Fermentation Additive Composition for Ethanol Yield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ethanol production methods face challenges with bacterial contamination, particularly from Lactobacillus species, which reduces ethanol yield and increases costs due to the need for antibiotics, leading to potential antibiotic resistance and residue issues in animal feed products.
Innovation Solution
A chemical composition containing formaldehyde, a surfactant, an antimicrobial terpene, and organic acids is applied to the carbohydrate material before fermentation to inhibit bacterial growth, reducing the reliance on antibiotics and minimizing antibiotic residues in animal products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If antibiotics are used to control bacterial contamination during fermentation, then bacterial growth is inhibited, but antibiotic residues remain in animal feed products and antibiotic resistance develops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the fermentation medium by adding specific compounds (formaldehyde at 10-90 wt%, surfactant at 1-50 wt%, terpene at 1-20 wt%, organic acid at 1-50 wt%) to create an environment that is selective for yeast while inhibiting bacteria, eliminating the need for antibiotics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary substances (formaldehyde, surfactant, terpene, organic acid) that mediate between the yeast culture and bacterial contaminants, creating a chemical barrier that protects the fermentation process without using antibiotics
2Productivity
If conventional fermentation processes are used without additional treatments, then the process is simple, but bacterial contamination reduces ethanol yield
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary treatment to the carbohydrate material before fermentation by adding the chemical composition (formaldehyde, surfactant, terpene, organic acid) to prevent bacterial contamination before it can reduce ethanol yield, rather than dealing with contamination after it occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite chemical composition containing four different types of compounds (formaldehyde, surfactant, terpene, organic acid) that work synergistically to control bacterial contamination while maintaining yeast viability, providing comprehensive protection against multiple bacterial species
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 solution effectively controls Lactobacillus growth, maintaining yeast viability and increasing ethanol yield while reducing antibiotic usage and residues in animal feed, thereby enhancing fermentation efficiency and profitability.
Implementation Method 1
treating incoming carbohydrate material with a composition containing formaldehyde, a fatty acid, a terpene and a surfactant
Implementation Method 2
Ethanol production through anaerobic fermentation of a carbon source by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Implementation Method 3
a surfactant having an HLB from 4 to 18
Implementation Method 4
1 - 20 wt% of an antimicrobial terpene, or essential oils comprising terpenes
Data Source
AI summary
A high yield method for fermenting carbohydrate to ethanol, comprising a) treating carbohydrate with a composition containing 10 - 90 wt % of an aldehyde selected from the group consisting of formaldehyde, para-formaldehyde, glutaraldhyde and mixtures thereof, 1 - 50 wt % of a surfactant having an I JLB from 4 to 18, 0 - 20 wt % of an antimicrobial terpene, or essential oils, 1- 50 wt % of organic acids selected from C1-24 fatty acids, their salts, and glyceride esters thereof, and 1- 50 wt % water, b ) fermenting said carbohydrate in the presence of yeast in a fermentation broth, and c) isolating ethanol in a higher yield than would be obtained without step a)