Method for producing ethanol using whey, and use of the ethanol and gaseous production byproducts

Abstract

The invention addresses the problem of creating a simplified and efficient method for producing ethanol from whey, which is also sustainable and provides substantial use of the production byproducts and production residual products. 1. The invention relates to a method for producing ethanol using whey, characterised in that a sugar content of the whey is concentrated to form a thickened whey by water removal (1), in that subsequently, with addition of enzymes and yeast, the thickened whey is fermented (2), wherein the fermentation (2) takes place over at least six days, in that subsequently, the fermented thickened whey is fed to at least one distillation process (3) or at least one distillation stage (3) and is distilled to form ethanol, wherein at least one production byproduct (4) and / or at least one production residual product (5) is collected, discharged or picked up for further processing.

Description

[0001] Process for the production of ethanol using whey and using the ethanol and gaseous production by-products

[0002] The invention relates to a process for producing ethanol using whey, wherein reduced-water whey is fermented for at least 6 days and then distilled. Furthermore, production by-products and residual products are to be collected, discharged, or collected for further processing. The ethanol can be used in the food sector, industrially, and as a fuel.

[0003] Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the ethanol produced and the use of the gaseous production by-products produced thereby.

[0004] Processes for producing ethanol from whey are already known.

[0005] For example, EP 1 918 381 A1 describes a process in which the whey is treated and processed in a complex manner with the introduction of heat before the fermentation process takes place.

[0006] The object of the invention is therefore to create a simplified and efficient process for the production of ethanol from whey, which is also sustainable and provides for comprehensive use of the production by-products and production residues.

[0007] In the specified application, the invention provides a process for producing ethanol using whey, wherein the whey is concentrated in sugar by removing water to form a thickened whey. For this purpose, the whey can remain in the storage tank or be transferred to appropriate tanks or containers for water removal, or the water removal can occur during a pumping process or a circulation process.

[0008] The thickened whey is then fermented with the addition of enzymes and yeast. The fermentation process lasts at least six days. Carbon dioxide is captured as a byproduct.

[0009] The fermented thickened whey is then fed to at least one distillation process or at least one distillation stage and distilled to ethanol.

[0010] It is intended that at least one manufacturing by-product and / or at least one manufacturing residue is collected, removed or recorded for further processing.

[0011] After at least one distillation process or at least one distillation stage, the ethanol is filled and / or stored in suitable vessels or tanks or remains in the vessels or tanks intended for distillation.

[0012] It is advantageously achieved that the whey, which is in itself wasteful or illegal or expensive to dispose of, is processed into ethanol with little effort and the energy consumption is minimized. In addition, the process is carried out comprehensively and efficiently and also in a resource- and environmentally friendly manner through the intended further processing of the at least one manufacturing by-product and / or at least one manufacturing residue, which is collected, removed or recorded for this purpose.

[0013] A further aspect of the invention is the use of the ethanol produced by the process according to any one of the preceding claims as food alcohol, as industrial alcohol, or for fuel production, thereby enabling efficient use of available resources that are inherently waste and would require costly disposal, without requiring the processing of other resources, such as processed foods or food raw materials. Accordingly, an alternative to petroleum-based fuel is created.

[0014] Likewise, the third aspect of the invention is the use of the carbon dioxide produced in the process as a gaseous production by-product for industrial purposes.

[0015] It is intended that it can be produced with little effort and is not released into the atmosphere in an uncontrolled manner, whereas carbon dioxide is produced in alternative processes with high energy consumption or is contaminated or mixed with other gases.

[0016] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are presented in the subclaims.

[0017] By removing the water through heating and / or using an osmosis filter, all ingredients remain unchanged or virtually unchanged. This facilitates the reuse of production waste.

[0018] The removal of water by heating can, for example, be supported by a vacuum acting on a corresponding container or tank.

[0019] Water removal using an osmosis filter can, for example, take place during whey circulation.

[0020] By removing or extracting at least one manufacturing by-product as a gaseous fermentation by-product for further use, one or more processes for further use of the manufacturing by-product can be directly operated or the manufacturing by-product can be temporarily stored for further use.

[0021] Advantageously, carbon dioxide is removed or extracted and / or compressed and / or purified as a gaseous manufacturing by-product for further use, so that further use is simplified or transport for further use is simplified.

[0022] Advantageously, waste heat is supplied as a production by-product for further use in the fermentation and / or the at least one distillation process and / or the at least one distillation stage or is temporarily stored, so that the energy balance of the production process is improved and, in addition, continuous temperature control is promoted and the use of additional energy sources is minimized.

[0023] The waste heat can also be processed by means of heat pumps or other heat exchange processes in such a way that it can be used for the water removal of the whey and / or the fermentation and / or the at least one distillation process or the at least one distillation stage and, if necessary, only one or a slight reheating has to be carried out to achieve the necessary temperatures of the respective process.

[0024] By feeding at least one manufacturing residue as a digestate or distillation residue for further use in a biogas plant or temporarily storing it for a biogas process, a comprehensive and optimized use of the raw materials and resources is promoted. Furthermore, the amount of waste is reduced.

