Processing biomass

Abstract

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, compositions and methods are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, a cellulase and a second enzyme system including an amylase to produce an intermediate or product, e.g., by fermentation.

1 . A mixture comprising:
 biomass, a cellulase and a second enzyme system comprising an amylase.   
     
     
         2 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the amylase comprises a glucoamylase. 
     
     
         3 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the amylase comprises an alpha amylase. 
     
     
         4 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the cellulase comprises a hemicellulose. 
     
     
         5 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the second enzyme system further comprises a protease. 
     
     
         6 . The mixture of  claim 5 , wherein the protease comprises a fungal protease. 
     
     
         7 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the biomass comprises a pretreated biomass. 
     
     
         8 . The mixture of  claim 7 , wherein the pretreated biomass comprises a biomass treated with an electron beam. 
     
     
         9 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture further comprises a food-based nutrient. 
     
     
         10 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the biomass comprises corn cob. 
     
     
         11 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture further comprises a surfactant. 
     
     
         12 . A method for producing a product from biomass, comprising:
 mixing biomass with a cellulase and a second enzyme system comprising an amylase.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising inoculating the mixture with an organism. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the organism comprises a yeast. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the organism comprises a bacterium. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the organism comprises a fungi. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the amylase comprises a glucoamylase. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the amylase comprises an alpha amylase. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cellulose comprises a hemicellulose. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second enzyme system further comprises a protease. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the protease comprises a fungal protease. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising pretreating the biomass. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein pretreating the biomass comprises treating the biomass with an electron beam. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the mixture further comprises a food-based nutrient. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the biomass comprises corn cob. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the mixture further comprises a surfactant.