerization of cellulose comprises a mechanical treatment of cellulose in the presence of an inorganic and/or organic acid. The catalytic conversion of cellulose into water-soluble products is virtually completely achieved in that celluoligomers, cellubiose, glucose and glycerol are obtained without significant byproduction.

Abstract: This invention provides processes to convert biomass into energy-dense biomass for combustion, alone or in combination with another solid fuel. Some embodiments provide processes for producing fermentable sugars and energy-dense biomass from cellulosic biomass, comprising extracting the feedstock with steam and/or hot water to produce an extract liquor containing hemicellulosic oligomers, dissolved lignin, and cellulose-rich solids; separating the extract liquor, to produce dewatered cellulose-rich solids; hydrolyzing the dewatered cellulose-rich solids, thereby removing a portion of the cellulose, to produce intermediate solids (with higher energy density) and a hydrolysate; drying the intermediate solids to produce energy-dense biomass; and recovering fermentable sugars from the hydrolysate. The energy-dense biomass may be pelletized into biomass pellets, which may have a similar energy density as torrefied pellets from wood.

Abstract: The presently disclosed and/or claimed inventive concept(s) relates generally to processes for the non-aqueous hydrolysis of cellulose-containing material, and, more particularly but without limitation, to processes for the non-aqueous hydrolysis of cellulose-containing material into soluble sugars using a solid acid material as a catalyst. Further, the presently disclosed and/or claimed inventive concept(s) relates to non-aqueous and/or powdered soluble sugars and reaction products containing such non-aqueous and/or powdered soluble sugars produced according to a non-aqueous hydrolysis of cellulose-containing material using a solid acid material as a catalyst.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for the hydrolyzation of ensiled biomass is disclosed. Ensiled biomass is processed in multiple phases, resulting in a liquid precursor hydrozate and a solid precursor hydrozate. The liquid precursor having significant economic value, and being suitable for uses such as, for example, lower cost and improved efficiency ethanol production. A method for lower cost, improved efficiency alcohol production that uses the resulting liquid precursor hydrozate being produced at distributed sources is further disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2 or an amino acid sequence encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a variant polypeptide or variant polynucleotide thereof, wherein the variant polypeptide has at least 73% sequence identity with the sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2 or the variant polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide that has at least 73% sequence identity with the sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2. The invention features the full length coding sequence of the novel gene as well as the amino acid sequence of the full-length functional polypeptide and functional equivalents of the gene or the amino acid sequence. The invention also relates to methods for using the polypeptide in industrial processes. Also included in the invention are cells transformed with a polynucleotide according to the invention suitable for producing these proteins.

Abstract: A system including an apparatus is presented for treatment of biomass that allows successful biomass treatment at a high solids dry weight of biomass in the biomass mixture. The design of the system provides extensive distribution of a reactant by spreading the reactant over the biomass as the reactant is introduced through an injection lance, while the biomass is rotated using baffles. The apparatus system to provide extensive assimilation of the reactant into biomass using baffles to lift and drop the biomass, as well as attrition media which fall onto the biomass, to enhance the treatment process.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for detoxifying a hydrolysate obtained from a lignocellulosic biomass and methods of producing ethanol from the detoxified hydrolysate. The present methods provide detoxified hydrolysates in which the quantity of compounds that are deleterious to fermenting microorganisms are substantially reduced relative to the starting hydrolysate and in which the amount of fermentable sugars loss is minimal.