| abstract |
The present invention relates to a method of producing a treated biomass, the method comprising: determining the lignin content of a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock; oxidizing the biomass feedstock by irradiation of the biomass feedstock with an electron beam in the presence of air, wherein the dose of irradiation delivered to the material is from 0.1 to 5 Mrad per 1% by weight of lignin in the lignocellulosic material, whereby the biomass feedstock is oxidized to the extent that a plurality of pendent carboxylic acid groups are formed thereon; mixing the oxidized biomass feedstock in a fluid that includes water to provide a dispersion of the oxidized biomass feedstock that has a first pH; adding a saccharification agent to the dispersion to saccharify the oxidized material and produce a sugar solution including at least one sugar; and adding base to the dispersion to increase its pH to a second pH higher than the first pH, thereby providing a dissolved sugar. |