Apparatus and method for reducing carbon dioxide emissions

Abstract

The intention relates to apparatus and a method for capturing and converting carbon dioxide from a production process comprising fermentation. The method comprises obtaining carbon dioxide from the fermentation of the production process, converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides; and obtaining the composition comprising saccharides from the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide.

Description

[0001] APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to apparatus and more particularly to apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] The present invention also relates to a method for reducing carbon dioxide emissions and more particularly to a method for reducing carbon dioxide emissions according to the preamble of claim 4.

[0005] BACKGROUND

[0006] Current alcohol and ethanol production processes rely primarily on the direct conversion of grown grains into ethanol. In grain-based ethanol production, for example, a grain such as corn, barley, wheat and rye are mechanically, thermally and / or chemically processed, and a fraction extracted from the processed grain is placed in fermentation tanks containing microbes.

[0007] The fermented extract is then obtained, or obtained and distilled, in order to produce alcoholic beverage or alcohol. Drawbacks to these conventional alcohol production methods can include high raw material (e.g., grain) consumption, large by-product production, and consumption of excess water and energy. Growing the grain, the processes related to processing grain to fermentable format and the fermentation process itself are sources of carbon dioxide emissions when producing alcohol by fermentation.

[0008] It is also known to use catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide to alcohol, but these processes consume a huge amount of energy as the conversion requires hydrogen and processes are carried out in very high temperatures. It should be noted that, at the moment in EU all alcoholic beverages must be obtained from agricultural source which catalytic process is not.

[0009] Accordingly, alternatives to current alcohol production methods are needed so that carbon dioxide emissions may be cut down.

[0010] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and a method for capturing and converting carbon dioxide so as to solve or at least alleviate the prior art problems. The objects of the invention are achieved by apparatus which is characterized by what is stated in independent claim 1. The objects of the invention are also achieved by a method for reducing carbon dioxide emissions which is characterized by what is stated in independent claim 4.

[0012] The invention is based on the idea of apparatus for producing fermented products. The apparatus comprises one or more fermenting vessels; a bioreactor arranged to receive carbon dioxide, and the bioreactor is configured to convert at least a part of the received carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides; a first inlet arrangement arranged to provide the bioreactor with carbon dioxide from the one or more fermenting vessels; and a feeding arrangement arranged to provide the one or more fermenting vessels with the composition comprising saccharides from the bioreactor.

[0013] It should be noted that the apparatus may comprise two or more bioreactors. in some embodiments, the apparatus (100) comprises:

[0014] - one or more fermenting vessels (10) of alcoholic beverage production;

[0015] - a bioreactor (1) arranged to receive carbon dioxide, and the bioreactor (1) is configured to convert at least a part of the received carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides;

[0016] - a first inlet arrangement (2) arranged to provide the bioreactor (1) with carbon dioxide from the one or more fermenting vessels (10) of alcoholic beverage production; and

[0017] - a feeding arrangement (3) arranged to provide the one or more fermenting vessels (10) of alcoholic beverage production with the composition comprising saccharides from the bioreactor (1).

[0018] In some embodiments, the bioreactor is provided with living cells comprising Chlorophyll, the bioreactor is arranged to receive light energy and water, and the Chlorophyll in the bioreactor is arranged to convert at least a part of the received water and carbon dioxide to saccharides and oxygen.

[0019] The living cells efficiently converts carbon dioxide to fermentable sug- ars. In some embodiments, the bioreactor is provided with living cells comprising Chlorophyll, the bioreactor is arranged to receive light energy and water, and the Chlorophyll in the bioreactor is arranged to convert received water and carbon dioxide to saccharides and oxygen.

[0020] The living cells efficiently converts carbon dioxide to fermentable sugars.

[0021] In some embodiments, the bioreactor is provided with living cells comprising Chlorophyll, the bioreactor is arranged to receive light energy and water, and the Chlorophyll in the bioreactor is arranged to convert at least a part of the received water and carbon dioxide to saccharides and oxygen, and light of the light energy having a wavelength in the range of 400 - 700 nm.

[0022] The wavelength in the range of 400 - 700 nm promotes growth of the living cells.

[0023] In some embodiments, the bioreactor is provided with living cells comprising Chlorophyll and a light source, the living cells are arranged to receive light energy from the light source and water, and the Chlorophyll in the bioreactor is arranged to convert at least a part of the received water and carbon dioxide to saccharides and oxygen, and light of the light energy having a wavelength in the range of 400 - 700 nm.

[0024] The light source may provide the living cells with light energy during the entire day or light cycles.

[0025] In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a second inlet arrangement arranged to provide the bioreactor with water.

[0026] In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a second inlet arrangement arranged to provide the bioreactor with water and nutrients.

[0027] Water and nutrients improve yield of the composition comprises saccharides.

[0028] In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a circulating arrangement arranged to return unabsorbed carbon dioxide in the bioreactor available for the living cells comprising Chlorophyll.

[0029] The circulating arrangement improves yield of the composition comprises saccharides.

[0030] In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a circulating arrangement arranged to return unabsorbed carbon dioxide in the bioreactor available for the living cells comprising Chlorophyll, and a second inlet arrangement arranged to provide the bioreactor with water and nutrients.

[0031] The present invention further relates to a method for reducing carbon dioxide emissions of a production process comprising fermentation. The method comprises obtaining carbon dioxide from the fermentation of the production process; converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides; and obtaining the composition comprising saccharides from the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide.

[0032] In some embodiments, the method comprises a step of feeding the obtained composition comprising saccharides to the production process.

[0033] The composition comprising saccharides is used when another batch fermentable material is fermented in the fermentation.

[0034] In some embodiments, the method comprises:

[0035] - obtaining carbon dioxide from the fermentation of the production process producing alcoholic beverages;

[0036] - converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides; and

[0037] - obtaining the composition comprising saccharides from the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide, and

[0038] - feeding the obtained composition comprising saccharides to fermentation in the production process producing alcoholic beverages. In some embodiments, the method comprises a step fermenting the obtained composition comprising saccharides.

