Process for Producing Ethanol
AssigneeZeaChem, Inc.
InventorsDan Verser, Tim Eggeman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for producing ethanol including a combination of biochemical and synthetic conversions results in high yield ethanol production with concurrent production of high value coproducts. An acetic acid intermediate is produced from carbohydrates, such as corn, using enzymatic milling and fermentation steps, followed by conversion of the acetic acid into ethanol using esterification and hydrogenation reactions. Coproducts can include corn oil, and high protein animal feed containing the biomass produced in the fermentation.
Claims24
1-75. (canceled)
A method to produce ethanol, the method comprising:
- (a) culturing a homoacetogenic microorganism in a medium comprising a carbohydrate source to produce acetate, acetic acid or a mixture thereof;
- (b) forming a complex between an amine and the acetate;
- (c) forming acetic acid and regenerating the amine from the amine complex;
- (d) esterifying the acetic acid from the amine complex to an acetic acid ester in the presence of an alcohol;
- and
- (e) hydrogenating the acetic acid ester to recover the ethanol.
A method to produce ethanol, the method comprising:
- (a) culturing a homoacetogenic microorganism, selected from the group consisting of a microorganism of the genus Clostridium, a microorganism of the genus Acetobacterium, a microorganism of the genus Peptostreptococcus, and mixtures thereof, in a medium comprising a carbohydrate source to produce acetate, acetic acid or a mixture thereof;
- (b) acidifying the acetate in the presence of an amine to form an amine complex of the acetate;
- (c) recovering the amine complex of the acetate and decomposing it to form acetic acid;
- (d) esterifying the acetic acid to an ester, selected from the group consisting of methyl ester and ethyl ester;
- and
- (e) hydrogenating the ester of acetic acid to form ethanol.
A method to produce ethanol, the method comprising:
- (a) culturing a homoacetogenic microorganism in a medium comprising a carbohydrate source to produce acetate, acetic acid or a mixture thereof;
- (b) forming a complex between an amine and the acetate;
- (c) forming acetic acid and regenerating the amine from the amine complex;
- (d) esterifying the acetic acid from the amine complex to an acetic acid ester in the presence of an alcohol;
- and
- (e) hydrogenating the acetic acid ester to recover the ethanol;
- wherein at least about 60% of carbon in the carbohydrate source is converted into the ethanol.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.