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US 12,168,792 B2Granted
Enhancing product streams from ethanol production
AssigneeD3Max, LLC
InventorsMark Yancey, Dale Monceaux, Neal Kemmet, Joe Fischer, Colton Walz
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Abstract
Processes are described herein for realizing an enhanced yield of ethanol and co-products from processes for producing ethanol from biomass containing lignocellulosic material. Also described herein are product outputs of these processes having new and useful properties and systems implementing the processes.
Claims16
A method for hydrolyzing lignocellulosic material, comprising:
- flashing a lignocellulosic material in a flash drum to generate vapor;
- feeding the lignocellulosic material into a recycling reactor at a feed rate;
- adding at least one enzyme to the lignocellulosic material;
- and
- recycling the lignocellulosic material and at least one enzyme through the recycling reactor at a recycle rate and a residence time to hydrolyze the lignocellulosic material to produce an amount of monomeric sugar in the lignocellulosic material,
- wherein recycling comprises at least a portion of the lignocellulosic material and at least one enzyme exiting the recycling reactor and being recirculated back into the recycling reactor, and
- wherein recycling the lignocellulosic material and the at least one enzyme reduces a viscosity of fresh lignocellulosic material entering the recycling reactor, and
- wherein partially saccharified lignocellulosic material exiting the recycling reactor has a viscosity of 250 centipoise (cp) to 3000 cp.
5 more elements
A system for saccharification of lignocellulosic material, comprising:
- a flash drum configured to flash a vapor off the lignocellulosic material;
- a recycling reactor configured to:
- receive the lignocellulosic material from the flash drum at a feed rate;
- receive at least one enzyme;
- and to react the lignocellulosic material with the at least one enzyme;
- and
- a recycle stream configured to circulate at least a portion of the reacted lignocellulosic material and at least one enzyme exiting the recycling reactor back into the recycling reactor at a recycle rate that is greater than the feed rate,
- wherein recycling the lignocellulosic material and the at least one enzyme reduces a viscosity of fresh lignocellulosic material entering the recycling reactor, and
- wherein partially saccharified lignocellulosic material exiting the recycling reactor has a viscosity of 250 centipoise (cp) to 3000 cp.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.