[0039] In some embodiments, the method comprises a step of feeding the obtained composition comprising saccharides to the production process and subjecting the composition comprising saccharides to fermentation in the production process.

[0040] Fermentation of the obtained composition comprising saccharides reduces required grain in the fermentation, and thus less grain is used for producing alcohol comprising product. This reduces or even removes the need of raw materials from nature (e.g., grains).

[0041] In some embodiments, the method comprises a step of feeding the obtained composition comprising saccharides to the production process and subjecting the composition comprising saccharides to fermentation in the production process, the obtained composition comprising saccharides being in liquid form comprising water, saccharides and biomass or slurry comprising water, saccharides and biomass.

[0042] The liquid or slurry are easy to transfer to the one or more fermenting vessels.

[0043] In some embodiments, the method comprises a step of feeding the obtained composition comprising saccharides to the production process and subjecting the composition comprising saccharides to fermentation in the production process, the obtained composition comprising saccharides being in liquid form comprising water, saccharides and biomass or in slurry comprising water, saccharides and biomass, and the composition comprising saccharides comprises fermentable sugars.

[0044] In some embodiments, fermentation in the production process is carried out in a brewery or in a distillery.

[0045] Thus, beverages comprising alcohol may be efficiently produced so that carbon dioxide emissions are reduced.

[0046] In some embodiments, the carbon dioxide is obtained from the fermentation in the production process as a gaseous stream comprising carbon dioxide.

[0047] In some embodiments, the carbon dioxide is obtained from the fermentation in the production process as a gaseous stream consisting of carbon dioxide.

[0048] In some embodiments, carbon dioxide is obtained from the fermentation in the production process as an impurified gaseous stream comprising carbon dioxide.

[0049] In some embodiments, carbon dioxide is obtained from the fermentation in the production process as a gaseous stream comprising up to 99 vol-% carbon dioxide.

[0050] In some embodiments, carbon dioxide is obtained from the fermentation in the production process as a gaseous stream comprising carbon dioxide in the range of 5 - 99 vol-%.

[0051] The present invention enables using impurified carbon dioxide. In some embodiments, the step of converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to the composition comprising saccharides is carried out in a bioreactor.

[0052] The bioreactor efficiently converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to the composition comprising saccharides.

[0053] In some embodiments, the step of converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to the composition comprising saccharides is carried out in a bioreactor, the method comprises a step of providing the bioreactor with water and nutrients, and converting at least a part of carbon dioxide, at least a part of water and at least a part of nutrients to the composition comprising saccharides by photosynthesis.

[0054] Nutrients increase yield of the composition comprising saccharides.

[0055] In some embodiments, the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out at a temperature in the range of 5 - 80 °C or in the range of 15 - 60 °C or in the range of 15 - 30 °C or in the range of 20 - 25 °C.

[0056] In some embodiments, the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out in a bioreactor having a pressure in the range of 0,8 - 1,5 atm or in the range of 0,9 - 1,1 atm.

[0057] In some embodiments, the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out at a temperature in the range of 5 - 80 °C or in the range of 15 - 60 °C or in the range of 15 - 30 °C or in the range of 20 - 25 °C, and the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out in a bioreactor having a pressure in the range of 0,8 - 1,5 atm or in the range of 0,9 - 1,1 atm.

[0058] A rector having low pressure and low temperature consume low amount of energy. atm corresponds to the sea level pressure in the standard atmosphere agreed upon internationally.

[0059] In some embodiments, the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out by photosynthesis.

[0060] In some embodiments, the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out by photosynthesis in a living cell comprising Chlorophyll.

[0061] In some embodiments, the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out by photosynthesis in a living cell comprising Chlorophyll, the Chlorophyll being in cyanobacteria or algae. In some embodiments, the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out by photosynthesis in a living cell comprising Chlorophyll, the Chlorophyll being in cyanobacteria or microalgae.

[0062] Photosynthesis efficiently converting at least a part of carbon dioxide to fermentable sugars.

[0063] In some embodiments, the step of converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides comprises growing biomass in a bioreactor, and the step of obtaining the composition comprising saccharides comprises harvesting the biomass.

[0064] In some embodiments, the step of obtaining the composition comprising saccharides comprises obtaining the composition comprising saccharides by harvesting the biomass.

[0065] The biomass comprising fermentable sugars may be fermented to alcoholic beverages.

[0066] In some embodiments, the step of converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides comprises growing biomass in a bioreactor, and the step of obtaining the composition comprising saccharides comprises harvesting a part of the biomass and leaving a part of the biomass in the bioreactor.

[0067] This eases utilization of the bioreactor and enables continuous CO? sequestration and continuous harvesting.

[0068] In some embodiments, the step of converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides comprises growing biomass in a bioreactor and returning unabsorbed carbon dioxide to the bioreactor for converting.

[0069] Returning unabsorbed carbon dioxide to the bioreactor increases efficiency of carbon dioxide reduction.

[0070] In some embodiments, the step of converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides comprises growing biomass in a bioreactor and returning unabsorbed carbon dioxide in the bioreactor for converting, and the step of obtaining the composition saccharides comprises harvesting a part of the biomass in the bioreactor.

[0071] In some embodiments, the step of converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides comprises growing biomass in a bioreactor and returning unabsorbed carbon dioxide to the bioreactor for converting, and the step of obtaining the composition saccharides comprises harvesting a part of the biomass in the bioreactor.

[0072] In some embodiments, the step of fermenting in the production process being carried out in batches, the method comprises a step of storing the composition comprising saccharides and a step of feeding the stored composition to the production process when preparing a batch to be fermented in the production process.

[0073] This enables using the composition comprising saccharides in the production process having a fermentation which is carried out in batches.

[0074] In some embodiments, the step of fermenting in the production process being carried out in batches, the method comprises a step of storing the composition comprising saccharides and a step of feeding the stored composition to the production process when preparing a batch to be fermented in the production process, and the step of storing comprises freezing or cooling.

