Method and structures for processing materials

Abstract

Materials (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, systems equipment, and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, where the feedstock is enclosed in a web.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A preformed web carrying an irradiated material, wherein the web consists of a series of discrete spaced apart sachets arranged longitudinally, the sachets configured to enclose therein the irradiated material. 
     
     
         2 . The preformed web as in  claim 1 , wherein the sachets are spaced apart along the longitudinal length by between about 0.5 cm and about 50 cm. 
     
     
         3 . The preformed web as in  claim 1 , wherein the sachets are spaced apart along a lateral length of from about 0.5 cm and about 50 cm. 
     
     
         4 . The preformed web as in  claim 1 , wherein the sachets include an upper and a lower sheet and the material is disposed between the upper and lower sheet. 
     
     
         5 . The preformed web as in  claim 1 , wherein the irradiated material comprises cellulosic or lignocellulosic material. 
     
     
         6 . The performed web as in  claim 1 , wherein the irradiated material has been irradiated with an average dose of ionizing radiation between about 10 and 150 Mrad.