Improvement in a process for rapid acid hydrolysis of lignocellulosic material

Abstract

Improvement in a process for rapid acid hydrolysis of lignocellulosic material and in a hydrolysis reactor, said lignocellulosic material being fed in different levels of a reactor (10) and contacted with flows of lignin organic solvent, water and an extremely dilute solution of a strong inorganic acid, so as to obtain a liquid phase of hydrolysis extract and a solid phase of non-reacted and non-dissolved material. A controlled steam flow is injected into the different levels of the reactor (10), so as to provide adequate temperatures of organic solvent and strong inorganic acid and to form the desired products (sugars). A flow of the liquid phase is recirculated in different levels of the reactor (10). The remainder of said liquid phase is withdrawn from the reactor (10), abruptly cooled and submitted to evaporation of the solvent to obtain a concentrate of the reaction products. The lignin is transferred by decantation and the concentrate is transferred to subsequent process steps.