Processing biomass to obtain hydroxylcarboxylic acids

Abstract

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as hydroxy-carboxylic acids and hydroxy-carboxylic acid derivatives.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14 / 786,388, filed Oct. 22, 2015, which is a National Stage entry of International Application No. PCT / US2014 / 035467, filed Apr. 25, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 816,664, filed Apr. 26, 2013, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Many potential lignocellulosic feedstocks are available today, including agricultural residues, woody biomass, municipal waste, oilseeds / cakes and seaweed, to name a few. At present, these materials are often under-utilized, being used, for example, as animal feed, biocompost materials, burned in a co-generation facility or even landfilled.[0003]Lignocellulosic biomass includes crystalline cellulose fibrils embedded in a hemicellulose matrix, surrounded by lignin. This produces a compact matrix that is difficult to access by enzymes and other chemical, biochemical and / or biolog...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a method for making polymers from biomass using coupling agents and chain extenders. The resulting polymers can have a higher molecular weight and can be made from compostable, biodegradable, or recyclable materials. This invention allows for the creation of useful materials and products from renewable sources that can be reused or safely returned to the environment.

Problems solved by technology

At present, these materials are often under-utilized, being used, for example, as animal feed, biocompost materials, burned in a co-generation facility or even landfilled.

This produces a compact matrix that is difficult to access by enzymes and other chemical, biochemical and / or biological processes.

Cellulosic biomass materials (e.g., biomass material from which the lignin has been removed) is more accessible to enzymes and other conversion processes, but even so, naturally-occurring cellulosic materials often have low yields (relative to theoretical yields) when contacted with hydrolyzing enzymes.

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