Methods for treating biomass to produce oligosaccharides and related compositions

Abstract

Methods of forming an ingredient for human consumption are provided herein. The methods may include isolating one or more soluble polysaccharides from a biomass, generating one or more oligosaccharides from the biomass, and combining the one or more isolated soluble polysaccharides with the generated oligosaccharides to form the ingredient. Methods of pretreating a biomass are also provided. The methods may include administering a physical pretreatment to a biomass, administering a gentle pretreatment to the physically pretreated biomass, and administering a strong pretreatment to the gently pretreated biomass. Ingredients for human consumption are also provided.

1 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method of forming an ingredient for human consumption, the method comprising:
 a. isolating one or more soluble polysaccharides from a biomass;   b. contacting the remaining biomass with one or more enzymes to form one or more oligosaccharides;   c. isolating the one or more oligosaccharides; and   d. combining a portion of the one or more soluble polysaccharides from step (a) with a portion of the one or more oligosaccharides from step (c) to form the ingredient.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising purifying the isolated one or more soluble polysaccharides. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising purifying the isolated one or more oligosaccharides. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising treating the biomass to solubilize the one or more soluble polysaccharides. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising purifying the isolated one or more soluble polysaccharides. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more soluble polysaccharides and/or the one or more oligosaccharides are dried prior to step (d). 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more soluble polysaccharides and/or the one or more oligosaccharides are dried subsequent to step (d). 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the treating comprises a thermochemical treatment. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the thermochemical treatment comprises at least one of a hot water treatment or a hot alkali treatment. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the hot alkali treatment uses an alkali with a pH of from 10 to 14. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the hot alkali treatment uses at least one of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, ammonium sulfate, ammonium hydroxide, or aqueous ammonia. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the thermochemical treatment is conducted at a temperature of from 30° C. to 180° C. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the thermochemical treatment is conducted for from 10 minutes to 24 hours. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising combining the ingredient with a liquid to form a liquid ingredient. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the liquid ingredient has fewer calories per gram than corn syrup or high-fructose corn syrup. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the liquid ingredient has a lower glycemic index than com syrup or high-fructose corn syrup. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the liquid ingredient comprises at least 20% by dry weight of the at least one oligosaccharide and at least 2% by dry weight of the at least one polysaccharide. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the liquid ingredient has a viscosity of from 5 cps to 100,000 cps, 8,000 cps to 100,000 cps, 10,000 cps to 50,000 cps, or 15,000 cps to 25,000 cps. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the liquid ingredient has a concentration of polysaccharides of from 0.1% to 50% w/v. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the biomass comprises at least one of a sugar cane biomass, a corn biomass, a wheat biomass, a hardwood biomass, or a softwood biomass. 4857-8826-1152° C.