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Abstract

The invention provides a fermentable feedstock of sustainable origin comprising a plant biomass thermal pressure hydrolysate, the biomass preferably being lignocellulosic. e.g., grass, straw or similar, to be processed alone or in conjunction with conventional starch/sugar containing crops to supplement or replace conventional arable crops in sugar and nutrient production for fermentation processes. The invention also provides a method of producing an incubatable feedstock for aerobic/anaerobic fermentation comprising subjecting plant biomass to thermal pressure hydrolysis in an autoclave using steam and agitation in an alkaline environment to achieve hydrolytic efficiencies of 85-95% at moderate temperatures of 130-150° C. that is superior to the prior art, recovering the hydrolysed product from the autoclave, and providing this as the incubatable feedstock that may involve solid separation and a saccharification phase prior to fermentation. A method for producing a protein, edible biomass, bioplastic or other bio-material product, comprises supplying the above incubatable feedstock or a feedstock produced by the above method to micro-organisms that can give rise to the protein, bioplastic or other bio-material product within a fermentation reactor and recovering the products therefrom. The invention also provides for the generation of biogas from the residual solids to provide energy for the process while stabilizing the residual organics to allow the resultant digestate to fertilize the land used to grow the sustainable plant materials used as inputs to the process.

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First Claim