Patent Number: 8,795,993

Title: Process for treating biomass to derivatize polysaccharides contained therein to increase their accessibility to hydrolysis and subsequent fermentation

Abstract: A process is described for producing fermentable sugars derivable from biomass that contains polysaccharide, such as cellulose, made increasingly accessible as a substrate for enzymatic degradation or other methods of depolymerization. These fermentable sugars are subsequently able to be fermented to produce various target chemicals, such as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones or acids.

Inventors: Conner; Herbert T. (Landenberg, PA), Cowan; Patrick J. (Hockessin, DE), Gast; John C. (Hockessin, DE)

Assignee: Hercules Incorporated

International Classification: C12P 7/06 (20060101); A61K 31/045 (20060101); C12P 1/00 (20060101); C12P 7/16 (20060101); C12P 7/10 (20060101); C12P 7/46 (20060101); C12P 7/56 (20060101); C12P 7/42 (20060101); C12P 19/14 (20060101); C12P 1/06 (20060101)

Expiration Date: 8/05/12018