[0025] The waste heat as a manufacturing by-product can also be fed into a biogas plant so that it can be supported by the waste heat when needed.

[0026] By adding at least one manufacturing residue to a baking process as a fermentation residue or distillation residue for further use, this also promotes a comprehensive and optimized use of the raw materials and resources used in food production.

[0027] By having at least one distillation process comprise two or more distillation stages, the purity and neutrality of the ethanol are enhanced.

[0028] By extending the fermentation to seven or eight days and / or including a rest period, the energy consumption of the fermentation or fermentation process can be minimized and the distillation process optimized. Furthermore, large quantities of whey can be collected and processed cyclically.

[0029] By carrying out the fermentation or fermentation process at a temperature of 5 to 50 degrees Celsius, the waste heat from parallel, secondary fermentations or fermentation processes can be used directly, thereby promoting energy efficiency.

[0030] An embodiment of the invention is shown as a block diagram in the drawing and is described in more detail below.

[0031] The process according to the invention for producing ethanol using whey provides that a

[0032] Sugar concentration of the whey by water removal by heating, for example, in an open container or a container under a slight to medium vacuum and / or by means of an osmosis filter, for example, by circulating the whey in a container or between different containers to form a thickened whey. Water removal by heating and / or by means of an osmosis filter can also be combined.

[0033] Subsequently, the thickened whey is fermented 2 with the addition of enzymes and yeast, with the fermentation 2 lasting at least six days. Fermentation 2 can advantageously last at least seven days, so that a container or tank can begin fermentation every day. Fermentation 2 takes place at a temperature of 5 to 50 degrees Celsius, so that the energy requirement is negligible and is almost offset by the waste heat. The fermented, thickened whey is then fed to at least one distillation process 3, which comprises one, two, or more distillation stages 3, and distilled to ethanol.

[0034] According to the invention, at least one manufacturing by-product 4 and / or at least one manufacturing residual product 5 is collected, removed or recorded for further processing.

[0035] Thus, at least one production by-product 4 is removed or extracted as a gaseous fermentation by-product for further use. The carbon dioxide produced during fermentation as a gaseous production by-product 4 is extracted, purified, and compressed for further use, so that it can be used directly depending on the specific processing application.

[0036] The waste heat, also as a manufacturing by-product 4, can be fed to the water removal 1 by heating and / or the fermentation 2 and / or the at least one distillation process 3 and / or the at least one distillation stage 3 for further use or can be temporarily stored in a suitable manner.

[0037] If necessary, the waste heat can be heated to the required process temperature by reheating.

[0038] Likewise, at least one manufacturing residue 5 is fed to a biogas plant 6 as a digestate product or as a distillation residue for further use or is temporarily stored for a biogas process. The continuous process allows the biogas plant 6 to be continuously supplied.

[0039] The inventive use of the according to the inventive

[0040] Process for the production of ethanol using

[0041] The use of ethanol produced from whey involves using the ethanol as food alcohol, as industrial alcohol, or for fuel production. This makes it possible to move away from energy sources such as petroleum or natural gas. Another inventive use of the ethanol produced by the inventive process for producing ethanol using whey involves further use of the resulting carbon dioxide as a gaseous production by-product for industrial purposes.

[0042] Summary of reference symbols

[0043] 1 - Dehydration

[0044] 2 - Fermentation 3 - Distillation stage, distillation process

[0045] 4 - Manufacturing by-product

[0046] 5 - Manufacturing residue

[0047] 6 - Biogas plant

Claims

Patent claims 1. A process for producing ethanol using whey, characterized in that the whey is concentrated in sugar by removing water (1) to form a thickened whey, that the thickened whey is then fermented (2) with the addition of enzymes and yeast, the fermentation (2) lasting at least six days, that the fermented thickened whey is then fed to at least one distillation process (3) or at least one distillation stage (3) and distilled to form ethanol, that at least one production by-product (4) and / or at least one production residue (5) are collected, removed or recorded for further processing.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the water removal (1) takes place by heating and / or by means of an osmosis filter.

3. Method according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the at least one production by-product (4) is removed or sucked off as a gaseous fermentation by-product for further use.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that carbon dioxide is removed or extracted as a gaseous production by-product (4) for further use and is compressed and / or purified.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that waste heat is used as a production by-product (4) for further use in the water extraction (1) and / or the fermentation (2) and / or the at least one distillation process (3) and / or the at least one distillation stage (3) is fed or temporarily stored.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one production residue (5) is fed as a fermentation residue or as a distillation residue for further use to a biogas plant (6) or is temporarily stored for a biogas process.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one distillation process (3) comprises two or more distillation stages (3).

8. Process according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fermentation (2) extends over seven or eight days and / or includes a rest phase.

9. Process according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fermentation (2) takes place at a temperature of 5 to 50 degrees Celsius.

10. Use of the ethanol produced by the process according to any one of the preceding claims as food alcohol, as industrial alcohol or for the production of fuel.

11. Use of the carbon dioxide produced in the process according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 10 as a gaseous production by-product for industrial purposes.