Yeast Hydration Process for Fermentation Adaptation

Solution Overview

Problem

The long adaptation phase (lag phase) of yeasts in fermentation processes using hydrolyzates from lignocellulosic biomass is problematic due to the presence of toxic compounds, leading to increased yeast consumption, complex process setups, and risks of contamination.

Innovation Solution

A process for hydrating dehydrated yeast in a hydration medium comprising yeast extract in aqueous solution at specific concentrations, under controlled temperature and time conditions, to improve hydration efficiency and reduce the adaptation phase.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If dehydrated yeast is used in fermentation processes with hydrolyzates from lignocellulosic biomass, then yeast consumption increases and contamination risk increases, but the adaptation phase duration increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination riskVSAvoidadaptation phase duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-adapting dehydrated yeast cells to toxic compounds through a two-stage process: first acclimatization in a controlled medium, then gradual exposure to increasing concentrations of toxic compounds (furfural, HMF, organic acids) before the actual fermentation. This preliminary adaptation eliminates the long lag phase during fermentation and reduces contamination risk by ensuring yeast viability beforehand.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If dehydrated yeast is used in fermentation processes with hydrolyzates from lignocellulosic biomass, then yeast consumption increases, but the adaptation phase duration increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveyeast consumptionVSAvoidadaptation phase duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-adapting dehydrated yeast cells to toxic compounds through a two-stage process: first acclimatization in a controlled medium, then gradual exposure to increasing concentrations of toxic compounds (furfural, HMF, organic acids) before the actual fermentation. This preliminary adaptation eliminates the long lag phase during fermentation and reduces contamination risk by ensuring yeast viability beforehand.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying the concentration of toxic compounds (furfural, HMF, organic acids) during the acclimatization process. The yeast is exposed to gradually increasing toxic compound concentrations, transforming the physiological state of the cells to tolerate higher levels of inhibition, thereby reducing the need for excessive yeast consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If complex process setups are used to handle dehydrated yeast in toxic media, then process complexity increases, but the adaptation phase duration increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess setup complexityVSAvoidadaptation phase duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-adapting dehydrated yeast cells to toxic compounds through a two-stage process: first acclimatization in a controlled medium, then gradual exposure to increasing concentrations of toxic compounds (furfural, HMF, organic acids) before the actual fermentation. This preliminary adaptation eliminates the long lag phase during fermentation and reduces contamination risk by ensuring yeast viability beforehand.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary 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

The described hydration process significantly reduces the duration of the adaptation phase, enhances yeast propagation efficiency, increases cell concentrations, reduces contamination risks, and allows effective yeast propagation in media with high toxic compound content without dilution.

Implementation Method 1

adding a yeast in dehydrated form to said hydration medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

preparing a hydration medium comprising yeast extract in aqueous solution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Implementation Method 3

said process being carried out under specific conditions of temperature and time

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20250043318A1Process for hydrating yeasts in dehydrated form

Publication Date: 2025.02.06 VERSALIS SPA

AI summary

A process for hydrating a yeast in dehydrated form including the following stepspreparing a hydration medium having yeast extract in aqueous solution, at a concentration between 1 g/L and 50 g/L;adding a yeast in dehydrated form to the hydration medium at a concentration between 10 g/L and 200 g/L;the process being carried out at a temperature between 25° C. and 40° C., for a time between 30 minutes and 8 hours.The rehydrated yeast thus obtained may be advantageously used in fermentation processes that allow the production of biofuels usable in diesel or aviation engines such as, ethanol, linear or branched alcohols with different molecular weight, or biochemicals such as, for example, ethanol, glycerol, acetic acid esters (for example, ethyl acetate), arabinitol, lactic acid, succinic acid, microbial oils (bio-oils), or propagated yeast, in particular in fermentation processes carried out in the presence of hydrolyzates deriving from lignocellulosic biomass.