| abstract |
Embodiments of the present invention overcome the well-known handling difficulties of lignocellulosic biomass in an economically practical manner. Methods and systems are provided for efficiently fractionating lignocellulosic biomass into cellulose, hemicellulose sugars, lignin, and acetic acid. The cellulose thus obtained is highly amorphous and can be easily converted to glucose using known methods. Fermentable hemicellulose sugars, low molecular weight lignins, and purified acetic acid are also major products of the methods and systems of the present invention. Certain embodiments of the invention have relatively low capital and processing costs due to mild processing conditions and low solvent / solid ratios. |