Back to results
US 2011/0207176 A1Published application
Method and apparatus for producing alcohol or sugar using a commercial-scale bioreactor
AssigneeScientek Corp.
InventorsAndrew Desbarats, Michael Erhart, Joe Kreutzer, Kevin Morgan, Vince Yacyshyn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is a method of producing alcohol or sugar in a commercial-scale bioreactor using a reformulated commercial enzyme preparation. Also provided is a bioreactor modified to practice the method.
Claims30
A method of producing alcohol or sugar in a commercial-scale bioreactor comprising:
- mixing a commercial enzyme preparation comprising at least one group 3 hydrolase, that has been stabilized for shipment or storage, with a dilute aqueous solution comprising a polymeric compound in a mixing vessel in a ratio of 1 part commercial enzyme preparation to at least 4 parts of the dilute aqueous solution to form a diluted enzyme solution;
- passing the diluted enzyme solution through a chamber containing at least one metal particulate matter or metal-impregnated particulate matter to produce a reformulated enzyme solution;
- and
- within 100 hours of production of the reformulated enzyme solution, transferring at least a portion of the reformulated enzyme solution to a commercial-scale bioreactor containing at least 20,000 gallons of at least one of starch or cellulose to produce an alcohol or sugar, wherein a total amount of enzyme in the form of the reformulated enzyme solution added to the bioreactor is at least 20% less than the amount of enzyme in the form of the commercial enzyme preparation that would have been required to produce an equivalent amount of alcohol or sugar.
1 more element
Apparatus for producing alcohol or sugar in a commercial-scale bioreactor, the apparatus comprising:
- a mixing vessel;
- a mixing device for mixing a solution in the mixing vessel;
- a source of aqueous buffer and disinfectant in communication with the mixing vessel;
- a source of stabilized enzyme preparation in communication with the mixing vessel;
- a storage vessel in communication with the mixing vessel;
- and
- at least one commercial-scale bioreactor having a capacity of at least 20,000 gallons in communication with the storage vessel.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.