A continuous and modular process converts lignocellulosic materials for the production of 
ethanol principally and / or chemicals such as 
methanol, 
butanediol, 
propanediol, 
hydrocarbon fuel, etc. Renewable 
lignocellulosic biomass such as but not all inclusive hardwoods (gum, 
beech, oak, sweet gum, poplar, 
eucalyptus, etc.), soft woods (pines, firs, spruce, etc.), corn stovers, straws, grasses, recycled papers, waste products from pulp and paper mills, etc can be used as feedstock. The process is designed to be modular and the feed 
entry point can be selected to adapt to different 
biomass feedstock. 
Lignocellulosic biomass such as 
hardwood and 
softwood are subjected to chemical / pressure treatment stages using potent and selective chemicals such as 
sodium chlorite / 
acetic acid (
anhydrous) and 
chlorine / 
chlorine dioxide to separate the main components—
lignin, 
cellulose (glucose) and hemicelluloses (
xylose, 
arabinose, 
galactose)—into three process streams. The separated carbohydrates are further subjected to washing, cleaning, 
neutralization, and / or mild 
hydrolysis and subsequently fermented to produce 
ethanol. 
Residual lignin and extractives remained with the 
cellulose are removed by 
chemical treatment steps to enhance the fermentations of 
cellulose. Pre-
hydrolysate after 
neutralization to neutralize and remove toxic components such as 
acetic acid, 
furfural, phenolics, etc. containing (
xylose, 
arabinose, 
galactose) and hexoses (glucose) can be either separately or together with the purified cellulosic fraction fermented to produce 
ethanol. Approximately 100 gallons of ethanol, suitable to be used as a fuel, can be produced from one dried 
ton of wood. Significant amount of 
lignin are separated as a by-product and can be converted to 
hydrocarbon fuel, surfactant, drilling aid, or can be incinerated for generation of power and steam.