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Methods and apparatus for separating ethanol from fermented biomass

a technology of fermented biomass and ethanol, which is applied in the field of processes and apparatus for separating ethanol from fermented biomass, can solve the problems of not being able to use vacuum stripping effectively

Active Publication Date: 2018-10-04
HAMRICK EDWARD BRIAN
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  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

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Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a versatile and useful tool for accessing and manipulating data. Different variations of the invention can be used without compromising the main goal of the invention. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims, and modifications are allowed within the scope of the invention. In case of any conflict with other sources, the present disclosure will be followed.

Problems solved by technology

These and many other solid-state fermentation methods for producing ethanol all have the disadvantage that crushing, pressing, or squeezing generally recovers only about 50% of the ethanol from the biomass, and vacuum stripping is not very useful because the ethanol produced generally contains only about 30% to 40% alcohol by volume (ABV).

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  • Methods and apparatus for separating ethanol from fermented biomass
  • Methods and apparatus for separating ethanol from fermented biomass

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[0093]A test apparatus was built, corresponding to the exemplary apparatus in FIG. 1. Three distillation tests were performed: the first at atmospheric pressure (101.325 kPa) with ethanol-infused wood chips, the second at atmospheric pressure with fermented sugar cane, and the third at 50 kPa pressure with ethanol infused wood cubes.

[0094]Biomass 105 in the first test was 12 mm softwood cubes infused under vacuum with a 10% ABV solution. Biomass 105 in the second test was sugar cane fermented according to the method in U.S. Pat. No. 9,631,209 (which is hereby incorporated by reference herein), cut into 25 mm lengths so it would fit in the column. Biomass 105 in the third test was 12 mm softwood cubes infused under vacuum with a 10% ABV solution.

[0095]No vacuum pump, 110, was used in the first and second tests, and a vacuum pump was used in the third test to maintain pressure gauge 111 at 50 kPa.

[0096]Column 106 was a 304 stainless steel pipe with a length of 91 cm, an inner diameter...

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Abstract

A method for separating ethanol from fermented biomass is provided. Fermented biomass that is rich in ethanol is used directly as packing material in a distillation column, and a small amount of water at the bottom of the column is used to efficiently transfer heat to the biomass at the bottom of the column. The fermented biomass packing has a high ratio of surface area to volume, making an efficient packing material. As vapor condenses on the biomass, diffusion of ethanol / water vapor from the body of the biomass enriches the ethanol concentration at the surface of the biomass. Droplets containing lower concentrations of ethanol drip downwards from the biomass, and vapors containing higher concentrations of ethanol rise upwards from the biomass, resulting in a higher concentration of ethanol at the top of the column than was initially in the biomass.

Description

PRIORITY DATA[0001]This patent application is a non-provisional application with priority to U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 62 / 478,619, filed on Mar. 30, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention pertains to processes and apparatus for separating ethanol from fermented biomass.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]There are many useful techniques for fermenting biomass to produce an ethanol-rich biomass. This is commonly referred to as “solid-state fermentation”.[0004]U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,469 describes a method for production of ethanol by fermentation. This patent teaches crushing or pulping biomass to a pulp size less than 10 mm, optionally saccharifying the pulp with acid or enzymes, mixing a yeast suspension with the pulp, waiting for fermentation to complete, and then separating ethanol by pressing or squeezing the liquid from the pulp to produce an ethanol-rich liquid.[0005]U.S. Pat. No. 9,428,772 describes methods and...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): C12M1/00C12P7/06C07C29/80C07C31/08B01D3/00B01D3/14B01D3/32B01D3/38B01D5/00
CPCB01D5/006B01D5/0087B01D3/146C12M47/10C12P7/06C07C29/80C07C31/08B01D3/002F16L9/12B01D3/32B01D3/38B01D3/001B01D3/009B01D3/16B01J19/30B01J2219/30483C12M21/12Y02E50/10Y02P20/10
Inventor HAMRICK, EDWARD BRIAN
Owner HAMRICK EDWARD BRIAN