[0075] This enables using the composition comprising saccharides in the production process having a fermentation which is carried out in batches so that the composition comprising saccharides may be stored over a long time.

[0076] In some embodiments, the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out with Chiorophytes or Cyanophytes.

[0077] This promotes an efficient conversion of carbon dioxide to fermentable sugars.

[0078] In some embodiments, the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out with green algae or cyanobacteria.

[0079] This promotes conversion of carbon dioxide to fermentable sugars.

[0080] In some embodiments, the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out with Chiorophytes (Chlorella or Scenedesmus).

[0081] This promotes an efficient conversion of carbon dioxide to fermentable sugars.

[0082] In some embodiments, the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out with Chiorophytes (Chlorella).

[0083] This further promotes an efficient conversion of carbon dioxide to fermentable sugars. In some embodiments, the method comprises a step of modifying the composition comprising saccharides.

[0084] The composition comprising saccharides may be modified according to fermentation process.

[0085] In some embodiments, the method comprises a step of modifying the composition comprising saccharides before feeding the composition comprising saccharides to the fermentation.

[0086] In some embodiments, the method comprises a step of modifying the composition comprising saccharides before feeding the composition comprising saccharides to the fermentation, the modifying comprises any combination of the following: reducing water content of the composition comprising saccharides, filtering the composition comprising saccharides, hydrolysis, heating, chemical treatment and enzyme treatment.

[0087] In some embodiments, the method comprises a step of reducing water content of the composition comprising saccharides.

[0088] In some embodiments, the method comprises a step of filtering the composition comprising saccharides.

[0089] This promotes fermentation of the composition comprising saccharides.

[0090] In some embodiments, the method being carried out with any embodiment of the apparatus disclosed in this application.

[0091] An advantage of the invention is that it provides a method and apparatus to efficiently reducing carbon dioxide emissions of fermentation.

[0092] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0093] The invention is described in detail by means of specific embodiments with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0094] Figure 1 shows schematically apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0095] Figure 2 shows schematically apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention Figure 3 shows schematically a method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0096] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0097] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter.

[0098] This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and for fully convey the scope of the invention to a skilled person. Although individual features may be included in different embodiments, these may possibly be combined in other ways, and the inclusion in different embodiments does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality.

[0099] In the context of the present invention, the terms "a", "an" does not preclude a plurality.

[0100] As used herein, the term "comprising" includes the broader meanings of "including", "containing", and "comprehending", as well as the narrower expressions "consisting of" and "consisting only of".

[0101] "Chlorophyll" (also chlorophyl)

[0102] Chlorophyl is any of several related green pigments found in cyanobacteria and in the chloroplasts of algae, microalgae and plants. Chlorophyll allows plants to absorb energy from light. Chlorophylls absorb light most strongly in the blue portion of the electromagnetic spectrum as well as the red portion. Chlorophyll is vital for photosynthesis, which allows plants to absorb energy from light. Chlorophyll molecules are arranged in and around photosystems that are embedded in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts.

[0103] "Photosynthesis of plants"

[0104] During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide (CO?) and water (H2O). Within the plant cell comprising chlorophyl, the water is oxidized, meaning it loses electrons, while the carbon dioxide is reduced, meaning it gains electrons. This transforms the water into oxygen and the carbon dioxide into glucose. In other words, the plant cell comprising chlorophyl converts the water into oxygen and the carbon dioxide into glucose. The plant then releases the oxygen and stores energy within the glucose molecules.

[0105] "Artificial photosynthesis" is a chemical process that biomimics the natural process of photosynthesis to convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and oxygen. Using biomimetic approaches, artificial photosynthesis tries to construct systems doing the same type of processes. Ideally, a triad assembly could oxidize water with one catalyst, reduce protons with another and have a photosensitizer molecule to power the whole system.

[0106] "Fermentation"

[0107] Fermentation is the conversion of carbohydrates to alcohol or organic acids using microorganisms— yeasts or bacteria— under anaerobic (oxygen-free) conditions. Fermentation usually implies that the action of microorganisms is desired.

[0108] The term "fermentation" and "fermenting" refers specifically in this application to the chemical conversion of sugars into ethanol, producing alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer, and cider or distilled alcoholic beverages such as spirits.

[0109] However, similar processes take place in the leavening of bread (CO? produced by yeast activity), and in the preservation of sour foods with the production of lactic acid, such as in sauerkraut and yogurt.

[0110] "Brewery"

[0111] Brewing is carried out in a brewery.

[0112] Brewing is typically divided into 9 steps: milling, malting, mashing, lautering, boiling, fermenting, conditioning, filtering, and filling.

[0113] Mashing is the process of mixing milled, usually malted, grain with water, and heating it with rests at certain temperatures to allow enzymes in the malt to break down the starches in the grain into sugars, especially maltose. It is achieved in either a lauter tun, a wide vessel with a false bottom, or a mash filter, a plate-and-frame filter designed for this kind of separation. Lautering has two stages: first wort run-off, during which the extract is separated in an undiluted state from the spent grains, and sparging, in which extract that remains with the grains is rinsed off with hot water.

[0114] Boiling the wort ensures its sterility, helping to prevent contamination with undesirable microbes. During the boil, hops are added, which contribute aroma and flavour compounds to the beer, especially their characteristic bitterness. Along with the heat of the boil, they cause proteins in the wort to coagulate and the pH of the wort to fall, and they inhibit the later growth of certain bacteria. Finally, the vapours produced during the boil volatilize off-flavours. The boil must be conducted so that it is even and intense. The boil lasts between 60 and 120 minutes, depending on its intensity, the hop addition schedule, and volume of wort the brewer expects to evaporate.

[0115] Fermenting process in a brewery

[0116] Fermentation begins as soon as yeast is added to the cooled wort. This is also the point at which the product is first called beer. It is during this stage that fermentable sugars from the malt (maltose, maltotriose, glucose, fructose and sucrose) are metabolized into alcohol and carbon dioxide.

