Integrated Bioethanol and Oilseed Protein Production Process
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processes for producing bioethanol and oilseed protein products are inefficient and wasteful, with excess oleaginous fruit by-products often incinerated due to lack of utilization, and energy and CO2 footprints that can be improved.
Innovation Solution
A combined process that integrates bioethanol production with oilseed protein product generation, where the mash for bioethanol fermentation includes an oilseed by-product, and bioethanol is used as an extraction agent in the oilseed protein process, thereby recycling and optimizing energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If oleaginous fruit by-products are incinerated due to lack of utilization, then the process can be simplified, but energy is wasted and CO2 emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate processes (bioethanol production and oilseed protein product production) into a single integrated system. The oilseed by-product from the protein process is fed into the bioethanol fermentation process, creating a synergistic combination where waste from one process becomes input for another, thereby eliminating energy waste and reducing CO2 emissions while maintaining process efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The bioethanol production unit serves multiple functions: it produces bioethanol from carbohydrate-containing starting materials and simultaneously utilizes oilseed by-products as additional substrate. This multi-functionality allows the system to maximize resource utilization and convert what would otherwise be waste into valuable energy and chemical products
2Ease of manufacture
If oilseed by-product is not utilized, then the process remains simple, but sustainability decreases due to waste incineration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful waste product (oleaginous fruit by-product that would normally be incinerated) into a beneficial input material for bioethanol fermentation. By feeding the by-product into the fermentation process, the system transforms a source of CO2 emissions into a source of bioethanol production, thereby eliminating the harmful environmental impact while maintaining process efficiency
3Reliability
If separate processes are used for bioethanol and oilseed protein production, then each process can be optimized independently, but overall energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the bioethanol production process and oilseed protein product production process into a single integrated system. The oilseed by-product from the protein extraction process is directly fed into the bioethanol fermentation process, creating a synergistic combination where the output of one process becomes the input for another, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining the optimization benefits of both processes
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This integrated process enhances bioethanol yield, reduces energy consumption, improves the sustainability of both processes by utilizing waste products, and decreases the CO2 footprint, making it more efficient and environmentally friendly.
Implementation Method 1
fermenting the mash to obtain a fermented broth containing bioethanol
Implementation Method 2
separating at least a portion of the bioethanol from the fermented broth
Implementation Method 3
extracting the oilseed starting product with a first extraction agent to obtain a first miscella and a first extraction product
Implementation Method 4
separating the first extraction product into a first mixture containing the oilseed protein product and a second mixture containing the oilseed by-product
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a combined process comprising a first process for producing bioethanol (10) and a second process for producing an oilseed protein product (31, 45), the first process comprising the steps of (a) providing a mash (7), wherein the mash (7) contains a carbohydrate-containing starting material (1), in particular a grain, (b) fermenting the mash (7) to obtain a fermented broth (9) containing bioethanol (10), and (c) separating at least part of the bioethanol (10) from the fermented broth (9);and the second method comprising the steps of (i) providing an oilseed starting product (4), (ii) extracting the oilseed starting product (4) with a first extraction agent (39) to obtain a first miscella (26) and a first extraction product (27), (iii) separating the first extraction product (27) into a first mixture (30, 46) containing the oilseed protein product (31, 45) and into a second mixture (32, 47) containing the oilseed by-product (5), (iv) separating at least a portion of the oilseed protein product (31, 45) from the first mixture (30, 46), and optionally separating at least a portion of the oilseed by-product (5) from the second mixture (32, 47);wherein the mash (7) provided in step (a) of the first process further contains at least a portion of the oilseed by-product (5) obtained in the second process, wherein the first extractant (39) contains bioethanol (10) produced in the first process, wherein the first miscella (26) contains at least a portion of the first extractant (39), and wherein at least a portion of the first extractant (39) contained in the first miscella (26) is separated from the first miscella (26) and used in step (c) of the first process;