A process for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass is provided. The process generally includes flowing water through a pretreatment reactor containing a bed of particulate ligno-cellulosic biomass to produce a pressurized, high-temperature hydrolyzate exit stream, separating solubilized compounds from the hydrolyzate exit stream using an inorganic nanoporous membrane element, fractionating the retentate enriched in solubilized organic components and recycling the permeate to the pretreatment reactor. The pretreatment process provides solubilized organics in concentrated form for the subsequent conversion into biofuels and other chemicals.

A process for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass is provided. The process generally includes flowing water through a pretreatment reactor containing a bed of particulate ligno-cellulosic biomass to produce a pressurized, high-temperature hydrolyzate exit stream, separating solubilized compounds from the hydrolyzate exit stream using an inorganic nanoporous membrane element, fractionating the retentate enriched in solubilized organic components and recycling the permeate to the pretreatment reactor. The pretreatment process provides solubilized organics in concentrated form for the subsequent conversion into biofuels and other chemicals.

Compositions comprising C5 and C6 monosaccharides and low levels of undesirable impurities, such as compounds containing sulfur, nitrogen, or metals, are disclosed.

Compositions comprising C5 and C6 monosaccharides and low levels of undesirable impurities, such as compounds containing sulfur, nitrogen, or metals, are disclosed.

Compositions comprising C5 and C6 saccharides of varying degrees of polymerization and low levels of undesirable impurities, such as compounds containing sulfur, nitrogen, or metals, are disclosed.

Compositions comprising C5 and C6 saccharides of varying degrees of polymerization and low levels of undesirable impurities, such as compounds containing sulfur, nitrogen, or metals, are disclosed.

A method of producing a sugar liquid from a cellulose-containing biomass includes (1) hydrolyzing a cellulose-containing biomass using a filamentous fungus-derived cellulose and carrying out solid-liquid separation into a sugar liquid and a hydrolysis residue; (2) washing the hydrolysis residue in (1) using an aqueous alkaline solution and an aqueous inorganic salt solution independently and recovering, as a washing liquid, the filamentous fungus-derived cellulase adsorbed to the hydrolysis residue; and (3) filtering the washing liquid in (2) through an ultrafiltration membrane to recover a sugar liquid as a permeate and the filamentous fungus-derived cellulase as a non-permeate.

A method of producing a sugar liquid from a cellulose-containing biomass includes (1) hydrolyzing a cellulose-containing biomass using a filamentous fungus-derived cellulose and carrying out solid-liquid separation into a sugar liquid and a hydrolysis residue; (2) washing the hydrolysis residue in (1) using an aqueous alkaline solution and an aqueous inorganic salt solution independently and recovering, as a washing liquid, the filamentous fungus-derived cellulase adsorbed to the hydrolysis residue; and (3) filtering the washing liquid in (2) through an ultrafiltration membrane to recover a sugar liquid as a permeate and the filamentous fungus-derived cellulase as a non-permeate.

A composition comprising an inorganic particulate material adapted to convert a biomass material into hydrolysis products is provided. The inorganic particulate material comprises at least 0.1 wt. % of at least one impurity in its crystal structure based on the total weight of the inorganic particulate material. Methods of convert a biomass material into hydrolysis products using the compositions comprising an inorganic particulate material are also provided.

A composition comprising an inorganic particulate material adapted to convert a biomass material into hydrolysis products is provided. The inorganic particulate material comprises at least 0.1 wt. % of at least one impurity in its crystal structure based on the total weight of the inorganic particulate material. Methods of convert a biomass material into hydrolysis products using the compositions comprising an inorganic particulate material are also provided.