[0117] Fermentation tanks come in many shapes and sizes, from enormous cylindroconical vessels that can look like storage silos, to 20-litre (5 US gal) glass carboys used by homebrewers.

[0118] Most breweries today use cylindroconical vessels (CCVs), which have a conical bottom and a cylindrical top. The cone's aperture is typically around 70°, an angle that will allow the yeast to flow smoothly out through the cone's apex at the end of fermentation but is not so steep as to take up too much vertical space. CCVs can handle both fermenting and conditioning in the same tank. At the end of fermentation, the yeast and other solids have fallen to the cone's apex can be simply flushed out through a port at the apex.

[0119] Fermentation tanks are typically made of stainless steel. Simple cylindrical tanks with bevelled ends are arranged vertically, and conditioning tanks are usually laid out horizontally. Conditioning

[0120] When the sugars in the fermenting beer have been almost completely digested, the fermentation process slows, and the yeast cells begin to die and settle at the bottom of the tank. At this stage, especially if the beer is cooled to around freezing, most of the remaining live yeast cells will quickly become dormant and settle, along with the heavier protein chains, due simply to gravity and molecular dehydration. Conditioning can occur in fermentation tanks with cooling jackets. If the whole fermentation cellar is cooled, conditioning must be done in separate tanks in a separate cellar. Some beers are conditioned only lightly, or not at all. An active yeast culture from an ongoing batch may be added to the next boil after a slight chilling in order to produce fresh and highly palatable beer in mass quantity.

[0121] Filtering

[0122] Filtering the beer stabilizes flavour and gives it a polished, shiny look. It is an optional process. Many craft brewers simply remove the coagulated and settled solids and forgo active filtration. The container may be a bottle, can, of keg, cask or bulk tank.

[0123] Filters come in many types. Many uses pre-made filtration media such as sheets or candles. Kieselguhr, a fine powder of diatomaceous earth, can be introduced into the beer and circulated through screens to form a filtration bed. Filtration ratings are divided into rough, fine, and sterile. Rough filters remove yeasts and other solids, leaving some cloudiness, while finer filters can remove body and colour. Sterile filters remove almost all microorganisms.

[0124] "Distillery"

[0125] A distillery is a place where alcohol is made through a process called distillation. Distillation is a method of separating and purifying liquids based on their boiling points. This process is used to create a range of alcoholic beverages, including vodka, rum, whiskey, gin, and brandy. The distilling process is a complex and multi-step process that involves several stages.

[0126] The first stage of the distilling process is mashing and fermentation. This stage involves mixing grains, such as barley or corn, with water and heating the mixture to create a mash. The mash is then cooled, and yeast is added to start the fermentation process.

[0127] During fermentation, the yeast consumes the sugars in the mash and produces alcohol and carbon dioxide. This process takes several days and creates a beer-like liquid with about 10% alcohol by volume.

[0128] Distillation is the second stage of the distilling process.

[0129] Distillation involves heating the fermented liquid in a still to create a vapor, which is then condensed back into a liquid. The distillation process purifies the liquid by separating the alcohol from the water and other impurities.

[0130] The resulting liquid, or distillate, is considered purer and more alcoholic. The distillation process is usually repeated several times to increase the alcohol content of the liquid.

[0131] The third and final stage of the distilling process is maturation, which is a voluntary step for certain types of alcoholic beverages.

[0132] "Living cell"

[0133] In the context of this application the living cell is the basic structural and functional unit of life forms.

[0134] Living cell having metabolism.

[0135] "The fermentable sugars" comprises glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose, and maltotriose. It should be noted that fermentable sugars may be obtained from cellulose and starch after hydrolysis.

[0136] "Algae harvesting" may comprise for instance centrifugation, gravity sedimentation, screening, filtration, and air flotation and flocculation-based processes.

[0137] Figure 1 shows apparatus 100 for capturing and converting carbon dioxide produced in one or more fermenting vessels 10 of a production facility 1000. The apparatus 100 comprises: a bioreactor 1 arranged to receive water, nutrients and carbon dioxide, and the bioreactor 1 is configured to convert at least a part of the received water, nutrients and carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides; a first inlet arrangement 2 arranged to provide the bioreactor 1 with carbon dioxide from the one or more fermenting vessels 10 of the production facility 1000; and a feeding arrangement 3 arranged to provide the one or more fermenting vessels 10 of the production facility 1000 with the composition comprising saccharides from the bioreactor 1.

[0138] The first inlet arrangement 2 may comprise a first pipeline which is connected between a one or more fermenting vessels 10 of the production facility 1000 and the bioreactor 1 so that the first pipeline enables carbon dioxide flow from the one or more fermenting vessels 10 to the bioreactor 1.

[0139] In certain embodiments the first inlet arrangement 2 comprises any combination of the following: a pump for moving gaseous carbon dioxide, one or more valves and pipes providing the first pipeline.

[0140] In certain embodiments, the bioreactor 1 is provided with living cells 6 comprising Chlorophyll, the bioreactor 1 is arranged to receive light energy, and the Chlorophyll in the bioreactor 1 is arranged to convert the received water and carbon dioxide to saccharides and oxygen.

[0141] In certain embodiments, light of the light energy having a wavelength in the range of 400 - 700 nm.

[0142] In certain embodiments, the bioreactor 1 is provided a light source 5 and the living cells 6 are arranged to receive light energy from the light source 5.

[0143] The feeding arrangement 3 may comprise a second pipeline which is connected between a to one or more fermenting vessels 10 of the production facility 1000 and the bioreactor 1 so that the second pipeline enables providing the one or more fermenting vessels 10 with saccharides from the bioreactor 1.

[0144] In certain embodiments the feeding arrangement 3 comprises any combination of the following: a pump for moving liquid material, one or more valves and pipes providing the second pipeline.

