Processing biomass

Abstract

Methods of manufacturing fuels are provided. These methods use often difficult to process lignocellulosic materials, for example crop residues and grasses. The methods can be readily practiced on a commercial scale in an economically viable manner, in some cases using as feedstocks materials that would otherwise be discarded as waste.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 irradiating a lignocellulosic material at a dose rate of at least 0.5 Mrad/sec, with an electron beam operating at a voltage of less than 3 MeV and a power of at least 25 kW,   transferring the irradiated lignocellulosic material to a tank, and dispersing the lignocellulosic material in an aqueous medium in the tank, and   saccharifying the irradiated lignocellulosic material, while agitating the contents of the tank with a jet mixer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after saccharification, fermenting the contents of the tank, without removing the contents from the tank, to produce an alcohol. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after saccharification, isolating sugars from the contents of the tank. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising hammermilling the lignocellulosic material prior to irradiating. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lignocellulosic material comprises corncobs. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein irradiating comprises delivering to the lignocellulosic material a total dose of from about 25 to 35 Mrads. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein irradiating comprises multiple passes of irradiation, each pass delivering a dose of 20 Mrads or less. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising soaking the irradiated lignocellulosic material in water at a temperature of at least 40° C. prior to combining the irradiated lignocellulosic material with the microorganism. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 irradiating a lignocellulosic material with an electron beam, the lignocellulosic material comprising corn cobs and having a particle size of less than 1 mm, and   combining the irradiated lignocellulosic material with an enzyme and/or a microorganism, the enzyme and/or microorganism utilizing the irradiated lignocellulosic material to produce a product.