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US 2007/0178569 A1Published application
Systems and methods for producing biofuels and related materials
AssigneeUniversity of Massachusetts
InventorsSusan Leschine, Thomas Warnick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Clostridium phytofermentans cells (American Type Culture Collection 700394T) and all other strains of the species can ferment materials such as biomass into useful products and coproducts, such as ethanol, hydrogen and organic acids. Compositions that include Clostridium phytofermentans are also disclosed.
Claims39
A method of making a fuel from biomass material, the method comprising:
- providing a biomass material comprising a high molecular weight carbohydrate;
- hydrolyzing the biomass material to provide a hydrolyzed biomass material;
- combining the hydrolyzed biomass material with Clostridium phytofermentans cells in a medium, wherein a concentration of carbohydrates in the medium is greater than 20 mM;
- and
- fermenting the hydrolyzed biomass material under conditions and for a time sufficient to produce a fuel.
2 more elements
A fuel plant comprising:
- a hydrolysis unit configured to hydrolyze a biomass material comprising a high molecular weight carbohydrate;
- and
- a fermentor configured to house a medium and comprising Clostridium phytofermentans cells dispersed therein.
A method of making a fuel, the method comprising:
- combining Clostridium phytofermentans cells and a lignocellulosic material in a medium;
- and
- fermenting the lignocellulosic material under conditions and for a time sufficient to produce a fuel.
A method of making a fuel, the method comprising:
- combining Clostridium phytofermentans cells and a material comprising a carbohydrate in a medium, wherein a concentration of the carbohydrate in the medium is greater than 40 mM;
- and
- fermenting the material comprising the carbohydrate under conditions and for a time sufficient to produce a fuel.
A method comprising:
- combining Clostridium phytofermentans cells, a second microbe and a material comprising a carbohydrate in a medium;
- and
- fermenting the material comprising the carbohydrate.
A composition comprising Clostridium phytofermentans and a second microbe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.