The present invention relates to a method for pretreating lignocellulose by using an acid-base mixture catalyst. The method pretreats lignocellulose, by using a mixture catalyst of an acid and a base, so as not to pass through additional neutralization steps, and carries out pretreatment and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation through an identical single reactor process, thereby having an effect of producing ethanol in an excellent production yield from lignocellulosic biomass while simplifying the total process and reducing equipment costs and total processing costs.

The present invention provides a method for creating a solution comprising one or more polysaccharide materials dissolved in an alkali, including the step of subjecting a mixture comprising the one or more polysaccharide materials and the alkali to high-pressure homogenisation.

A method of processing a lignocellulosic feedstock includes heating the lignocellulosic feedstock in a solvent mixture comprising an acid and at least 80% by volume of n-butanol to produce a reaction mixture including a butylated lignin. A butylated lignin product wherein at least 85% of the -O-4 linkages include n-butyl ether groups can be prepared. Cellulose and butylated hemicellulose products can also be obtained.

A method of processing a lignocellulosic feedstock includes heating the lignocellulosic feedstock in a solvent mixture comprising an acid and at least 80% by volume of n-butanol to produce a reaction mixture including a butylated lignin. A butylated lignin product wherein at least 85% of the -O-4 linkages include n-butyl ether groups can be prepared. Cellulose and butylated hemicellulose products can also be obtained.

Described is a method for processing cellulose-containing biomass with sulfuric acid and certain additives, especially for the pretreatment of cellulose-containing biomass prior to saccharification.

The present invention describes a method for the production of a spinning dope composition, said method comprising a homogenization involving vigorous mixing of a cellulosic pulp material in alkali solution, vigorous mixing implying supplying a power density to agitators used in the homogenization step of at least 150 k W/m.sup.3 (k W supplied to agitators per mixed unit of liquid volume), and thereafter a dissolution involving mixing of the cellulosic pulp material in the alkali solution to obtain a spinning dope composition, wherein the power density supplied to agitators used in the dissolution step is maximum 75 k W/m.sup.3 (k W supplied to agitators per mixed unit of liquid volume); and wherein the cellulosic pulp material in alkali solution is kept at a temperature of less than 0 C. during the homogenization and during at least part of the dissolution. The present invention is also directed to a system intended for the production of a spinning dope composition.

Methods for manufacturing, re-activating and using compositions including fibrillated parenchymal cellulose and activator are provided. The activator has a low molecular weight and is used to facilitate reactivation.

Methods for manufacturing, re-activating and using compositions including fibrillated parenchymal cellulose and activator are provided. The activator has a low molecular weight and is used to facilitate reactivation.

Described is a method for processing cellulose-containing biomass with sulfuric acid and certain additives, especially for the pretreatment of cellulose-containing biomass prior to saccharification.

An ionic liquid represented by the following chemical formula, [(CH.sub.3).sub.3N(CH.sub.2).sub.2OH].sup.+[NH.sub.2(CH.sub.2).sub.3CH(NH.sub.2)COO].sup., which provides an ionic liquid capable of dissolving cellulose within twenty-four hours.