Treating biomass

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for processing cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials and useful intermediates and products, such as energy and fuels. For example, irradiating methods and systems are described to aid in the processing of the cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials. The electron beam accelerator has multiple windows foils and these foils are cooled with cooling gas. In one configuration a secondary foil is integral to the electron beam accelerator and in another configuration the secondary foil is part of the enclosure for the biomass conveying system.

1 . A method of producing a treated biomass material, the method comprising:
 irradiating a biomass material by passing an electron beam through multiple windows into the biomass material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the windows is in the form of a metallic foil. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein irradiating the biomass material reduces the recalcitrance of the biomass material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple window foils comprise a system of gas cooled window foils wherein
 a primary single-type window foil communicates with a high vacuum side of a scanning horn of an electron beam accelerator and   a secondary single-type window foil is positioned on an atmospheric side of the scanning horn.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the system of gas cooled window foils define a gap between the primary and secondary window and
 a first flow path providing cooling to the primary window foil;   a second flow path providing cooling to the secondary window foil.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the system of gas cooled window foils further comprises where both the primary window foil and the secondary window foil are part of the scanning horn of the electron beam accelerator, where
 at least one inlet, which allows a cooling gas to enter the gap defined between the primary and the secondary window and   at least one outlet, to extract cooling gases from the gap defined between the primary and secondary window.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the cooling chamber comprises four walls and the interior volume is approximately rectangular prism in shape. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the system further comprises a treatment enclosure with a cover surface, where the enclosure is positioned on a side of the secondary single-type window foil opposite the electron beam accelerator. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the secondary single-type window foil is mounted on the cover surface and is integral to the treatment enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the treatment enclosure has a first opening. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 conveying the biomass material through the first opening;   positioning the biomass material under the secondary single-type window foil; and   irradiating the biomass material.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the treatment enclosure comprises a second opening. 
     
     
         14 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the primary single-type window foil is made from an element selected from the group consisting of: titanium, scandium, vanadium, chromium, nickel, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, hafnium, tantalum, tungsten, rhenium, platinum, iridium, and alloys or mixtures of any of these. 
     
     
         18 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the primary single-type window foil or the secondary single-type window foil or both are made from a low Z element. 
     
     
         22 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the starting biomass material is selected from the group consisting of: cellulosic material, lignocellulosic material, and starchy material. 
     
     
         32 .- 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electron beam has a beam current of at least about 50 mA. 
     
     
         43 .- 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the electron beam comprises electrons having an energy of about 5 MeV, and the spacing between the primary single-type window foil and the secondary single-type window foil is less than 75 centimeters. 
     
     
         54 .- 58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 4 , where the method further comprises a beam stop. 
     
     
         60 . A system for cooling multiple single-type window foils of an electron beam accelerator comprising:
 a first flow path for providing a first cooling gas across a primary single-type window foil and second flow path for providing a second cooling gas across a secondary single-type window foil, wherein   the primary and secondary single-type window foils are positioned with a gap of less than about 9 cm between them.   
     
     
         61 . A method for cooling multiple single-type window foils of an electron beam accelerator, the method comprising:
 passing a first cooling gas across a primary single-type window foil and passing a second cooling gas across a secondary single-type window foil, wherein   the primary and secondary single-type window foils are positioned facing each other with a gap of less than about 9 cm between them.   
     
     
         62 .- 66 . (canceled)