Ethanol Fermentation Using Pretreatment Waste Additives

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The enzymatic ethanol production process from biomass is hindered by the need for a washing step to remove organic acids and inhibitors, which increases liquid waste and associated costs, and sharing facilities with food biomass ethanol plants does not significantly reduce these costs.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the addition of an additive solution containing acetic acid, formic acid, furfural, and hydroxymethylfurfural to the saccharide, followed by fermentation with a microorganism like yeast, utilizing liquid waste from pretreatment processes such as steam explosion or dilute sulfuric acid treatment, to enhance ethanol production efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If washing process is introduced to remove organic acids and inhibitors from pretreated biomass, then enzymatic saccharification efficiency is improved, but liquid waste amount increases and treatment cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenzymatic saccharification efficiencyVSAvoidliquid waste amount

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful liquid waste containing organic acids and inhibitors into a beneficial additive solution for fermentation. The waste liquid, which was previously discarded, is now used to suppress acetoin production and improve ethanol fermentation efficiency, thereby resolving the contradiction between removing inhibitors and reducing waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding the liquid waste from pretreatment, the patent recovers and reuses it in the fermentation process. The waste liquid is applied to the saccharide solution before fermentation, converting a discarded byproduct into a valuable additive that enhances fermentation performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Reliability

If washing process is introduced to remove organic acids and inhibitors from pretreated biomass, then enzymatic saccharification efficiency is improved, but initial investment for liquid waste facilities increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenzymatic saccharification efficiencyVSAvoidliquid waste facilities

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the need for complex liquid waste treatment facilities by converting the waste liquid into a useful additive. This approach removes the requirement for expensive waste treatment infrastructure while maintaining or improving saccharification efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses its own waste liquid to enhance the fermentation process, making the process self-sufficient. The waste liquid from pretreatment serves dual purposes: it contains necessary components for fermentation and actively suppresses acetoin production, eliminating the need for external waste treatment facilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If washing process is introduced to remove organic acids and inhibitors from pretreated biomass, then enzymatic saccharification efficiency is improved, but cost for liquid waste treatment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenzymatic saccharification efficiencyVSAvoidcost for liquid waste treatment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the costly waste treatment step into a beneficial process enhancement. By using the waste liquid as an additive, the system eliminates treatment costs while simultaneously improving fermentation efficiency and reducing acetoin production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding the waste liquid and incurring treatment costs, the patent recovers and reuses it in fermentation. This recovery approach eliminates waste treatment expenses while adding value to the fermentation process through improved ethanol production and reduced byproduct formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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 improves ethanol production efficiency by utilizing liquid waste as an additive solution, reducing waste disposal costs and enhancing fermentation rates, while maintaining effective saccharification and fermentation processes.

Implementation Method 1

adding a microorganism to the mixed solution to ferment the saccharide using the microorganism, thereby producing ethanol

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentUS10280437B2Method for producing ethanol

Publication Date: 2019.05.07 JGC CORP

AI summary

A method for producing ethanol, which is a method for producing ethanol from a saccharide obtained from biomass, includes a step of adding an additive solution containing at least acetic acid, formic acid, furfural, and hydroxymethylfurfural to the saccharide to prepare a mixed solution containing the saccharide and the additive solution, and a step of adding a microorganism to the mixed solution to ferment the saccharide using the microorganism, thereby producing ethanol.