[0145] In certain embodiments the feeding arrangement 3 comprises a conveyor or movable container to transfer the composition comprising saccharides to the one or more fermenting vessels. The bioreactor 1 refers to any manufactured device or system that supports a biologically active environment.

[0146] In certain embodiment bioreactor 1 comprises any combination of the following parts:

[0147] Agitator - Used for the mixing of the contents of the reactor which keeps the cells in the perfect homogenous condition for better transport of nutrients and CO2to the desired product(s);

[0148] Baffle - Used to break the vortex formation in the vessel, which is usually highly undesirable as it changes the centre of gravity of the system and consumes additional power;

[0149] Sparger - In aerobic cultivation process, the purpose of the sparger is to supply adequate oxygen to the growing cells; and

[0150] Jacket - The jacket provides the annular area for circulation of constant temperature of water which keeps the temperature of the bioreactor at a constant value.

[0151] In certain embodiments, the bioreactor 1 is photobioreactor (PBR) which incorporates some type of light source that may be natural sunlight or artificial illumination). Virtually any translucent container could be called a PBR, however the term is more commonly used to define a closed system, as opposed to an open storage tank or pond. Photobioreactors are used to grow small phototrophic organisms such as cyanobacteria, microalgae, or moss plants. These organisms use light through photosynthesis as their energy source and do not require sugars or lipids as energy source.

[0152] In certain embodiments, the bioreactor 1 being batch or fed batch or continuous bioreactor.

[0153] In certain embodiments, the apparatus 100 comprises a second inlet arrangement 4 arranged to provide the bioreactor 1 with water.

[0154] In certain embodiments, the apparatus 100 comprises a second inlet arrangement 4 arranged to provide the bioreactor 1 with water and nutrients; or

[0155] In the context of this application nutrients refer to any combination of the following: phosphorous, nitrogen and trace elements such as iron, magnesium, zinc, manganese.

[0156] In certain embodiments, a circulating arrangement arranged to return unused carbon dioxide in the bioreactor 1 available for the living cells 6 comprising Chlorophyll. It should be noted that carbon dioxide may be treated. The treatment may be any commonly known carbon dioxide treatment such as purifying, washing, liquefying, filtering or purification system.

[0157] The embodiment shown in figure 2 differs from the embodiments shown in figure 1 so that the apparatus 100 further comprises a storage vessel 7 provided to the feeding arrangement 3.

[0158] In certain embodiments, the storage vessel 7 comprises cooling devise arranged to cool or freeze the composition comprising saccharides.

[0159] Figure 3 shows schematically embodiments of a method according to the present invention. The present inventive concepts are, at least in part, based on unexpected realisations that carbon dioxide (CO?) from fermentation may be converted to a composition which comprises fermentable sugars so that the composition comprising fermentable sugars may be fed to the fermentation. This efficiently cuts down CO2 emissions of the fermentation as the CO2 emissions of fermentation is converted sugars and furthermore, the sugars are utilised in next fermentation batch which reduce use of grains and thus, CO2 emissions of growing grain.

[0160] The method comprises following steps: obtaining carbon dioxide from the fermentation of the production process (500); converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides (501); and obtaining the composition comprising saccharides from the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide (502).

[0161] In certain embodiments, the method comprises a step of storing the composition comprising saccharides (504).

[0162] In certain embodiments, the method comprises step of feeding the obtained composition comprising saccharides to the production process and subjecting the composition comprising saccharides to fermentation in the production process (503).

[0163] In other words, present inventive concepts may provide a loop of process steps so that at least a part of carbon atoms of the cardon dioxide emitted from the fermentation is fermented later in same production facility from which the carbon dioxide is obtained.

[0164] In other words, present invention provides a loop of process steps so that the method comprises a step of fermenting composition comprising saccharides obtained from cardon dioxide emitted from the fermentation. EXAMPLES

[0165] In the following, the invention and the embodiments thereof are described by means of non-limiting examples. A person skilled in the art would be able to modify the parameters of the examples with support of the above description without departing from the present invention.

[0166] Example 1 (comparative-)

[0167] From the prior art is known the following process to capture and covert carbon dioxide to alcohol.

[0168] First the CO? is captured and sourced from industrial plants prior to it being emitted into the atmosphere. Then it is transported to a converting facility in tanks after it has been cooled, pressurized and liquified.

[0169] On the converting facility water is split into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) by electrolysis. The hydrogen gas is fed into a conversion reactor with the CO2. CO2 and hydrogen (H2) meet in the reactor and are converted. The reactor produces reactor liquid which is composed of alcohols, alkanes and water. Finally, distillation process separates the components of the reactor liquid. Alcohol (such as Ethanol and Methanol) alkanes and water all have different boiling points, and therefore when heated to a specific temperature, separate.

[0170] Drawback of this process is that it requires a separate complex facility to produce alcohol and there is need for a lot of energy for the process in the facility and during transportation of the carbon dioxide. Furthermore, for example in EU, alcohol sold for drinking purposes must be obtained from agricultural source which this catalytic example process is not.

[0171] Example 2 (according to the invention)

[0172] The inventors found out that Dinophytes (dinoflagellates) creates biomass but growing was slow.

[0173] Example 3 (according to the invention)

[0174] The experimental procedure for conversion of algae biomass to ethanol comprised following steps:

[0175] - algae biomass - Acid hydrolyses (Sulfuric acid)

[0176] - pH neutralisation with KOH

[0177] - enzyme treatment (amylase + cellulase)

[0178] - Cell separation by centrifuge

[0179] - conversion of sugars into ethanol by yeast fermentation

[0180] - Distillation

[0181] - Ethanol

[0182] Tetraselmis chuii biomass was then investigated. We produced Tetraselmis chuii biomass and we compared three acids (HCI, H2SO4 and acetic), at different concentrations, hydrolysis times, temperatures, and dry weight concentrations for the acid hydrolysis step.

