Biomass Fermentation Nutrient Substitution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials, used in fermentation processes, often result in slow fermentation due to low nutrient levels, making it difficult to achieve high ethanol concentrations, and the use of commercially available nutrient packages is costly, impacting the economic viability of large-scale fermentation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating food-based nutrient sources, such as grains, vegetables, and meat residues, along with nitrogen sources like urea, into the bioprocessing medium to enhance fermentation efficiency and reduce costs, while using enzyme systems to release nutrients from these sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If commercially available nutrient packages (peptone, yeast nitrogen base) are added to the fermentation medium, then fermentation efficiency and ethanol concentration are improved, but production cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive commercial nutrient packages with cheap food-based nutrient sources such as grain byproducts, vegetable residues, and animal fats. These alternative nutrients are significantly less costly while providing sufficient nitrogen and carbon sources for microbial growth and ethanol production, thereby reducing production costs without substantially compromising fermentation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the nutritional composition parameters of the fermentation medium by substituting conventional nutrient sources with food-based alternatives. This involves adjusting the types and concentrations of nitrogen sources (e.g., using urea or ammonium salts alongside food-based nutrients) and carbon sources to optimize microbial metabolism for ethanol production while using cheaper materials
2Adaptability or versatility
If cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials are used as feedstock, then renewable resource utilization is improved, but fermentation speed decreases due to low nutrient levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines cellulosic and lignocellulosic feedstocks with food-based nutrient sources in a unified fermentation medium. This merging of materials allows the system to benefit from both the renewable availability of biomass and the nutritional enhancement provided by food-based nutrients, achieving faster fermentation rates while maintaining commitment to renewable resources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces food-based nutrient sources as intermediary substances that bridge the gap between low-nutrient biomass feedstock and the nutritional requirements of microorganisms. These intermediaries (nitrogen sources from grains, vegetables, or animal fats) enable faster microbial growth and fermentation without requiring the biomass itself to be highly nutritious
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 approach allows for significant enhancement of bioprocess efficiency, achieving high ethanol concentrations up to 30% or more, while reducing overall costs by utilizing low-cost, previously waste materials as nutrient sources.
Implementation Method 1
This process is generally performed in a fluid medium, and in some implementations comprises fermentation
Implementation Method 2
The mixture may include an enzyme system selected to release nutrients, e.g., nitrogen, amino acids, and fats, from the food-based nutrient source
Data Source
AI summary
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, methods are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce an intermediate or product, e.g., by fermentation.