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.

Some variations provide a new nanolignocellulose composition comprising, on a bone-dry, ash-free, and acetyl-free basis, from 35 wt % to 80 wt % cellulose nanofibrils, cellulose microfibrils, or a combination thereof, from 15 wt % to 45 wt % lignin, and from 5 wt % to 20 wt % hemicelluloses. The hemicelluloses may contain xylan or mannan as the major component. Novel properties arise from the hemicellulose content that is intermediate between high hemicellulose content of raw biomass and low hemicellulose content of conventional nanocellulose. The nanolignocellulose composition is hydrophobic due to the presence of lignin. Processes for making and using the nanolignocellulose compositions are also described.

Disclosed are compounds, in particular based on polysaccharides, that are adsorbed on a cellulosic material, and relates in particular to the application of such compounds as reinforcing agent for cellulosic materials, in the wet and/or dry state. The compounds include a combination of at least one polysaccharide adsorbed on a cellulosic material, the polysaccharide including at least two different monosaccharide units, forming first and second monosaccharide units, the second monosaccharide units being branched on a chain including at least the first monosaccharide units, at least some of the second monosaccharide units being non-cyclic and bearing aldehyde functions, the aldehyde functions possibly forming hemiacetal functions with hydroxy functions of the cellulosic material.

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.

Lignocellulosic biomass (11) is processed to produce organic chemicals by (a) subjecting the biomass to a first hydrolysis (14) to hydrolyse hemicellulose, to form a liquid component comprising the products of hemicellulose hydrolysis in solution, and a solid component comprising cellulose and lignin; (b) then subjecting the solid component to a second hydrolysis (20), so as to hydrolyse cellulose and vaporise the resulting products of cellulose hydrolysis; and (c) then condensing (22) the resulting vapours to form an aqueous solution (25) containing the products of cellulose hydrolysis. After the first hydrolysis (14) and before the second hydrolysis (20), the process also comprises subjecting the solid component to a washing step (16). In this washing step (16) the solid component is washed with the aqueous solution (25) that contains the products of cellulose hydrolysis. Hence the resultant solution contains the products of both the first and the second hydrolysis steps (14, 20).

Compositions comprising polysaccharides and oligosaccharides are provided. Methods for the formation of the compositions, including the enzymatic production of the oligosaccharides, and the uses of the compositions in foodstuffs, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals are also provided.

The present invention relates to methods of processing lignocellulosic material to obtain hemicellulose sugars, cellulose sugars, lignin, cellulose and other high-value products. Also provided are hemicellulose sugars, cellulose sugars, lignin, cellulose, and other high-value products.

Processes disclosed are capable of converting biomass into high-crystallinity nanocellulose with surprisingly low mechanical energy input. 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 mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form nanofibrils and/or nanocrystals. The crystallinity of the nanocellulose material may be 80% or higher, translating into good reinforcing properties for composites. The nanocellulose material may include nanofibrillated cellulose, nanocrystalline cellulose, or both. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose material is hydrophobic via deposition of some lignin onto the cellulose surface. 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 nanocellulose to form completely renewable composites.

Various processes are disclosed for producing nanocellulose materials following steam extraction or hot-water digestion of biomass. Processes are also disclosed for producing nanocellulose materials from a wide variety of starting pulps or pretreated biomass feedstocks. The nanocellulose materials may be used as rheology modifiers in many applications. Water-based and oil-based drilling fluid formulations and additives are provided. Also, water-based and oil-based hydraulic fracturing fluid formulations and additives are provided. In other embodiments, polymer-nanocellulose composites are provided.

The present invention relates to a novel process for producing hemicellulose fractions from cereal crops, comprising pressurized hot water extraction of hemicellulose fractions from cereal crops in combination with subsequent enzymatic treatments and/or subsequent membrane ultrafiltration to further purify the extracts. The novel process described herein allows for sustainable and scalable extraction and isolation of valuable hemicellulose fractions, especially arabinoxylans (AXs), from cereal side products. The process allows the selective fractionation of arabinoxylans based on their molecular structure and inherent functionalities, which can e.g. be used for the preparation of carbohydrate-based materials with functional properties.