Integrated processes for anaerobic conversion of hydrogen and carbon oxides to alcohol
AssigneeSynata Bio, Inc.
InventorsRathin Datta, Steven G. Calderone, Jianxin Du, Robert Hickey
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Abstract
Integrated processes are disclosed for the anaerobic bioconversion of syngas to alcohol wherein a gas substrate of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and carbon dioxide is in contact with an aqueous menstruum that continuously contacts the gas substrate with said aqueous menstruum to produce alcohol and a depleted gas phase that is continuously withdrawn from the aqueous menstruum; continuously or intermittently and the gas substrate is made up of at least two gases having different compositions to provide an overall gas substrate having a ratio of electrons to carbon atoms in the range of about 5.2:1 to 6.8:1.
Claims17
A continuous process for the anaerobic bioconversion of a gas substrate comprising carbon monoxide, hydrogen and carbon dioxide in an aqueous menstruum containing microorganisms suitable for converting said substrate to alcohol, comprising:
- continuously contacting said gas substrate with said aqueous menstruum to bioconvert gas substrate to alcohol and providing an alcohol-containing menstruum and a depleted gas phase;
- continuously withdrawing the depleted gas phase from said aqueous menstruum;
- continuously or intermittently withdrawing a portion of said menstruum for recovery of said alcohol, said withdrawal being sufficient to maintain the alcohol in said menstruum below a concentration that unduly adversely affects the microorganisms, wherein at least two gases having different compositions are used as the gas substrate to provide an overall gas substrate having a ratio of electrons to carbon atoms in the range of about 5.2:1 to 6.8:1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.