Grain fractionation process

Abstract

Disclosed herein are processes for separating liquefied grains prior to a fermentation. The described processes enable separation of insoluble biomass solids from soluble carbohydrates to yield at least one biomass solids fraction and at least one carbohydrates-rich fraction. The process involves an initial dilution step where liquefied grains are combined with either water or a recycled soluble matter stream, the latter comprising an aqueous solution of residual carbohydrates recovered from a first bioprocessing stage. The diluted liquid mash undergoes a first fractionation stage involving mechanical processing, yielding two distinct streams: a first retentate stream containing insoluble biomass solids and residual carbohydrates, and a permeate stream containing dissolved carbohydrates. The first retentate stream is then mechanically processed in a first bioprocessing stage, resulting in two outputs: a processed first retentate stream containing the insoluble biomass solids, and the recycled soluble matter stream containing residual carbohydrates. The process culminates in the collection of dissolved carbohydrates and insoluble biomass solids, which constitute the carbohydrates-rich fraction and biomass solids fraction, respectively. These processes provide efficient separation of grain components to yield extremely clean fermentation medium for ethanol and useful biomass solid products untainted by fermentation processes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.