PRODUCTION OF FERMENTABLE SUGARS AND LIGNIN FROM BIOMASS USING SUPERCRITICAL FLUIDS

A method for the continuous treatment of biomass is disclosed comprising: a pretreatment step， wherein said biomass is contacted with a first supercritical， near-critical， or sub-critical fluid to form a solid matrix and a first liquid fraction; wherein said first supercritical， near-critical， or sub-critical fluid comprises water and， optionally， CO 2; and wherein said first supercritical， near-critical， or sub-critical fluid is substantially free of C1-C5 alcohol; and a hydrolysis step， wherein said solid matrix is contacted with a second supercritical or near-supercritical fluid to produce a second liquid fraction and a insoluble lignin-containing fraction; wherein said second supercritical or near-critical fluid comprises water and， optionally， CO 2; and wherein said second supercritical or near-critical fluid is substantially free of C1-C5 alcohols.