[0183] 5 or 10 g of dried Tetraselmis biomass was rehydrated in 50 mL of acid (for 9.1% or 16.7% dry weight w / w). After this the mixture was heated to either 105 or 121 °C for 15 to 50 minutes in an autoclave. The pH of the hydrolysate was adjusted with 10M KOH to around 5.3-5.5, after which a sample was drawn for analysis of sugars by HPLC. Only 3.33 g / L of glucose was released when sulfuric acid was used as the sole hydrolysis method, while hydrolysis in acetic acid resulted in negligible glucose release. To improve the sugar yields, an enzymatic hydrolysis, or saccharification, was introduced. Addition of glucoamylase and a-amylase cocktails (Novozymes Spirizyme Fuel, Novozymes Termamyl 120L), as well as a cellulase cocktail (Novozymes Cellu- clast), resulted in up to 5-fold higher sugar release. Autoclave (acid hydrolysis) conditions also had an impact on the amount of released sugars. A lower temperature (105 °C) was not enough to degrade the biomass, whereas a 50 min autoclave time resulted in lower yields in contrast to a 20 min autoclave time. The prolonged autoclave time resulted in degradation of the monomeric sugars. Based on the data 121 °C and 20 min was the best option to hydrolyse for T. chuii biomass. Addition of a cellulase enzyme, Novozymes Celluclast, improved the glucose release. After hydrolysis, small-scale fermentations in the hydrolysates were also carried out.

[0184] The inventors found out that only a small amount of ethanol was created by fermentation of the T. chuii biomass.

[0185] Example 4 (according to the invention-)

[0186] The experimental procedure for conversion of algae biomass to ethanol comprised following steps:

[0187] - algae biomass

[0188] - Acid hydrolyses (Sulfuric acid)

[0189] - pH neutralisation with KOH

[0190] - enzyme treatment

[0191] - Cell separation by centrifuge

[0192] - conversion of sugars into ethanol by yeast fermentation

[0193] - Distillation

[0194] - Ethanol

[0195] Based on the results of T. chuii hydrolysis, a limited selection of conditions was selected for hydrolysis of the Chlorella biomass. Two different acids (HCI and H2SO4) at two different molarities (0.5M and IM) were tested for the acid hydrolysis step. In addition, hydrolysis with HCI was tested with and without a 2.5% MgC supplementation. 5 g of dried Chlorella biomass was rehydrated in 50 mL of acid for 30 minutes at 70 °C (9.1% dry weight w / w). After this the mixture was heated to 121 °C for 15 minutes in an autoclave. The pH of the hydrolysate was adjusted with 10M KOH to around 5.3-5.5. The amount of 10M KOH added varied from around 2.4 mL (0.5M HCI) to 9 mL (IM H2SO4). 1 mL samples were drawn for sugar analysis by HPLC. Next, 200 pL enzyme cocktail with cellulase, glucoamylase and a-amylase activity was added to each hydrolysate (Novozymes Spirizyme Fuel, Novozymes Ter- mamyl 120L, and Novozymes Celluclast). Hydrolysates were incubated for 20 hours at 65 °C, after which they were centrifuged and approx. 45 mL of supernatant was collected for analysis and fermentation trials. Acid hydrolysis of the Chlorella biomass resulted in the release of mainly glucose, followed by lower concentrations of other monomer sugars that were partly fermented (galactose, fructose, rhamnose and xylose are co-eluted during HPLC and therefore have overlapping peaks). A higher sugar concentration was obtained in the hydrolysate treated with the enzyme cocktail. However, the average glucose concentration of the tested hydrolysates only increased from around 15 to 17 g / L after enzyme treatment. A similar increase in glucose yield was observed for hydrolysis in HCI compared to H2SO4. Slightly higher glucose yields were observed in hydrolysis with 0.5M acid compared to IM, however, the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). Likewise, no obvious improvement in glucose yield was observed when MgC was included during hydrolysis. From a sugar profile perspective, the most promising hydrolysis conditions for Chlorella biomass were 0.5M HCI (without MgC supplementation).

[0196] After hydrolysis, small-scale fermentations in the hydrolysates were also carried out. Three different yeast strains were compared: Ethanol Red, an industry standard for bioethanol fermentation, as well as two brewing yeasts with glucoamylolytic activity.

[0197] Prior to fermentations, 20 g / L of both yeast extract and peptone were added to the hydrolysates in order to provide nitrogen and nutrients.

[0198] The hydrolysates were sterile filtered (0.2 pM), and 10 mL aliquots were transferred to 15 mL Falcon tubes. Yeast was inoculated from H2O-washed overnight pre-cul- tures at a rate of 5 mg fresh yeast / mL. Fermentations were incubated at 30 °C for 48 hours.

[0199] The ethanol concentrations in the fermentates ranged from 4.4 to 8.8 g / L after 48 hours, which translates to an ethanol yield of 30 to 46 % (mean of 37%) from the glucose present in the hydrolysate (theoretical maximum 51%). On average, the ethanol levels were relatively higher in the fermentates obtained from the gly- coamylolytic brewing yeast TUM PI BA 109 compared to the other tested strains. Approximately 10% higher ethanol concentrations were obtained with TUM PI BA 109, suggesting that further glucose could be released in the hydrolysate through glucoamylase activity. Highest ethanol concentrations could be obtained from the 0.5M HCI hydrolysate, which also was the most promising from a sugar point-of- view.

[0200] Example 5 (according to the invention)

[0201] The inventors found out that Chiorophytes (green algae) Chlorella in Example 4 may be replaced with other Chiorophytes (green algae) such as Scenedesmus. Example 6 (according to the invention-)

[0202] The inventors found out that Chiorophytes (green algae) Chlorella in Example 4 may be replaced with Cyanophytes, (cyanobacteria).

[0203] Example 7 (according to the invention)

[0204] After determining the best hydrolysis conditions for maximizing ethanol yield from Chlorella biomass, hydrolysis and fermentation was repeated at larger scale. The remaining 199.7 g of biomass was split into four 50 g aliquots, each to which 500 mL of 0.5M HCI was added.

