Ch-bioforce Oy

Nicholas Lax

Lari Vähäsalo

Sebastian Von Schoultz

Lari Vahasalo

This invention describes a method for the purification of a hemicellulose extract produced for example through hot water extraction. Such extracts often contain large amounts of colloidal material which primarily consists of lignin and other phenolic compounds. These colloidal particles clog equipment such as ultrafiltration membranes, which deem the use of such equipment almost impossible. The unwanted material is very tacky at temperatures between 70 and 120&#xb0; C. which makes it possible to adsorb it onto a variety of materials. Further, by using an adsorbing material that is wholly or partly contaminated with chemically alike material the purification process is greatly enhanced.

Method of producing hemicellulose extracts

Increasing of the heating value of combustible biomass through hemicellulose extraction and subsequent press-drying is described. After hemicellulose extraction the remaining biomass is soft and easily press-dried to high dry content of up to 80%. The method involves the removal of most water binding hemicelluloses and retaining most of the lignin in the biomass. Lignin can either be retained in the biomass during the extraction or combining the lignin, which has been separated from the hemicellulose extract, with the extracted biomass.

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Espoo, Finland

Nicholas Lax