Organic Substrate Fermentable Potential Preservation via Thermal Dehydration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The fermentable potential of organic substrates decreases rapidly over time, making it challenging to maintain a consistent and high level of substrate quality for industrial fermentation processes, especially due to seasonal variability and storage limitations.
Innovation Solution
A method involving determining the humidity level of the biomass and adjusting it to a predetermined range of 8-12% through thermal dehydration, allowing for the storage of substrates with a controlled humidity level to preserve their fermentable potential, which is represented by the methanogenic potential (BMP).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the substrate is stored for later use, then the flexibility of production scheduling is improved, but the fermentable potential decreases rapidly over time
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate undergoes preliminary thermal treatment (pasteurization or sterilization) before storage to eliminate microorganisms that would otherwise consume the substrate and reduce its fermentable potential during storage. This preliminary action preserves the substrate's quality for later use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter during storage (maintaining at or above pasteurization temperature) to prevent microbial activity. By controlling the temperature parameter, the fermentable potential is maintained over extended storage periods.
2Reliability
If the substrate is used quickly after collection, then the fermentable potential is maintained, but the flexibility of production scheduling is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is pre-treated with thermal processing and preserved under controlled conditions, allowing it to be stored without rapid degradation. This preliminary preservation action eliminates the need for immediate use while maintaining fermentable potential.
3Reliability
If thermal treatment is applied to preserve the substrate, then the fermentable potential is maintained during storage, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition (heating to pasteurization/sterilization temperature) to fundamentally change the substrate's state by eliminating microorganisms. This one-time phase transition during preprocessing avoids the need for continuous energy input during storage.
Solution Approach 2:
Energy-intensive thermal treatment is performed once before storage rather than continuously during storage. This preliminary action consumes energy upfront but eliminates the need for ongoing energy input, reducing total energy consumption.
4Ease of operation
If the substrate moisture content is not controlled, then the handling is simpler, but the fermentable potential varies due to seasonal and compositional changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the moisture content parameter of the substrate to within ±5% of a target value. By maintaining this specific parameter range, the substrate composition becomes consistent despite seasonal variations, while the standardized handling procedures keep operational complexity manageable.
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 effectively maintains the fermentable potential of substrates over time, enabling more flexible storage and usage, ensuring regular production of metabolites and reducing the need for rapid consumption, with results showing a fermentable potential close to fresh substrates even after several months of storage.
Implementation Method 1
bring the determined moisture content (MH) to a value corresponding to the predetermined moisture content (HD) by thermal dehydration, or heating, to 60°C when the determined moisture content (MH) is greater than the predetermined moisture content (HD)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The method for preserving the initial fermentable potential of an organic substrate over time, said potential being represented by the methanogenic potential of the biomass, or BMP, of the organic substrate, comprises at least the following steps: - a) determining the moisture level (HM) of the organic substrate (2) collected (1), - b) comparing (8) the determined moisture level (HM) to a predefined moisture level (HD) of between 0% and 40%, - c) storing, in conditions limiting any activity of the microorganisms present in the substrate, and limiting any variation in the moisture level (HM), only the organic substrate (2) of which the moisture level (HM) determined in step a) corresponds to the predefined moisture level (HD), - d) if necessary, during steps a) and c), taking measurements of the methanogenic potential of the biomass, - e) comparing, if necessary, the measurements of the methanogenic potential of the biomass obtained during step c) to that of step a) and - f) adapting the storage conditions to keep the moisture level (HM) of the organic substrate (2) collected (1) at a value that is equal, within 5%, to that of the predefined moisture level (HD). The invention also concerns a facility for implementing the method.