Process for the production of biofuel from plant materials

Abstract

This patent discloses an economical process for the treatment of plant materials and production of ethanol. The process includes, A) contacting a continuous flow of the plant material with co-current or counter-current continuous flow of aqueous ethanol solution at high temperature and pressure to produce plant pulp material and a mixture of ethanol, ethanol-soluble lignin and water, B) separating the plant pulp material and recovering the ethanol-soluble lignin from the mixture, C) contacting the plant pulp material with water to remove hemicellulose sugars, D) separating the water from the plant pulp material and recovering water-soluble sugars, acetic acid and/or furfural, E) contacting the resulting plant pulp material with aqueous solution of cellulase, .beta.-glucosidase and yeast for the conversion of cellulose to glucose, F) fermenting the glucose to produce ethanol.