Processes for converting lignocellulose to feedstock and downstream products are disclosed. The processes may include acid treatment of lignocellulose to produce a fermentation feedstock. In various instances, the processes include recovery or recycling of acid, such as recovery of hydrochloric acid from concentrated and/or dilute streams. Downstream products may include acrylic acid-based products such as diapers, paper and paper-based products, ethanol, biofuels such as biodiesel and fuel additives, and detergents.

Processes for converting lignocellulose to feedstock and downstream products are disclosed. The processes may include acid treatment of lignocellulose to produce a fermentation feedstock. In various instances, the processes include recovery or recycling of acid, such as recovery of hydrochloric acid from concentrated and/or dilute streams. Downstream products may include acrylic acid-based products such as diapers, paper and paper-based products, ethanol, biofuels such as biodiesel and fuel additives, and detergents.

A method for degumming bast fibers comprising soaking a source of bast fiber in a saline solution. The source of bast fiber may be soaked in a saline solution having a concentration ranging between less than 1 part per thousand to about 200 parts per thousand. The saline concentration may vary as the source of bast fiber is soaking, or by alternating bast fiber between aqueous solutions of differing ionic concentrations. In one embodiment, the source of bast fiber is soaked in seawater, wherein the saline concentration varies by alternating the salinity using a tide. The source of bast fiber may be hemp.

A system and method are provided for predictive control of brown stock treatment at a pulp mill. Various online sensors generate output signals representative of actual values for respective process characteristics, each of which are directly or indirectly affected by adjustments to corresponding process variables. A controller uses the output signals or associated measurement data to dynamically set target values for the process characteristics based on a predicted impact of control responses for corresponding process variables. The controller further generates control signals to actuators associated with the respective process variables based on detected variations between the respective actual values and target values. Exemplary brown stock washing control systems may optimize various types of brown stock washing configurations, including for example vacuum drum washers, compaction baffle washers, chemiwashers, direct displacement washers and wash presses. Cloud-based analytics and machine learning may also be implemented to improve the control algorithms over time.

In alternative embodiments, provided herein are methods and industrial processes for generating high purity (high alpha cellulose) pulp from lignocellulosic feedstocks, comprising directly contacting a lignocellulosic feedstock with a system comprising a super critical or near-super critical fluid or mixture of fluids, whereby the partial pressure of the system provides for the alcoholysis, hydrolysis or a combination thereof of the feedstock at reduced temperatures and pressures, followed by an upgrading step wherein a low-purity cellulosic material generated in the super critical or near-super critical reaction step is treated with an alkaline solution. Also provided herein are systems and methods for producing a high purity cellulose material using reduced amounts of alkaline material.

In alternative embodiments, provided herein are methods and industrial processes for generating high purity (high alpha cellulose) pulp from lignocellulosic feedstocks, comprising directly contacting a lignocellulosic feedstock with a system comprising a super critical or near-super critical fluid or mixture of fluids, whereby the partial pressure of the system provides for the alcoholysis, hydrolysis or a combination thereof of the feedstock at reduced temperatures and pressures, followed by an upgrading step wherein a low-purity cellulosic material generated in the super critical or near-super critical reaction step is treated with an alkaline solution. Also provided herein are systems and methods for producing a high purity cellulose material using reduced amounts of alkaline material.

A method for separating cellulose from a wood-based raw material including hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin as principal components, includes injecting the wood-based raw material into a dissolution reservoir in which ethylene glycol is stored as a separating agent, and heating the separating agent in the dissolution reservoir at atmospheric pressure to a temperature in a range of 260 C. to 280 C., and reacting the wood-based raw material with the separating agent, evaporating a hemicellulose component from the separating agent and condensing the hemicellulose component, and monitoring a pH value of the condensate of the hemicellulose component. A temperature of the condensate is held at the temperature at which a change in the pH value of the condensate decreases, lignin is dissolved in the separating agent, and crude cellulose that floats in the separating agent is separated and collected.

The invention herein disclosed and claimed is a process for refining fiber from lignocellulosic biomass. The process provides refined fiber and agriculturally amenable co-products, with a virtually waste-free systems design.

The invention is directed to compositions and processes concerning efficient downstream processing of products derived from organic acids pretreatment of plant materials.

The present invention relates to treatment of dissolving pulp with a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase. The lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase treatment results in reduced viscosity and/or improved viscosity control in the dissolving pulp production process and/or 5 increased reactivity of the dissolving pulp.