[0205] Rehydration and autoclaving were repeated as at smaller scale. pH was adjusted to 5.4 by adding 25 mL of 10M KOH to each aliquot. 1 mL of enzyme cocktail was then added to each aliquot, and hydrolysates were incubated for 20 hours at 65 °C. Prior to enzyme treatment, the hydrolysate contained approx. 16 g / L glucose and 4.0 g / L galactose / fructose / xylose / rhamnose. The concentrations increased to 19 g / L glucose and 5.1 g / L galactose / fructose / xylose / rhamnose after the enzyme treatment.

[0206] 3 g / L of yeast extract and 5 g / L of peptone were added to the enzyme treated hydrolysates, after which they were centrifuged. The clear supernatant was collected in a 2 L Schott bottle and pasteurized for 30 minutes at 80 °C. A pre-culture of S. cerevisiae TUM PI BA 109 was grown overnight in YPD media (1% yeast extract, 2% peptone, 2% glucose), after which the yeast was washed once with water and resuspended to a 20% slurry in water. Following cooling of the hydrolysate to 25 °C, 10.8 g of fresh yeast was added to 1800 mL of hydrolysate (6 g / L inoculation rate). The bottle was capped with an airlock, and the fermentation was incubated at 30 °C for 72 hours. After 72 hours, an HPLC sample revealed that no ethanol had been formed and the media still contained the original amount of glucose (19.2 g / L). To remedy this, a fresh batch of yeast (S. cerevisiae Ethanol Red) was inoculated at the same rate as previously (6 g / L). 100 mL of 20% yeast extract and 20% peptone was added as well, to increase the overall concentrations to 13 g / L yeast extract and 15 g / L peptone. Following 5 days of fermentation, all glucose and galactose / fructose / xylose / rhamnose had been consumed from the media and the fermentate contained 10.9 g / L ethanol (for a 45% yield from total sugars). The fermentate was centrifuged to remove the yeast, and the remaining 1950 mL of supernatant was distilled (Figure 5). The total ethanol amount in the fermentate was 21.3 g (26.9 mL). During distillation, approx. 49 mL of first runnings (ethanol content of 27.7% by volume) and approx. 80 mL of second runnings (ethanol content of 10.6% by volume) were collected. The ethanol yield during distillation was 82%. As the ethanol content was not above the requested threshold of 40% alcohol by volume, the distillates were combined and redistilled. During the second distillation, a total of 45 mL of distillate was collected. The distillate had an ethanol content of 44.1% by volume. The ethanol yield of the second distillation was thus 90%.

[0207] The combined yield of the two distillations was 73.8%. In total, from the 199.7 g of dried Chlorella biomass, 15.7 g of distilled ethanol were obtained, resulting in a final yield of 7.9 g ethanol per 100 g of biomass. A second 2L-scale fermentation was performed using a near identical protocol as earlier. 253 g of Chlorella biomass was rehydrated in 2500 mL of 0.5M HCI, and then autoclaved, neutralized with 10M KOH, and enzyme treated as earlier. For this second fermentation, no nitrogen was supplemented to reduce formation of potential off aroma (previously yeast extract and peptone were added). S. cerevisiae TUM PI BA 109 was inoculated to a rate of 10 g / L. Fermentation was carried out for 72 hours, after which the fermentate was centrifuged to remove the yeast and then distilled. The distillate (27 mL at 79% ABV) was diluted to 50 mL with an ABV of 42.8%.

[0208] To conclude, dried Chlorella biomass was successfully converted to distilled ethanol at an overall yield of 7.9 g ethanol per 100 g biomass. Of the tested pre-treatment conditions, the glucose and subsequent ethanol yield was highest in 0.5M HCI. Interestingly, while enzyme treatment (at relatively high doses) did improve glucose yield, the effect was not major for Chlorella biomass. The sugar yield from Tetra- selmis biomass, however, increased considerably after enzyme treatment. Of the compared yeast strains, S. cerevisiae TUM PI BA 109 produced the highest ethanol yield from the algal hydrolysate, most likely because it expresses an extracellular glucoamylase that can further release glucose from any remaining oligosaccharides in the medium. Nitrogen supplementation did not appear to have an obvious effect on the aroma of the fermented hydrolysate, and thus to further improve the sensorial properties of the fermented product.

Claims

Claims1. Apparatus (100) for producing fermented products, characterized in that the apparatus (100) comprises:- one or more fermenting vessels (10);- a bioreactor (1) arranged to receive carbon dioxide, and the bioreactor (1) is configured to convert at least a part of the received carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides;- a first inlet arrangement (2) arranged to provide the bioreactor (1) with carbon dioxide from the one or more fermenting vessels (10); and- a feeding arrangement (3) arranged to provide the one or more fermenting vessels (10) with the composition comprising saccharides from the bioreactor (1).

2. Apparatus (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that:- the bioreactor (1) is provided with living cells (6) comprising Chlorophyll, the bioreactor (1) is arranged to receive light energy and water, and the Chlorophyll in the bioreactor (1) is arranged to convert at least a part of the received water and carbon dioxide to saccharides and oxygen; or- the bioreactor (1) is provided with living cells (6) comprising Chlorophyll, the bioreactor (1) is arranged to receive light energy and water, and the Chlorophyll in the bioreactor (1) is arranged to convert at least a part of the received water and carbon dioxide to saccharides and oxygen, and light of the light energy having a wavelength in the range of 400 - 700 nm; or- the bioreactor (1) is provided with living cells (6) comprising Chlorophyll and a light source (5) , the living cells (6) are arranged to receive light energy from the light source (5) and water, and the Chlorophyll in the bioreactor (1) is arranged to convert at least a part of the received water and carbon dioxide to saccharides and oxygen, and light of the light energy having a wave length in the range of 400 - 700 nm3. Apparatus (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the apparatus (100) comprises:- a second inlet arrangement (4) arranged to provide the bioreactor (1) with water; or- a second inlet arrangement (4) arranged to provide the bioreactor (1) with water and nutrients; or- a circulating arrangement arranged to return unabsorbed carbon dioxide in the bioreactor (1) available for the living cells (6) comprising Chlorophyll; or- a circulating arrangement arranged to return unabsorbed carbon dioxide in the bio-reactor available for the living cells (6) comprising Chlorophyll, and a second inlet arrangement (4) arranged to provide the bioreactor (1) with water and nutrients.

