USE - The method or apparatus is useful for converting cellulosic material to ethanol and other products, where the cellulosic material comprises at least cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose and ash or alkali chlorides (all claimed).

ADVANTAGE - The method enables reliable and efficient conversion of cellulosic material to ethanol and other products, and provides a residual organic product with a low content of potassium chloride that can be converted to excess energy. The method is continuous, and can be carried out with high concentration of dry matter, without any wastage of water and risk of air pollution, the ethanol production from feed stock reduces that cost related to harvesting storage and transportation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION -Converting cellulosic material to ethanol and other products, involves (a) cleaning cellulosic material comprising at least cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose and ash, and subjecting the cellulose to continuous hydrothermal pre-treatment (HTP) without addition of acids or bases or other chemicals, which must be recovered, and producing a liquid and fiber fraction, where the fiber fraction is subjected to enzymatic liquefaction and saccharification, including ethanol fermentation and product recovery, where the method preferably involves performing the HTP by subjecting the cellulosic material to at least one soaking operation, conveying the cellulosic material through at least one pressurized reactor defining a reactor pressure zone at an elevated pressure, where the cellulosic material is heated to 170-230degreesC, and subjecting the cellulosic material to at least one pressing operation, creating a fiber fraction and a liquid fraction; selecting the temperature and residence time for the HTP, so that the fibrous structure of the feedstock is maintained and at least 80% of the lignin is maintained in the fiber fraction; unloading the pressed fiber fraction from the reactor pressure zone to a downstream closed zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, while collecting the released steam without access for air, and unloading the liquid fraction from the pressurized reactor to a second closed zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, while collecting released steam without access for air, or (b) converting cellulosic material to ethanol and other products, by continuous HTP of the cellulosic material comprising cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose and alkali chlorides, without addition of acids or bases, and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis (EH), ethanol fermentation and recovery, where the method preferably involves adjusting the particle size of long-particle cellulosic material such as straw and stalks, by cutting and/or chopping before the cellulosic material is subjected to HTP; maintaining the adjusted particle size during the HTP and an initial part of the EH, performing HTP as an extraction with hot water, thus producing solid fraction containing more than 80% of the lignin comprised in the cellulosic material, and a liquid fraction containing a majority of the alkali chlorides comprised in the cellulosic material and a majority of fermentation inhibitors produced by the HTP; conveying the cellulosic material through at least one pressurized reactor defining a reactor pressure zone at an elevated pressure, where the cellulosic material is heated to 170-230degreesC for effecting HTP; unloading the solid fraction from the reactor pressure zone to a first downstream pressure zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, while collecting the released steam without access for air, and unloading the liquid fraction from the pressurized reactor to a second pressure zone, which is at a lower pressure than the reactor pressure zone, while collecting released steam without access for air.

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