This document describes a process for producing ethanol from lignocellulosic material. The process involves treating the material with dicarboxylic acid to separate the hemicellulosic fraction for fermenting pentose sugars. The lignin is dissolved in alkali to separate the cellulose fraction. The cellulose fraction is then treated with cellulolytic enzymes to hydrolyze the cellulose. The hydrolyzed products are fermented using ethanol-producing yeast to produce ethanol, which is then purified by distillation and dehydration.

1. (12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
(19) World Intellectual Property Organization
International Bureau 1111111111111111IIIIIIIIIII11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
(10) International Publication Number
(43) International Publication Date
18 March 2010 (18.03.2010) PCT
WO 20101029568 A2
(51) International Patent Classification:
C12P 7/10 (2006.01)
tries Limited "Praj House", Bavdhan, Pune 411021, Ma-
harashtra (IN). LOKARE, Anilkumar, Subhash; Prai In-
dustries Limited "Praj House", Bavdhan, Pune 411021,
(21) International Application Number: Maharashtra (IN). GOKHALE, Prashant, Prakash; Praj
PCT11N200910004lo Industries Limited "Prai House", Bavdhan, Pune 411021,
(22) International Filing Date: Maharashtra (IN). SHETE,Ashvini, Monish; Praj Indus-
20 July 2009 (20.07.2009) tries Limited "Praj House", Bavdhan, Pule 411021, Ma-
harashtra (IN). MUKHARJEE, Gunjan, Nabakumar;
(25) Filing Language: Praj Industries Limited "Praj House", Bavdhan, Pune
(26) Publication Language: ~ ~ ~ l i ~ h411021, Maharashtra (IN).
(30) Priority Data: (74) Agent: PANDIT, Nilesh, Sadashiv; Praj Industries Lim-
878lMUMl2008 21 July 2008 (21.07.2008) IN ited, "Praj House", Bavdhan, Pune 411 021, Maharashtra
(71) Applicant for all designated States except US): PRAJ
(IN).
INDUSTRIESLIMITED; praj H~~~~ ~ ~ ~ d h ~ ~ ,pune (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for evev
411021 (IN). kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM,
AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BR, BW, BY, BZ,
(72) Inventors; and CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DO,
(75) Inventors/Applicants for US only): INAMDAR, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT,
Shashank, Narayan; Praj Industries Limited "Praj HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP,
House", Bavdhan, Pune 411021, Maharashtra (IN). SON- KR, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD,
-- TI, Venkata, Ramakrishna; Praj Industries Limited "Praj ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI,
House", Bavdhan, Pune 411021, Maharashtra (IN). RAO,- NO, NZ, OM, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, RU, SC, SD,
=- Ravikumar; Praj Industries Limited "Praj House", Bavd- SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT,
= han, Pune 411021, Maharashtra (IN). KULKARNI,
- TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW.
- Milind, Shrikant; Praj Industries Limited "Praj House",
=- Bavdhan, Pune 411021,Maharashtra RAO, Prasad;
(84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for evev
-- Praj Industries Limited "Praj House", Bavdhan, Pune kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH,
- 411021, Maharashtra (IN). BABU, Mohan; Praj Indus- GM, KE, LS, MW, MZ, NA, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM,
-- tries Limited "Praj House", Bavdhan, Pune 411021, Ma-
ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ,
--- harashtra (IN). JOSHI, Satyendra, Waman; Praj Indus-
TM), European (AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE,
-= ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT,LT, LU, LV,
== [Continued on nextpage]
=-
=---(54) Title:A PROCESS FOR PRODUCTIONOF ETHANOL FROM LIGNOCELLULOSIC MATERIAL
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e (57) Abstract: This invention relates to a process for production of ethanol from lignocellulosic material. Lignocellulosicmaterial
treated with dicarboxylic acid, preferably with oxalic acid, separating hemicellulosic fraction to ferment pentose sugar. The lignin
c.l is dissolve in alkali, preferably with NaOH, separating cellulose fraction for further enzymatic treatment with one or more than
one cellulytic enzymes capable of hydrolyzing cellulose. Enzyme hydrolyasate further subjected to fermentation in presence of
O ethanol producing yeast, preferably Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The fermented broth further subjected to distillation followed by
3 dehydrationto yield ethanol.
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