# US 2010/0167366 A1 · Pumping and contamination control system for cellulosic feedstocks

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- Number: US 2010/0167366 A1
- Document ID: US20100167366A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/643,530
- Filed: 2009-12-21
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 2008-12-19
- Inventors: DAVID A. STEWART
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100167366A1

## CPC

- C12P 7/12: substrate containing sulfite waste liquor or citrus waste
- Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
- Y02P 20/129: Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines
- C12P: FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {(brewing of beer C12C; producing vinegar C12J; producing specific peptides or proteins C07K; producing enzymes C12N9/00; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q; measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844; fermentation processes to form a food composition, A21 or A23; compounds in general, see the relevant compound class, e.g. C01, C07)}
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

Processes for the pumping of various cellulosic feedstock materials that are used to produce an ethanol-containing beer are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to processes capable of pumping highly viscous slurries and/or feedstocks containing high levels of solids in an energy efficient manner, wherein the slurries of feedstocks are utilized in the production of ethanol.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for the pumping of biomass feedstocks, comprising:
(a) providing an aqueous slurry of a biomass feedstock;
(b) pumping the aqueous slurry from step (a) to a solid-liquid separator;
(c) separating at least a portion of the water from the aqueous slurry from step (b) to provide water and an increased solids biomass feedstock;
(d) employing the water separated in step (c) for preparing a subsequent aqueous slurry of biomass feedstock; and
(e) processing the increased solids biomass feedstock in a biomass to ethanol conversion plant.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the biomass feedstock provided to step (a) comprises citrus waste.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein step (e) includes a steam explosion treatment step on the biomass feedstock.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein an antimicrobial or antifungal additive is added to the aqueous slurry of step (a).

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The process according to claim 4, wherein the antimicrobial or antifungal additive is citrus oil.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein a cellulose hydrolytic enzyme added to the aqueous slurry of step (a).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein lime is added to the aqueous slurry of step (a).

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The process according to claim 3, wherein waste heat from the steam explosion treatment step is removed by a heat exchanger.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The process according to claim 8, wherein the water separated in step (c) is passed through the heat exchanger prior to the water's use in preparing a subsequent aqueous slurry of biomass feedstock.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the process is as described in FIG. 1.