System and method for producing a carbohydrate stream from a cellulosic feedstock
AssigneeFluid Quip Technologies, LLC
InventorsJeffrey P. Robert, Neal Jakel, Donald M. Cannon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for producing carbohydrate (e.g., sugar) streams (and recycling enzymes) from a pretreated or untreated biomass such as cellulosic feedstock, including, for example, “brown stock” feedstock, or waste or recycled fiber sludge produced in the pulp and paper industry, such as for biochemical (e.g., biofuel) production, are provided. In one example, the system and method can produce high purity C6 (glucose and/or fructose) and/or C5 (xylose) sugar streams, and other carbohydrates and/or fibrous materials, from cellulosic feedstocks, such as brown stock or waste fiber sludge, that can be effectively converted into various biochemical products, such as ethanol.
Claims18
A method for producing a carbohydrate stream from a cellulosic feedstock comprising:
- mixing a cellulosic feedstock with at least one enzyme and a liquid portion to produce a slurry and begin enzymatic hydrolysis of the cellulosic feedstock, wherein the at least one enzyme is selected from a cellulase enzyme or a hemicellulase enzyme;
- subjecting the slurry to a carbohydrate conversion step to further hydrolyze the cellulosic feedstock in the slurry to C5 and/or C6 simple sugars and produce a stream including the C5 and/or C6 simple sugars, the at least one enzyme, and unhydrolyzable components;
- after the carbohydrate conversion step but prior to utilization of the C5 and/or C6 simple sugars, separating the stream into a solids portion including the unhydrolyzable components and a liquid portion including the C5 and/or C6 simple sugars and the at least one enzyme, wherein the liquid portion defines a carbohydrate stream where at least 50% of total sugar in that stream is the C5 and/or C6 simple sugars;
- separating the at least one enzyme from the liquid portion to provide a separated enzyme;
- and
- recycling the separated enzyme to the mixing step earlier in the method for reuse wherein mixing the cellulosic feedstock with the at least one enzyme comprises mixing the cellulosic feedstock with the at least one enzyme, which includes the separated enzyme, and the liquid to produce the slurry and begin enzymatic hydrolysis of the cellulosic feedstock.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.