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US 2011/0236937 A1Published application
Multi-Stage Fermenter Nutrient Feeding
AssigneeThe Texas A&M University System
InventorsAaron Douglas Smith, Mark T. Holtzapple
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for operating a fermenter system. In one instances, the method comprises flowing biomass and liquid in opposite directions through a fermenter train comprising a plurality of fermenters, and introducing a nutrient to any of the plurality of fermenters to optimize the production carboxylate products in the fermenter system.
Claims31
A method for fermenting biomass comprising:
- (a) fermenting biomass in a first fermenter to form digested biomass and a first fermentation broth;
- (b) introducing the digested biomass from the first fermenter to a second fermenter having a second fermentation broth;
- and
- (c) introducing a nutrient to at least one of the fermenters.
1 more element
A method for fermenting biomass comprising:
- (a) fermenting biomass in a first fermenter to form digested biomass and a first fermentation broth;
- (b) introducing the digested biomass from the first fermenter to a second fermenter having a second fermentation broth;
- and
- (c) introducing a carbon source to at least one of the fermenters.
1 more element
A method for fermenting biomass comprising:
- (a) fermenting biomass in a first fermenter to form digested biomass and a first fermentation broth;
- (b) introducing the digested biomass from the first fermenter to a second fermenter having a second fermentation broth;
- and
- (c) introducing a nutrient and a carbon source to at least one of the fermenters.
1 more element
A method for fermenting biomass comprising:
- (a) fermenting a first biomass in a first fermenter to form a first digested biomass and a first fermentation broth;
- (b) fermenting a second biomass in a second fermenter to form a second digested biomass and a second fermentation broth;
- (c) fermenting a third biomass in a third fermenter to form third digested biomass and a third fermentation broth;
- (d) detecting at least one property of each of the fermentation broths for analysis;
- and
- (e) introducing the first digested biomass to the second fermentation broth in the second fermenter;
- (f) introducing the first fermentation broth to the third digested biomass in the third fermenter;
- and
- (g) introducing the third fermentation broth to the second digested biomass.
6 more elements
A fermenter system comprising;
- a plurality of fermenters, having a first fermenter, a last fermenter, and at least one intermediate fermenter, wherein the first fermenter comprises the inlet for biomass, and the last fermenter comprises the inlet for fermentation broth;
- a plurality of conduits disposed between each of the plurality of the fermenters;
- a sensor system, having a sensor positioned in each of the plurality of fermenters;
- and
- a nutrient supply, fluidly connected with each of the plurality of fermenters.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.