4. A method for reducing carbon dioxide emissions of a production process comprising fermentation, characterized in that the method comprises:- obtaining carbon dioxide from the fermentation of the production process producing alcoholic beverages; converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides; and obtaining the composition comprising saccharides from the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide; or- obtaining carbon dioxide from the fermentation of the production process; converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides; and obtaining the composition comprising saccharides from the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide5. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the method comprises:- a step of feeding the obtained composition comprising saccharides to the production process producing alcoholic beverages; or- a step of feeding the obtained composition comprising saccharides to the production process; or- a step of feeding the obtained composition comprising saccharides to the production process and subjecting the composition comprising saccharides to fermentation in the production process; or- a step of feeding the obtained composition comprising saccharides to the production process and subjecting the composition comprising saccharides to fermentation in the production process, the obtained composition comprisingsaccharides being in liquid form comprising water, saccharides and biomass or slurry comprising water, saccharides and biomass; or- a step of feeding the obtained composition comprising saccharides to the production process and subjecting the composition comprising saccharides to fermentation in the production process, the obtained composition comprising saccharides being in liquid form comprising water, saccharides and biomass or in slurry comprising water, saccharides and biomass, and the composition comprising saccharides comprises fermentable sugars.

6. A method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that:- fermentation in the production process is carried out in a production process producing alcoholic beverages; or- fermentation in the production process is carried out in a brewery or in a distillery.

7. A method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that:- the carbon dioxide is obtained from the fermentation in the production process as a gaseous stream comprising carbon dioxide; or- the carbon dioxide is obtained from the fermentation in the production process as a gaseous stream consisting of carbon dioxide; or- carbon dioxide is obtained from the fermentation in the production process as an impurified gaseous stream comprising carbon dioxide; or- carbon dioxide is obtained from the fermentation in the production process as a gaseous stream comprising up to 99 vol-% carbon dioxide; or- carbon dioxide is obtained from the fermentation in the production process as a gaseous stream comprising carbon dioxide in the range of 5- 99 vol-%.

8. A method according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that:- the step of converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to the composition comprising saccharides is carried out in a bioreactor (1); or- the step of converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to the composition comprising saccharides is carried out in a bioreactor (1), the method comprises a step of providing the bioreactor (1) with water and nutrients,and converting at least a part of carbon dioxide, at least a part of water and at least a part of nutrients to the composition comprising saccharides by photosynthesis.

9. A method according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that:- the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out at a temperature in the range of 5 - 80 °C or in the range of 15 - 60 °C or in the range of 15 - 30 °C or in the range of 20 - 25 °C; or- the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out in a bioreactor (1) having a pressure in the range of 0,8 - 1,5 atm or in the range of 0,9 - 1,1 atm; or- the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out at a temperature in the range of 5 - 80 °C or in the range of 15 - 60 °C or in the range of 15 - 30 °C or in the range of 20 - 25 °C, and the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out in a bioreactor (1) having a pressure in the range of 0,8 - 1,5 atm or in the range of 0,9 - 1,1 atm.

10. A method according to any one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that:- the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out by photosynthesis; or- the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out by photosynthesis in a living cell comprising Chlorophyll; or- the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out by photosynthesis in a living cell comprising Chlorophyll, the Chlorophyll being in cyanobacteria or algae; or- the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out by photosynthesis in a living cell comprising Chlorophyll, the Chlorophyll being in cyanobacteria or microalgae.

11. A method according to any one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that:- the step of converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides comprises growing biomass in a bioreactor(1), and the step of obtaining the composition comprising saccharides comprises harvesting the biomass; or- the step of converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides comprises growing biomass in a bioreactor (1), and the step of obtaining the composition comprising saccharides comprises harvesting a part of the biomass and leaving a part of the biomass in the bioreactor (1); or- the step of converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides comprises growing biomass in a bioreactor (1) and returning unabsorbed carbon dioxide in the bioreactor (1) for converting; or- the step of converting at least a part of the obtained carbon dioxide to a composition comprising saccharides comprises growing biomass in a bioreactor (1) and returning unabsorbed carbon dioxide in the bioreactor (1) for converting, and the step of obtaining the composition saccharides comprises harvesting a part of the biomass in the bioreactor (1).

12. A method according to any one of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that:- the step of fermenting in the production process being carried out in batches, the method comprises a step of storing the composition comprising saccharides and a step of feeding the stored composition to the production process when preparing a batch to be fermented in the production process; or- the step of fermenting in the production process being carried out in batches, the method comprises a step of storing the composition comprising saccharides and a step of feeding the stored composition to the production process when preparing a batch to be fermented in the production process, and the step of storing comprises freezing or cooling.

13. A method according to any one of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that:- the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out with Chiorophytes or Cyanophytes; or- the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out with green algae or cyanobacteria; or- the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out with Chiorophytes (Chlorella or Scenedesmus); or- the step of converting at least a part of carbon dioxide being carried out with Chiorophytes (Chlorella).

14. A method according to any one of claims 4 to 13, characterized in that:- the method comprises a step of modifying the composition comprising saccharides; or- the method comprises a step of modifying the composition comprising saccharides before feeding the composition comprising saccharides to the fermentation; or- the method comprises a step of modifying the composition comprising saccharides before feeding the composition comprising saccharides to the fermentation, the modifying comprises any combination of the following: reducing water content of the composition comprising saccharides, filtering the composition comprising saccharides, hydrolysis, heating, chemical treatment, and enzyme treatment.

15. A method according to any one of claims 4 to 14, characterized in that:- the method being carried out with apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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