Fermentation Liquid Heating for Centrifugal Microorganism Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The organic substance-containing liquid from microbial fermentation contains a high amount of microorganisms, which increases viscosity during distillation, hindering continuous operation, and existing separation methods like membrane and centrifugal separation are inefficient due to clogging and insufficient separation.

Innovation Solution

Heating the organic substance-containing liquid to 40°C or higher followed by centrifugal separation effectively separates the solid microorganisms from the liquid, allowing continuous distillation of the organic substance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the organic substance-containing liquid is directly introduced into a distillation device, then the organic substance can be distilled, but the viscosity increases due to concentrated solid components, hindering continuous operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous operation capabilityVSAvoidviscosity increase

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing solid-liquid separation before distillation. The fermentation liquid is pre-treated to remove microorganisms and solid components through filtration or centrifugation, preventing viscosity increase during subsequent distillation and enabling continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a membrane separation device is used for solid-liquid separation, then separation can be achieved, but the filter clogs requiring periodic cleaning and replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidmaintenance complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the problematic filter component from the separation system and replaces it with alternative separation methods. Specifically, it uses centrifugal separation or filtration followed by distillation, removing the clogging filter element and its associated maintenance requirements while maintaining effective solid-liquid separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If a centrifugal separation device is used, then solid-liquid separation can be performed, but the small size of microorganisms prevents sufficient separation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation completenessVSAvoidmicroorganism size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the separation parameters by using centrifugal separation at optimized speeds and temperatures, or by combining filtration with distillation. These parameter adjustments enable effective separation of small microorganisms from the fermentation liquid, overcoming the limitation of their small size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If microorganisms are removed before distillation, then continuous operation is enabled, but additional separation equipment and steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous distillation capabilityVSAvoidnumber of separation steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous operation by establishing a streamlined process where fermentation liquid undergoes solid-liquid separation followed by continuous distillation. The system is designed to maintain continuous flow through the separation and distillation stages, eliminating interruptions and maximizing productivity despite the additional separation step.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 method efficiently separates microorganisms from the organic substance-containing liquid, preventing viscosity increases and enabling continuous production of organic substances without interrupting the extraction process.

Implementation Method 1

Heating the organic substance-containing liquid to 40°C or higher followed by centrifugal separation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

centrifugal separation effectively separates the solid microorganisms from the liquid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Data Source

PatentUS11566267B2Method for producing organic substance

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a method for producing an organic substance from a syngas by microbial fermentation, wherein only the solid component can be efficiently separated from an organic substance-containing liquid obtained by microbial fermentation to reduce the content of microorganisms, etc. Disclosed is a method for producing an organic substance from a syngas containing carbon monoxide by microbial fermentation, which comprises a microbial fermentation step wherein the syngas is fed to a microbial fermenting vessel and a liquid containing an organic substance is obtained by microbial fermentation, a solid-liquid separation step wherein the organic substance-containing liquid is separated into a solid component containing microorganisms and a liquid component containing an organic substance, and an extraction step wherein the organic substance-containing liquid is extracted from the liquid component, wherein the organic substance-containing liquid is heated to 40° C. or higher and then subjected to a centrifugal separation operation.