This paper will discuss the novel BLN process, which provides a significantly improved way of obtaining pure cellulose from wood biomass, at the same time producing pure hemicelluloses (WO2014009604 (A1), Method for extracting biomass, pat. appl.) and sulfur- and carbohydrate-free lignin (pat. pending). The process utilize vacuum and a design that minimizes oxidation and degradation of the biomass and also keeps the water consumption low. This enables water-soluble and polymeric hemicelluloses, containing only a minimum of lignin and other impurities, to be extracted at almost quantitative yield from commercial wood chips and at lower temperature (&lt;150°C) than conventional extractions or autohydrolysis processes. The fiber fraction can go on to a normal pulping stage or then a fast and mild alkaline stage (mild soda pulping) can recover the lignin, leaving a pulp with an alpha-cellulose content &gt;98% (41-43% total yield of the wood for birch) at much lower energy input and chemical consumption compared to traditional pulping.

BLN hot water extraction process — taking forest biomass fractionation to a totally new level

249th National Meeting (2015)

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