The present invention relates to methods and systems for remediating one or more impurities (e.g., diacetyl) that are present in manufacturing an alcohol (e.g., ethanol) from cellulosic biomass. The methods and systems include reacting the one or more impurities with at least one treatment compound (e.g., an oxidizing agent, an alkali compound, or a mixture thereof) to form a reaction product that can be separated from the alcohol.

Provided are an agent for decreasing the fluidity of a solid-liquid mixture (agent), and a method for decreasing the fluidity of a solid-liquid mixture within a short time while preventing an increase in the volume of the solid-liquid mixture, regardless of the chemical composition of the solid-liquid mixture. The agent is a granular material having a structure formed by entangled fibers. In one embodiment of the agent, the granular material has an average particle diameter of 300 m or less and a specific surface area of 0.25 to 100 m2/g inclusive as measured by a BET method. In another embodiment of the agent, the granular material has a porosity of 50% or more and a specific surface area of 0.25 to 100 m2/g inclusive. It is preferred that each of the fibers contains a hydrophilic polymer; the hydrophilic polymer is preferably cellulose, the solid-liquid mixture is preferably mud.

Provided are an agent for decreasing the fluidity of a solid-liquid mixture (agent), and a method for decreasing the fluidity of a solid-liquid mixture within a short time while preventing an increase in the volume of the solid-liquid mixture, regardless of the chemical composition of the solid-liquid mixture. The agent is a granular material having a structure formed by entangled fibers. In one embodiment of the agent, the granular material has an average particle diameter of 300 m or less and a specific surface area of 0.25 to 100 m2/g inclusive as measured by a BET method. In another embodiment of the agent, the granular material has a porosity of 50% or more and a specific surface area of 0.25 to 100 m2/g inclusive. It is preferred that each of the fibers contains a hydrophilic polymer; the hydrophilic polymer is preferably cellulose, the solid-liquid mixture is preferably mud.

The present invention relates to a method of treating biomass, comprising providing a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock; contacting the biomass feedstock in a mixture, which is formed by the biomass, water and an alkaline agent, with an oxidizing agent at an elevated temperature; and continuing the contacting of the biomass feedstock with the oxidizing agent until a notable part of the lignin is solubilized. The step of providing the biomass feedstock comprises contacting a biomass raw-material containing cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin in an aqueous phase with an alkaline agent; continuing the contacting of the biomass with the alkaline agent until a significant portion of the hemicellulose is dissolved in the aqueous phase to provide a modified biomass; recovering the modified biomass; optionally opening the structure of the modified biomass by mechanical treatment; and using the modified biomass as a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock. Treating the biomass provides hemicellulose, lignin and cellulose fractions that have a multitude of applications in the bioeconomy.

Using an organic compound having a bottle brush structure, a material having softness and resilience and having excellent low-friction performance (SRT material) can be provided. Preferably, the SRT material contains a reinforcing filler, and may contain a lubricating liquid to be gelled.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

A method of manufacturing a cellulose-based shaped article. The method comprises subjecting a solution of lignocellulosic material, dissolved in a distillable ionic liquid, to a spinning method, wherein the ionic liquid is a diazabicyclononene (DBN)-based ionic liquid. DBN-based ionic liquids have good dissolution power, high thermal and chemical stability, lack runaway reactions and exhibit low energy consumption, due to low spinning temperatures. The shaped cellulose articles can be used as textile fibers, high-end non-woven fibers, technical fibers, films for packaging, and barriers films in batteries, as membranes and as carbon-fiber precursors.

The invention relates to a process for treating a lignocellulosic material, preferably wood, comprising the following steps: (1) soaking of the material with organic fluid in order to dissolve at least 40% and at most 85%, in weight %, of the lignin of the material; (2) washing with organic fluid so as to discharge the dissolved lignin; (3) filling with a filling compound; and (4) finishing, so as to obtain a composite formed of a three-dimensional network of transformed filling compound incorporated into a cellulose and lignin network. The invention also relates to a composite structure able to be obtained in this way, and to any part comprising at least one such structure.

A multi stage process for the separation of bio-components from a waste stream containing Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles is disclosed. Targeted polymers are added to the source and separated streams prior to passing the streams through separation equipment including a rotary screen, a press, and a dissolved air floatation in which the waste stream is separated into a stream containing predominantly protein, a stream containing predominantly oil, a stream containing predominantly water and a stream that contains predominantly fibers.