A method of manufacturing sugar cane polyvinyl alcohol wherein sugar cane bagasse is processed into polyvinyl alcohol. Processing raw materials including sugar cane bagasse and deionized water. Enzymatically hydrolyzing and using saccharification on the sugar cane bagasse to obtain sugar cane bagasse enzymatic hydrolysate. Fermenting the sugar cane bagasse solution. Distilling the fermented sugar cane bagasse solution to obtain ethanol solution and lignin solution. Transferring the distilled solutions to an ethylene plant area to obtain a polymer grade ethylene product. Transferring the polymer grade ethylene product to an acetic acid evaporator to generate vinyl acetate. Introducing the vinyl acetate into an autoclave with methanol solution wherein said solutions undergo a reflux reaction process. Ethyl acetate is then dissolved in methanol to prepare a polyvinyl acetate solution which undergoes alcoholysis wherein the product is then washed and deionized, yielding polyvinyl alcohol.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for producing and using a sugar cane syrup, juice, or powder. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a system and associated processes for processing sugar cane using a cold processing pipeline in a manner that retains its natural nutritional value while producing a syrup, juice, or powder without significant separation of the natural nutrients or use of harmful chemicals.

Improved processes for extracting water soluble nutrients including sugars from plants and in particular sugar cane. The plants may be washed with a wash solution. After washing, water soluble nutrient containing liquid is extracted from the plants. A diluted wash solution may be added to the crushed plants to improve the extraction of the water soluble nutrients. The wash solution may be added to the liquid collected during the extraction to improve the separation of impurities from the nutrient containing liquid. The extracted liquid may demonstrate at least one of improved purity, improved clarity, improved filtration times, improved whiteness, and improved total recovered water soluble nutrients.

Operation of a cane preparation unit is disclosed which can include providing a working range for at least one operating variable for a plurality of carriers of a cane preparation unit, estimating energy consumed corresponding to a first plurality of set points for the at least one operating variable, selecting one or more first set points corresponding to reducing (e.g., minimizing) energy consumed for the at least one operating variable as use set points, and operating the cane preparation unit at the use set points.

A method comprising: (a) providing a partially processed sucrose crop product containing at least 2% optionally at least 5% of the sucrose content of said crop at harvest on a dry solids basis, cellulose and lignin; (b) hydrolyzing said partially processed crop product with HCl to produce an acid hydrolyzate stream and a lignin stream; and (c) de-acidifying said hydrolyzate stream to produce a de-acidified sugar solution and an HCl recovery stream. Additional, methods, systems and sugar mixtures are also disclosed.

A method comprising: (a) providing a partially processed sucrose crop product containing at least 2% optionally at least 5% of the sucrose content of said crop at harvest on a dry solids basis, cellulose and lignin; (b) hydrolyzing said partially processed crop product with HCl to produce an acid hydrolyzate stream and a lignin stream; and (c) de-acidifying said hydrolyzate stream to produce a de-acidified sugar solution and an HCl recovery stream. Additional, methods, systems and sugar mixtures are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to an energy-efficient process for the treatment of plant biomass, particularly sugar cane, for the production of carbohydrates and ethanol, using physico-chemical and extraction techniques, as well as very simple milling configurations, thereby minimizing energy consumption during extraction of the cane juice. The biomass treated and obtained through this process, when subjected to a fermentation process for the production of ethanol, increases the yield of the process in comparison with that of traditional sugar cane. It can also be used for the production of enzymes, animal feedstuffs, and other useful products.

The present invention relates to an energy-efficient process for the treatment of plant biomass, particularly sugar cane, for the production of carbohydrates and ethanol, using physico-chemical and extraction techniques, as well as very simple milling configurations, thereby minimizing energy consumption during extraction of the cane juice. The biomass treated and obtained through this process, when subjected to a fermentation process for the production of ethanol, increases the yield of the process in comparison with that of traditional sugar cane. It can also be used for the production of enzymes, animal feedstuffs, and other useful products.

A technology for material separation is provided. The technology enables an output of a first material from a rotary lifter. The technology enables a direction of a fluid stream onto the first material in flight based on the output of the first material such that the first material is separated into at least a second material and a third material. The technology enables a conveyance of the second material away from the rotary lifter. The technology enables a removal of the third material via a vacuum port.

A technology for material separation is provided. The technology enables an output of a first material from a rotary lifter. The technology enables a direction of a fluid stream onto the first material in flight based on the output of the first material such that the first material is separated into at least a second material and a third material. The technology enables a conveyance of the second material away from the rotary lifter. The technology enables a removal of the third material via a vacuum port.