Methods for reducing contamination during enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass-derived cellulose
Inactive Publication Date: 2016-09-08
API INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HOLDINGS LLC
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Benefits of technology
This patent describes a way to make glucose from biomass-derived cellulose using enzymes and a sulfur-containing compound to prevent bacterial and yeast contamination. The method involves using cellulase enzymes to break down cellulose to glucose, and then using the sulfur-containing compound to further improve the hydrolysis process. The final step involves using the glucose to make other valuable products such as fuel or chemicals.
Problems solved by technology
This is a difficult task because lignin and hemicelluloses are bound to each other by covalent bonds, and the three components are arranged inside the fiber wall in a complex manner.
When the sugars in lignocellulosics are used as feedstock for fermentation, the process to open up the cell wall structure is often called “pretreatment.” Pretreatment can significantly impact the production cost of lignocellulosic ethanol.
One of the most challenging technical obstacles for cellulose has been its recalcitrance towards hydrolysis for glucose production.
Because of the high quantity of enzymes typically required, the enzyme cost can be a tremendous burden on the overall cost to turn cellulose into glucose for fermentation.
Cellulose can be made to be reactive by subjecting biomass to severe chemistry, but that would jeopardize not only its integrity for other potential uses but also the yields of hemicellulose and lignin.
Typically, enzymatic hydrolysis is slow and takes several days to complete.
Due to the long hydrolysis time, and the moderate temperature and pH employed, bacterial or yeast growth can contaminate the system.
Such contamination can consume sugars produced by hydrolysis, produce problematic byproducts, and interfere with cellulose hydrolysis, for example.
Method used
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Embodiment Construction
[0032]This description will enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and it describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention. These and other embodiments, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art when taken with reference to the following detailed description of the invention in conjunction with any accompanying drawings.
[0033]As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All composition numbers and ranges based on percentages are weight percentages, unless indicated otherwise. All ranges of numbers or conditions are meant to encompass any specific v...
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Abstract
Some variations provide a method of enzymatically converting biomass-derived cellulose to glucose, comprising exposing the biomass-derived cellulose to (i) cellulase enzymes, to hydrolyze the cellulose to glucose; and (ii) an external sulfur-containing compound, to deter bacterial and / or yeast contamination during cellulose hydrolysis. In some embodiments, the sulfur-containing compound includes sulfur dioxide or lignosulfonates. When the sulfur-containing compound includes lignosulfonates, the lignosulfonates may also function as an enzyme surfactant to assist hydrolysis, in addition to deterring bacterial and / or yeast growth / contamination. This method may be applied to cellulose-rich solids obtained from the AVAP® fractionation process, the Green Power+® pretreatment process, or any other source of cellulose-rich solids.
Description
PRIORITY DATA[0001]This patent application is a U.S. non-provisional application claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 62 / 129,468 filed on Mar. 6, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.FIELD[0002]The present invention generally relates to fractionation processes for converting biomass into cellulose-rich solids, and enzymatic conversion of the cellulose to glucose.BACKGROUND[0003]Biomass refining (or biorefining) is becoming more prevalent in industry. Cellulose fibers and sugars, hemicellulose sugars, lignin, syngas, and derivatives of these intermediates are being used by many companies for chemical and fuel production. Indeed, we now are observing the commercialization of integrated biorefineries that are capable of processing incoming biomass much the same as petroleum refineries now process crude oil. Underutilized lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks have the potential to be much cheaper than petroleum, on a carbon basis, as well as much better f...
Claims
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Login to View More IPC IPC(8): C12P19/02C12P13/20C12P13/06C12P13/14C12P13/24C12P19/14C12P13/08
CPCC12P19/02C12P19/14C12P13/20C12P2203/00C12P13/14C12P13/24C12P13/06C12P13/08C12P7/10C12P2201/00Y02E50/10
InventorRETSINA, THEODORAPEREIRA, GONCALOPYLKKANEN, VESA
OwnerAPI INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HOLDINGS LLC