查看文章

Corn stover is a renewable carbon source with the potential for producing sustainable energy and bioproducts. However, logistical and technical challenges need to be overcome to make the process more economically viable. Biomass densification by forming pellets from corn stover particles provides an example of a densified form of feedstock that is suitable for transportation and material storage. Enzyme-catalyzed processing of the pellets transforms the solid biomass into a concentrated liquid slurry that can be pumped into the pretreatment reactors, facilitating its handling inside the biorefinery by enabling movement of corn stover (in slurry form) between reactors. High-solids concentrations enhance biorefinery economics through process intensification (smaller reactor volumes and higher product concentrations) but also result in higher levels of phenolics and other saccharide enzyme inhibitors released by …