Dairy Waste Fermentation for Lactic Acid Leaching Mixtures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing lactic acid from dairy waste, such as whey and scald, are not economically advantageous and sustainable on an industrial scale, requiring costly reagents, external inocula, and pH control, leading to inefficient conversion of lactose to lactic acid due to interference from indigenous bacteria.
Innovation Solution
A controlled anaerobic fermentation process in the dark (dark fermentation, DF) using indigenous microbial cultures in dairy waste, monitoring the q k parameter to optimize lactic acid and lactate production, allowing for the production of low-cost leaching mixtures without additional pH adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional fermentation processes are used to produce lactic acid from dairy waste, then lactic acid can be obtained, but the process requires costly reagents, external inocula, and pH control adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes indigenous microbial cultures already present in the dairy waste to perform fermentation, eliminating the need for external inocula. The process leverages the self-contained biological resources within the waste material itself to produce lactic acid, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining effective lactic acid generation for leaching applications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and utilizes the valuable lactic acid component from the complex dairy waste mixture through controlled fermentation. By selectively promoting lactic acid production while managing other fermentation byproducts, the process isolates the useful substance (lactic acid) from the waste stream, converting it into a valuable leaching agent without requiring expensive purification steps
2Ease of manufacture
If indigenous bacteria are present in dairy waste during fermentation, then the process can proceed without external inoculum, but conversion of lactose to lactic acid is interfered with by other bacterial activities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls fermentation parameters including pH, temperature, and oxygen availability to create optimal conditions for lactic acid production. By adjusting these parameters, the process directs indigenous microbial activity toward lactic acid generation while suppressing competing metabolic pathways, thereby maintaining high lactose conversion efficiency without requiring external inoculum
Solution Approach 2:
The process employs monitoring and control mechanisms to track fermentation progression and adjust conditions in real-time. This feedback approach allows the system to respond to changing microbial activity patterns, ensuring that lactic acid production remains the dominant pathway even in the presence of diverse indigenous bacteria, thus maintaining productivity without external inoculation
3Productivity
If strongly acidic or alkaline leaching solutions are used for metal recovery, then metal dissolution is effective, but the process becomes dangerous for workers and environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the leaching solution by using lactic acid and its salts instead of strong mineral acids or bases. This substitution maintains effective metal dissolution capability through chelation and complex formation mechanisms while operating at milder pH levels, thereby eliminating the safety hazards associated with strongly acidic or alkaline solutions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs biodegradable organic acids (lactic acid) derived from waste fermentation instead of persistent synthetic chemicals. These organic leaching agents are naturally breakdown products that decompose harmlessly, replacing dangerous industrial chemicals with environmentally benign alternatives that maintain leaching effectiveness without long-term environmental persistence or worker safety risks
4Productivity
If pyro-metallurgical methods are used for metal extraction, then metal separation is achieved, but energy consumption is high and harmful emissions are produced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal/pyro-metallurgical processes with chemical/biochemical leaching methods. Instead of using high-temperature heating to separate metals, the process uses lactic acid-based solutions to selectively dissolve metals at ambient or mild temperatures, thereby eliminating the high energy consumption and harmful emissions characteristic of pyro-metallurgical operations while maintaining effective metal separation
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
The process maximizes lactic acid and lactate production, enabling their use as effective leaching agents for metal recovery from industrial waste, reducing environmental and economic costs by enhancing dairy waste into valuable leaching compositions.
Implementation Method 1
performing a fermentation in liquid phase in the absence of light and in anaerobic conditions on raw waste
Implementation Method 2
A controlled anaerobic fermentation process in the dark (dark fermentation, DF) using indigenous microbial cultures in dairy waste
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a process for the production of a leaching composition obtained from dairy product waste, more particularly the invention relates to a process for the treatment of raw dairy and dairy product waste with particular reference to the production of a leaching solution rich in lactic acid and lactates. More specifically, waste is the raw liquid and fluid waste of dairy products such as whey and scald. The invention also relates to the use of the leaching solution obtained from the treatment of the waste of the dairy products indicated above in the fields of hydrometallurgy, pyro-metallurgy and solvo-metallurgy for the recovery of metals from waste containing them.