Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, equipment, systems and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, in a vault in which hazardous gases are removed, destroyed and/or converted. The treatments are efficient and can reduce the recalcitrance of the lignocellulosic material so that it is easier to produce an intermediate or product, e.g., sugars, alcohols, sugar alcohols and energy, from the lignocellulosic material.

A reactor vessel (1) for biomass material, wherein said reactor vessel (1) is a pressurized reactor vessel, said reactor vessel being elongated and comprising: a substantially tubular vessel part (3); two gables (5a, 5b) connected one to each end (19a, 19b) of the tubular vessel part (3), hereby enclosing a vessel internal compartment (7); and a material transporting screw (8) comprising a central shaft (9) provided within the vessel internal compartment (7) extending between the two gables (5a, 5b) along a central axis (A) of the reactor vessel (1), wherein said material transporting screw further comprises screw flight (11) provided around the shaft (9), wherein said material transporting screw is configured for transporting the biomass material through the reactor vessel, wherein both gables (5a, 5b) are inwardly dished.

A reactor vessel (1) for biomass material, wherein said reactor vessel (1) is a pressurized reactor vessel, said reactor vessel being elongated and comprising: a substantially tubular vessel part (3); two gables (5a, 5b) connected one to each end (19a, 19b) of the tubular vessel part (3), hereby enclosing a vessel internal compartment (7); and a material transporting screw (8) comprising a central shaft (9) provided within the vessel internal compartment (7) extending between the two gables (5a, 5b) along a central axis (A) of the reactor vessel (1), wherein said material transporting screw further comprises screw flight (11) provided around the shaft (9), wherein said material transporting screw is configured for transporting the biomass material through the reactor vessel, wherein both gables (5a, 5b) are inwardly dished.

This invention discloses a paper processing device, comprising a bottom block, a connecting cavity fixedly arranged in the bottom block, a penetrating cavity communicated with and arranged in the lower end wall of the connecting cavity. The penetrating cavity is communicated with the exterior space. A lifting motor is fixedly arranged in the lower end wall of the connecting cavity, the upper end wall of output shaft of which is fixedly provided with a driving pulley. A driven pulley in the connecting cavity is arranged on one side of the driving pulley. The lifting motor works to drive the driving pulley to rotate to drive the driven pulley to rotate, so an inner threaded block is driven to rotate to drive a threaded rod to move upwards; then a stirring fan is driven to enter a reaction cavity. The automatic structure adopted by this device realizes automation of paper processing.

A screen feed arrangement for a pulp production process, comprising a discharge tank having an outlet, which is connected to an inlet of a discharge tank pump having an outlet, a dilution tank having an outlet, a screen feed pump having an inlet and an outlet, and a screening arrangement, wherein the outlet of the discharge tank and the outlet of the dilution tank are connected to the inlet of the screen feed pump, the outlet of which is connected to the screening arrangement, and that pulp which passes the outlet of the discharge tank has a mass concentration from about 8% to about 15%. A corresponding method for feeding pulp to a screen feed arrangement is also presented.

A screen feed arrangement for a pulp production process, comprising a discharge tank having an outlet, which is connected to an inlet of a discharge tank pump having an outlet, a dilution tank having an outlet, a screen feed pump having an inlet and an outlet, and a screening arrangement, wherein the outlet of the discharge tank and the outlet of the dilution tank are connected to the inlet of the screen feed pump, the outlet of which is connected to the screening arrangement, and that pulp which passes the outlet of the discharge tank has a mass concentration from about 8% to about 15%. A corresponding method for feeding pulp to a screen feed arrangement is also presented.

Described herein is a method for processing straw into an intermediate straw product. The method comprises: (a) treating straw with an alkaline solution having a p H of between about 10 and about 14, at a temperature of between about 20 C. and about 80 C., for a period of between about 6 hours and about 30 hours; (b) separating excess alkaline solution and the treated straw from each other; and (c) maintaining the treated straw in an anaerobic environment at a temperature of between about 30 C. and about 45 C., for a period of between about 6 hours and about 30 hours to produce an intermediate straw product. Also described is an intermediate product produced by the method; a method for extracting lignin from straw; lignin thereby produced; a method for extracting cellulose fibers from straw to produce paper pulp; cellulose fibers and paper pulp thereby produced; a method for producing a paper pulp product or a paper product; a product thereby produced; and a container and apparatus for processing straw according to the methods described.

Described herein is a method for processing straw into an intermediate straw product. The method comprises: (a) treating straw with an alkaline solution having a p H of between about 10 and about 14, at a temperature of between about 20 C. and about 80 C., for a period of between about 6 hours and about 30 hours; (b) separating excess alkaline solution and the treated straw from each other; and (c) maintaining the treated straw in an anaerobic environment at a temperature of between about 30 C. and about 45 C., for a period of between about 6 hours and about 30 hours to produce an intermediate straw product. Also described is an intermediate product produced by the method; a method for extracting lignin from straw; lignin thereby produced; a method for extracting cellulose fibers from straw to produce paper pulp; cellulose fibers and paper pulp thereby produced; a method for producing a paper pulp product or a paper product; a product thereby produced; and a container and apparatus for processing straw according to the methods described.

A treatment vessel for treating lignocellulosic material comprises a main section having a first end and a second end, and an outlet section that is conical or frustoconical and tapers from a first end joined to the second end of the main section towards a second end having an outlet opening. A conical body is arranged within the treatment vessel, the vertex of the conical body pointing away from the main section. The conical body is positioned such that the base thereof is positioned within a perpendicular distance (d) from a transition plane (T) defined by the junction between the first end of the outlet section and the second end of the main section, wherein the perpendicular distance (d) is ? or less of the diameter (D) of the main section. A half angle (?) of the conical body is 0.5-20? less, preferably 5-15? less, such as 10? less, than a half angle (?) of the outlet section.

A treatment vessel for treating lignocellulosic material comprises a main section having a first end and a second end, and an outlet section that is conical or frustoconical and tapers from a first end joined to the second end of the main section towards a second end having an outlet opening. A conical body is arranged within the treatment vessel, the vertex of the conical body pointing away from the main section. The conical body is positioned such that the base thereof is positioned within a perpendicular distance (d) from a transition plane (T) defined by the junction between the first end of the outlet section and the second end of the main section, wherein the perpendicular distance (d) is ? or less of the diameter (D) of the main section. A half angle (?) of the conical body is 0.5-20? less, preferably 5-15? less, such as 10? less, than a half angle (?) of the outlet section.