Processing biomass

Abstract

Techniques for processing biomass are disclosed herein. A method of preparing cellulosic ethanol having 100% biogenic carbon content as determined by ASTM 6866-18, includes treating ground corn cobs with electron beam radiation and saccharifying the irradiated ground corn cob to produce sugars. The method also includes fermenting the sugars with a microorganism. In addition, an unblended cellulosic-biomass derived gasoline with a research octane number of greater than about 87, as determined by ASTM D2699 is disclosed.

1 - 218 . (canceled) 
     
     
         219 . A method of making a cellulosic-biomass derived gasoline, the method comprising:
 providing an alcohol comprising a cellulosic-biomass derived alcohol, and   catalytically processing the alcohol to an unblended gasoline, wherein the unblended gasoline has a research octane number of greater than about 87, as determined by ASTM D2699.   
     
     
         220 . The method of  claim 219 , wherein the unblended gasoline also has a motor octane number of greater than about 85, as determined by ASTM D2700. 
     
     
         221 . The method of  claim 219 , wherein the alcohol comprises ethanol. 
     
     
         222 . The method of  claim 219 , wherein catalytically processing the alcohol comprises passing hydrous ethanol through a packed column, the column including a zeolite. 
     
     
         223 . The method of  claim 222 , wherein the hydrous ethanol contains greater than about 40 percent water by weight. 
     
     
         224 . The method of  claim 222 , wherein the catalytically processing the alcohol further comprises a nitrogen carrier gas to aid in the passing of the hydrous ethanol through the packed column. 
     
     
         225 . The method of  claim 222 , wherein the zeolite comprises HZSM-5. 
     
     
         226 . The method of  claim 225 , wherein the HZSM-5 includes a metal produced by solvent impregnation. 
     
     
         227 . The method of  claim 219 , wherein the unblended gasoline has a benzene content of less than 1 percent by weight. 
     
     
         228 . The method of  claim 219 , wherein the unblended gasoline has an aromatic content of greater than 25 percent by weight. 
     
     
         229 . The method of  claim 219 , wherein the method further comprises preheating the alcohol prior to catalytically processing the alcohol. 
     
     
         230 . The method of  claim 219 , wherein the biogenic content of the unblended gasoline is greater than about 90 percent by weight.