Iogen Corporation

Kristin Martens

Brian Foody

Jeffrey S Tolan

Daniel G MacDonald

Natacha Leduc

Patrick J Foody

John Dechman

Robert John Griffin

Douglas A MacKenzie

A process for converting lignocellulosic biomass to glucose or ethanol includes subjecting the lignocellulosic biomass to a SOpretreatment within the temperature range 110&#xb0; C.-150&#xb0; C. Good glucose yields have been achieved when the SOpretreatment is conducted for more than 90 minutes and when the total amount of SOavailable is greater than 20 wt % based on dry weight of lignocellulosic biomass.

Converting lignocellulosic biomass to glucose using a low temperature sulfur dioxide pretreatment

A process for producing ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass includes adding at least one of sulfur dioxide and sulfurous acid to the lignocellulosic biomass to provide an equivalent sulfur dioxide loading of at least 10 wt % sulfur dioxide to dry lignocellulosic biomass. The acidified lignocellulosic biomass is pretreated at a temperature above about 185&#xb0; C. and for a pretreatment time less than about 10 minutes, to provide a pretreated biomass composition wherein the biomass is readily hydrolyzed by enzymes. Advantageously, sulfur dioxide from at least one of the flash stream and a stream derived from the flash is recovered and recycled back into the process.

Sulfur dioxide and/or sulfurous acid pretreatment with sulfur dioxide recovery

A process for producing alcohol from lignocellulosic biomass includes adding at least one of sulfur dioxide and sulfurous acid to the lignocellulosic biomass to provide an effective sulfur dioxide dosage and/or effective sulfur dioxide slurry concentration, each of which is calculated using the ratio of the volume of the slurry in the pretreatment reactor to the total volume of the pretreatment reactor, within a predetermined range.

Sulfur dioxide and/or sulfurous acid pretreatment

A process for hydrolyzing a pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock is disclosed herein. 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 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.

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Nepean, Canada

Kristin Martens