Enhanced ethanol fermentation using biodigestate
OwnerXiaomei LI, Tiejun GAOinventors
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Abstract
Methods and systems for enhancing ethanol production using a suspending fluid are described. The suspending fluid includes organic material that has at least partially been anaerobically digested and anaerobic microorganisms, and is substantially free of non-anaerobic microorganisms. Also described are methods and systems for hydrolyzing a feedstock for fermentation that include hydrolyzing a feedstock suspension. The feedstock suspension can include feedstock that includes complex sugars, and a suspending fluid, wherein the suspending fluid includes organic material that has at least partially been anaerobically digested and anaerobic microorganisms, and is substantially free of non-anaerobic microorganisms.
Claims27
A method for producing ethanol, comprising:
- (1) adding a suspending fluid to a feedstock to produce a fermentation suspension, wherein the suspending fluid comprises an organic material that has at least partially been anaerobically digested;
- (2) adjusting the pH of the fermentation suspension, if necessary, to a value conductive for fermentation;
- and
- (3) fermenting the fermentation suspension to produce ethanol, wherein the suspending fluid is substantially free of (exogenously added) fresh water or nutrient supplement.
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A method for hydrolyzing a feedstock, wherein the feedstock comprises polysaccharides and wherein the hydrolyzed feedstock yields more ethanol when fermented than prior to hydrolysis, the method comprising:
- (1) adding a suspending fluid to the feedstock to produce a feedstock suspension, wherein the suspending fluid comprises organic material that has at least partially been anaerobically digested;
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- (2) hydrolyzing the feedstock suspension such that at least a portion of the polysaccharides are converted into simple sugars,
- wherein the suspending fluid is substantially free of (e.g., exogenously added) fresh water or nutrient supplement.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.