Biomass Treatment Process

Abstract

A process for the treatment of biomass is provided. The process comprises forming a biomass slurry by mixing biomass with a working fluid, and inducing the biomass slurry to flow through an inlet into a passage. A high velocity transport fluid is injected into the slurry through a nozzle communicating with the passage. The injection of the high velocity transport fluid applies a shear force to the slurry such that the working fluid is atomised and forms a vapour and droplet flow regime, an at least partial vacuum is formed within the passage downstream of the nozzle, and a condensation shock wave is generated within the passage downstream of the nozzle and vacuum by condensation of the transport fluid. An apparatus for treating biomass using the aforementioned process is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for the treatment of biomass, comprising:
 forming a biomass slurry by mixing biomass with a working fluid;   inducing the biomass slurry to flow through an inlet into a passage; and   injecting a high velocity transport fluid into the slurry through a nozzle communicating with the passage;   wherein the injection of the high velocity transport fluid:   applies a shear force to the slurry such that the working fluid is atomised and forms a vapour and droplet flow regime;   forms an at least partial vacuum within the passage downstream of the nozzle; and   generates a condensation shock wave within the passage downstream of the nozzle and vacuum by condensation of the transport fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the transport fluid is steam. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the transport fluid is injected at a supersonic velocity. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising the step of injecting a first catalyst into the slurry. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising the step of injecting first and/or second catalysts into the slurry. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the first and/or second catalysts are injected into the slurry as it passes through the partial vacuum within the passage. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the first and/or second catalyst is an acid. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the first and/or second catalyst is a gas. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the biomass is lignocellulosic biomass. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising a fermentation step in which one or more types of thermophilic microorganism are introduced into the biomass slurry to convert sugars present into alcohol. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10  further comprising the steps of:
 vapourising the alcohol in the slurry as it passes through the partial vacuum; and 
 separating the alcohol vapour from the remaining slurry. 
 
     
     
         12 - 27 . (canceled)