A method for continuous steam explosion discharge of a pressurised reactor for thermal treatment of lignocellulose biomasses. The steam explosion discharge is complete decoupled from the thermal treatment step and the loss of steam from the process is fully controlled without jeopardizing the mechanical disintegration of the lignocellulose material from the process.

A method for continuous steam explosion discharge of a pressurised reactor for thermal treatment of lignocellulose biomasses. The steam explosion discharge is complete decoupled from the thermal treatment step and the loss of steam from the process is fully controlled without jeopardizing the mechanical disintegration of the lignocellulose material from the process.

It is disclosed a process to transfer a ligno-cellulosic feedstock from a low pressure zone to a high pressure zone. A slurry the ligno-cellulosic feedstock is first provided, which is then subjected to a multi-step liquid removal process comprising draining by gravity at least a portion of the free liquid; removing a first portion of the capillary liquid in a low pressure zone by continuously compressing a stream of the ligno-cellulosic feedstock to reach a moisture content in a first target range; removing a second portion of the capillary liquid by shearing and compressing the ligno-cellulosic stream in a plug forming device, to form a ligno-cellulosic feedstock plug having a moisture content in a second target range at an outlet of the plug forming device connected to the high pressure zone. In the removal of the first portion of the capillary liquid, at least one first compression device continuously compresses the stream of the drained ligno-cellulosic feedstock to a first control pressure, while conveying the stream of the drained ligno-cellulosic feedstock in a flow direction of a belt filter press.

It is disclosed a process to transfer a ligno-cellulosic feedstock from a low pressure zone to a high pressure zone. A slurry the ligno-cellulosic feedstock is first provided, which is then subjected to a multi-step liquid removal process comprising draining by gravity at least a portion of the free liquid; removing a first portion of the capillary liquid in a low pressure zone by continuously compressing a stream of the ligno-cellulosic feedstock to reach a moisture content in a first target range; removing a second portion of the capillary liquid by shearing and compressing the ligno-cellulosic stream in a plug forming device, to form a ligno-cellulosic feedstock plug having a moisture content in a second target range at an outlet of the plug forming device connected to the high pressure zone. In the removal of the first portion of the capillary liquid, at least one first compression device continuously compresses the stream of the drained ligno-cellulosic feedstock to a first control pressure, while conveying the stream of the drained ligno-cellulosic feedstock in a flow direction of a belt filter press.

The invention provides a fermentable feedstock of sustainable origin comprising a plant biomass thermal pressure hydrolysate, the biomass preferably being lignocellulosic. e.g., grass, straw or similar, to be processed alone or in conjunction with conventional starch/sugar containing crops to supplement or replace conventional arable crops in sugar and nutrient production for fermentation processes. The invention also provides a method of producing an incubatable feedstock for aerobic/anaerobic fermentation comprising subjecting plant biomass to thermal pressure hydrolysis in an autoclave using steam and agitation in an alkaline environment to achieve hydrolytic efficiencies of 85-95% at moderate temperatures of 130-150 C. that is superior to the prior art, recovering the hydrolysed product from the autoclave, and providing this as the incubatable feedstock that may involve solid separation and a saccharification phase prior to fermentation. A method for producing a protein, edible biomass, bioplastic or other bio-material product, comprises supplying the above incubatable feedstock or a feedstock produced by the above method to micro-organisms that can give rise to the protein, bioplastic or other bio-material product within a fermentation reactor and recovering the products therefrom. The invention also provides for the generation of biogas from the residual solids to provide energy for the process while stabilizing the residual organics to allow the resultant digestate to fertilize the land used to grow the sustainable plant materials used as inputs to the process.

The invention provides a fermentable feedstock of sustainable origin comprising a plant biomass thermal pressure hydrolysate, the biomass preferably being lignocellulosic. e.g., grass, straw or similar, to be processed alone or in conjunction with conventional starch/sugar containing crops to supplement or replace conventional arable crops in sugar and nutrient production for fermentation processes. The invention also provides a method of producing an incubatable feedstock for aerobic/anaerobic fermentation comprising subjecting plant biomass to thermal pressure hydrolysis in an autoclave using steam and agitation in an alkaline environment to achieve hydrolytic efficiencies of 85-95% at moderate temperatures of 130-150 C. that is superior to the prior art, recovering the hydrolysed product from the autoclave, and providing this as the incubatable feedstock that may involve solid separation and a saccharification phase prior to fermentation. A method for producing a protein, edible biomass, bioplastic or other bio-material product, comprises supplying the above incubatable feedstock or a feedstock produced by the above method to micro-organisms that can give rise to the protein, bioplastic or other bio-material product within a fermentation reactor and recovering the products therefrom. The invention also provides for the generation of biogas from the residual solids to provide energy for the process while stabilizing the residual organics to allow the resultant digestate to fertilize the land used to grow the sustainable plant materials used as inputs to the process.

A system for processing lignocellulosic materials includes: a pressurization vessel configured to perform hydrothermal treatment of the lignocellulosic materials using saturated or superheated steam; a pressure sealing screw configured to continuously discharge hydrothermally treated lignocellulosic material from the pressurization vessel to a discharge chamber; a control valve configured to add steam to the discharge chamber for pressure control; and a discharge nozzle configured to discharge the lignocellulosic material and steam from the discharge chamber with expansion of steam. The control valve is configured to add the steam to the discharge chamber so as to control a pressure in the discharge chamber to different levels at varying flow rates of the lignocellulosic material and to thereby control a ratio of an amount of steam that escapes through the discharge nozzle to an amount of the lignocellulosic material discharged through the discharge nozzle.

A method for treating cellulosic biomass feed stock including: feeding the feed stock to an upper inlet of a vertical reactor vessel, wherein the feed stock is deposited on a pile of feed stock within the vertical reactor vessel; adding heat energy to heat the feed stock by injecting steam to an upper region of the vertical reactor vessel; propelling the feed stock through an outlet in a lower region of the vertical reactor vessel by injecting steam into the biomass at, near or after the bottom outlet of the vertical reactor vessel, and moving the propelled feed stock through an expansion device, such as a steam explosion device, to subject the feed stock to a steam explosion process.

A method for treating cellulosic biomass feed stock including: feeding the feed stock to an upper inlet of a vertical reactor vessel, wherein the feed stock is deposited on a pile of feed stock within the vertical reactor vessel; adding heat energy to heat the feed stock by injecting steam to an upper region of the vertical reactor vessel; propelling the feed stock through an outlet in a lower region of the vertical reactor vessel by injecting steam into the biomass at, near or after the bottom outlet of the vertical reactor vessel, and moving the propelled feed stock through an expansion device, such as a steam explosion device, to subject the feed stock to a steam explosion process.

The present invention regards a refiner plate segment (1) for a disc-type refiner apparatus (30), adapted to grind a saturated cellulosic material (M) in a refining gap (17) defined by opposed discs (20) during use of the apparatus (30), the material being moved from a refiner inlet opening (21) towards an outer edge (7) of the segment (1). The outer edge (7) of the segment (1) comprises a barrier arrangement (15) to increase the pressure in the refining gap (17) for retaining the liquid phase out to said outer edge (7). The present invention also regards a method of refining a saturated cellulosic material (M) in a refining gap (17) defined by two opposed discs (20) of a disc arrangement.