Materials and Methods for Use in Biomass Processing

Abstract

Methods and materials for measuring the composition of plant biomass and predicting the efficiency of conversion of such biomass to various end products under various processing conditions are disclosed. For example, methods and materials for identifying plant material having higher levels of accessible carbohydrate, as well as materials and methods for processing plant material having higher levels of accessible carbohydrate are disclosed. Also disclosed are computer-implemented methods and systems that provide improved economic efficiencies to biorefineries.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method for managing a feedstock supply chain, comprising:
 a) collecting NIR spectral data from a feedstock sample to be tested;   b) applying, to said spectral data, a NIR model of accessible carbohydrate calibrated for feedstocks of the same type as said sample;   c) predicting the saccharification efficiency of said feedstock sample, based on the results of said applying step, wherein steps b) and c) are performed on a suitably programmed computer; and   d) inputting said predicted saccharification efficiency into a crop index system accessible by a feedstock processor.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 e) classifying said feedstock according to feedstock quality specifications set by said feedstock processor; and   f) offering a specified price to the producer of said feedstock based on said feedstock classification.   
     
     
         30 . A computer readable medium comprising computer program instructions, which when executed by a processor perform a method, the method comprising:
 a) receiving NIR spectral data from a feedstock sample to be tested;   b) applying, to said spectral data, a NIR model of accessible carbohydrate calibrated for feedstocks of the same type as said sample; and   c) conveying to a crop index system the amount of accessible carbohydrate material in said feedstock sample, based on the results of said applying step, wherein steps b) and c) are performed on a suitably programmed computer.   
     
     
         31 . A computer-implemented method, said method comprising:
 a) collecting NIR spectral data from a feedstock sample to be tested;   b) applying, to said spectral data, a NIR model of accessible carbohydrate calibrated for feedstocks of the same type as said feedstock sample;   c) predicting the saccharification efficiency of said feedstock sample based on the application of said NIR model; and   d) outputting said predicted saccharification efficiency for use by a crop index system, said system configured to determine biomass quality for feedstocks from which said feedstock sample was obtained.   
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A system comprising:
 an interface for receiving NIR spectral data from a feedstock sample; and   a NIR model of accessible carbohydrate calibrated for feedstocks of the same type as said sample, that outputs, for use by a crop index system, a predicted saccharification efficiency of said feedstock sample based on the application of said NIR model,   wherein said crop index system is configured to determine biomass quality for feedstocks of the same type as said feedstock sample.   
     
     
         34 - 49 . (canceled)