Iogen Energy Corporation

Peter J E Harlick

Wei Zheng

Provided is a system for hydrolyzing a cellulosic feedstock slurry. The system comprises one or more unmixed reactors for receiving and partially hydrolyzing the cellulosic feedstock slurry so as to produce a mixture of partially hydrolyzed slurry. The unmixed reactors may be plug flow reactors. One or more mixed reactors are downstream of the unmixed reactors for continuing the hydrolysis of the mixture of the partially hydrolyzed slurry. The one or more unmixed and mixed reactors may be connected in series, parallel or a combination thereof.

System for hydrolyzing a cellulosic feedstock slurry using one or more unmixed and mixed reactors

Provided is a process for the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose to produce glucose from a pretreated cellulosic feedstock. The process comprises providing an aqueous slurry of the pretreated cellulosic feedstock that has a water content that is less than about 140% of the maximum water holding capacity of the pretreated cellulosic feedstock. The aqueous slurry of the pretreated cellulosic feedstock is fed to one or more unmixed hydrolysis reactors and hydrolyzed with cellulase enzymes therein. In the unmixed hydrolysis reactor(s), the cellulase enzymes hydrolyze a portion of the cellulose to produce soluble sugars, thereby producing a mixture of partially hydrolyzed cellulose containing soluble sugars. The hydrolysis of the cellulose to glucose is continued by feeding the mixture of partially hydrolyzed cellulose to one or more mixed hydrolysis reactors. Also provided are systems for carrying out the foregoing enzymatic hydrolysis.

Process for improving the hydrolysis of cellulose in high consistency systems using one or more unmixed and mixed hydrolysis reactors

The present invention provides a method for producing glucose from a lignocellulosic feedstock. The method comprises moving a pretreated feedstock slurry that has an undissolved solids content of between about 15 and about 30 wt % through a pipe. Cellulase enzyme is added to the pretreated slurry to produce a slurry comprising cellulase enzyme. A high shear in-line mixing device is used to disperse the cellulase enzyme in the pretreated slurry to produce a pretreated slurry comprising dispersed cellulase enzyme. The pretreated slurry comprising dispersed cellulase enzyme is then subjected to hydrolysis so as to produce glucose from cellulose contained therein.

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Metcalf, Canada

Peter J E Harlick