Biomass Processing

Abstract

Processing systems and methods are described for pre-processing processing of biomass. The systems include an extruder characterized by one or more ports though which acids and/or bases may be introduced to the biomass during extrusion. The acids may be selected to hydrolyze the biomass and the base may be selected to neutralize the acid. Neutralization can occur using a solid base within the extruder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flow-through biomass processing system comprising:
 a screw extruder configured to convey biomass through the processing system such that processed biomass continuously exits the flow-through biomass processing system, the screw extruder including:
 a housing configured to contain the biomass with the screw extruder, 
 a first shaft, 
 a first section configured to convey the biomass through the screw extruder using the first shaft, 
 a second section configured to compress the biomass, 
 a first port configured to introduce an acid to the biomass, the acid being configured to promote decomposition of the biomass, and 
 a second port configured to introduce a base to the biomass, the base configured to neutralize the acid, wherein the first port is upstream of the second port. 
   a motor configured to rotate at least the first shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the screw extruder is a multi-screw extruder and includes at least a second shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third section configured to convey the biomass through the screw extruder. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first port is configured to introduce the acid to the biomass, while the biomass is within the screw extruder. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second port is configured to introduce the base to the biomass while the base is in the screw extruder. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the screw extruder is configured to mix the base and the biomass so as to neutralize the acid within the biomass. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the screw extruder is configured such that the processed biomass that exits the flow-through biomass processing system is neutralized using the base. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second port is configured to add the base as a solid. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second port is configured to add a quantity of base to the biomass sufficient to neutralize the acid. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control logic configured to adapt the rotational rate or torque of the screw extruder based on detected characteristics of the biomass, and one or more sensors configured to detect the characteristics of the biomass. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control logic configured to add an amount of the acid to the biomass responsive to a moisture content of the biomass or responsive to spectroscopic analysis of the biomass. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control logic configured to add an amount of acid to the biomass responsive to an automatically determined content of the biomass. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control logic configured to add an amount of the base to the biomass responsive to an amount of the acid added to the biomass. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control logic configured to add a lubricant to the biomass in response to a rotational rate or torque of the screw extended. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control logic configured to add a lubricant to the biomass in response to an automatically determined content of the biomass. 
     
     
         16 . A method of processing biomass, the method comprising:
 introducing the biomass to a screw extruder;   introducing an acid to the biomass, the acid configured to hydrolyze the biomass;   introducing a base to the biomass within the screw extruder, the base being configured to neutralize the acid introduced to the biomass, the acid being neutralized within the screw extruder;   receiving a continuous flow output of the screw extruder, the output including the biomass neutralized by the base.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the acid is added to the biomass while the biomass is in the screw extruder, the acid added upstream from a location within the screw extruder at which the base is added. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising analyzing the biomass using one or more sensors and using control logic to determine an amount of the acid to add to the biomass responsive to an output of the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising determining an amount of base to add to the biomass responsive to the amount of the acid added to the biomass. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the base is added to the biomass as a solid. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the base and the biomass are mixed in a section of the extruder downstream from the second port.