Cellulose-containing compositions and method of making same are disclosed. The compositions comprise a cellulose product comprising a type-I cellulose, a type-II cellulose, amorphous cellulose, or a combination thereof. Further, methods are disclosed for making these compositions and for further hydrolyzing these compositions. Additionally, uses for the cellulose-containing compositions are disclosed.

Cellulose-containing compositions and method of making same are disclosed. The compositions comprise a cellulose product comprising a type-I cellulose, a type-II cellulose, amorphous cellulose, or a combination thereof. Further, methods are disclosed for making these compositions and for further hydrolyzing these compositions. Additionally, uses for the cellulose-containing compositions are disclosed.

Methods of forming an ingredient for human consumption are provided herein. The methods may include isolating one or more soluble polysaccharides from a biomass, generating one or more oligosaccharides from the biomass, and combining the one or more isolated soluble polysaccharides with the generated oligosaccharides to form the ingredient. Methods of pretreating a biomass are also provided. The methods may include administering a physical pretreatment to a biomass, administering a gentle pretreatment to the physically pretreated biomass, and administering a strong pretreatment to the gently pretreated biomass. Ingredients for human consumption are also provided.

A system for generating a self-receive signal includes: a signal generator; a first signal processor; a second signal processor; and an antenna. The system also includes a first passive coupling device: defining a first input port electromagnetically coupled to the signal generator; defining a first transmitted port; defining a first coupled port electromagnetically coupled to the first signal processor; and characterized by a first phase balance between the first transmitted port and the first coupled port. The system further includes a second passive coupling device: defining a second input port electromagnetically coupled to the antenna; defining a second transmitted port electromagnetically coupled to the first transmitted port; defining a second coupled port electromagnetically coupled to the second signal processor; and characterized by a second phase balance between the second transmitted port and the second coupled port substantially similar to the first phase balance.

Processes disclosed are capable of converting biomass into high-crystallinity, hydrophobic cellulose. In some variations, the process includes fractionating biomass with an acid (such as sulfur dioxide), a solvent (such as ethanol), and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; and depositing lignin onto cellulose fibers to produce lignin-coated cellulose materials (such as dissolving pulp). The crystallinity of the cellulose material may be 80% or higher, translating into good reinforcing properties for composites. Optionally, sugars derived from amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose may be separately fermented, such as to monomers for various polymers. These polymers may be combined with the hydrophobic cellulose to form completely renewable composites.

The invention proposes a method of separating hemicellulose through efficient pretreatment of fibrous biomass materials. Fibrous biomass materials are first pretreated by the slurry method: the fibrous biomass materials are milled through ball mills and sieved to obtain fibrous biomass material powder, and the powder is mixed with water at room temperature to obtain slurry premixed solution of the fibrous biomass material powder. Through regulation and control of the reaction temperature, the time and the water amount, efficient hydrothermal removal of hemicellulose from the fibrous biomass material powder is realized. After the mixed solution is filtered, the filtrate is subject to gradient sedimentation to separate hemicellulose with low dispersity, and the sediment is then dried before storage. After the filter residue is mixed with polar aprotic solvent and water, and heated and stirred in a pressurized reactor, high-purity cellulose is obtained through filtering and separation.

An oleophilic and hydrophobic nanocellulose material is disclosed herein, for nanocellulose sponges and other applications. The oleophilic and hydrophobic nanocellulose material comprises lignin-coated cellulose nanofibrils and/or lignin-coated cellulose nanocrystals. In various embodiments, the nanocellulose material is in the form of a 2D coating or layer, or a 3D object (e.g., foam or aerogel). The nanocellulose material may be disposed onto a scaffold. A process is provided for producing an oleophilic and hydrophobic nanocellulose object, comprising fractionating a biomass feedstock with an acid, a solvent for lignin, and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a lignin-containing liquor; mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form cellulose fibrils and/or cellulose crystals; generating a nanocellulose object from the intermediate nanocellulose material; exposing the nanocellulose object to the lignin-containing liquor to allow lignin to deposit onto a surface of the nanocellulose object; and recovering the oleophilic and hydrophobic nanocellulose object.

An integrated process and corresponding apparatus that produces a relatively clean, delignified cellulose product from lignocellulosic biomass. The method includes treating a portion of the delignified cellulose itself as a substrate to produce on-site cellulolytic enzymes, including further treating the remaining delignified cellulose with the resulting cellulolytic enzymes for in situ enzymatic hydrolysis. The process and apparatus are useful to produce fermentable sugars for cost-effective manufacturing of fermentable sugars, fuels, bioproducts and chemicals.

In some variations, the invention provides a process for producing a microcrystalline cellulose material, comprising: fractionating lignocellulosic biomass feedstock in the presence of an acid, a solvent for lignin, and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; chemically and/or mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form microcrystalline cellulose having an average crystallinity of at least 60%; and recovering the microcrystalline cellulose as a pharmaceutical excipient. The pharmaceutical excipient may function as an antiadherent, a binder, a coating, or a disintegrant. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical excipient further comprises a lignin-derived lubricant, glidant, sorbent, preservative, or other component. The pharmaceutical excipient may be present in a pill, tablet, capsule, powder, slurry, or other pharmaceutically effective and acceptable form.

Cellulose-containing compositions and method of making same are disclosed. The compositions comprise a cellulose product comprising a type-I cellulose, a type-II cellulose, amorphous cellulose, or a combination thereof. Further, methods are disclosed for making these compositions and for further hydrolyzing these compositions. Additionally, uses for the cellulose-containing compositions are disclosed.