Production of alcohol

Abstract

A process of producing ethyl alcohol is disclosed in which the wort is formed by separately supplying to a fermentation tank (1) a moist particulate feed containing a component convertible to a fermentable sugar under pressure and at a temperature in excess of about 250.degree. F. (preferably using an auger feed having a restrictive outlet) which induces rapid conversion to fermentable sugar before the feed enters the wort, and (2) an aqueous liquor which mixes with the converted feed to form the wort which contains yeast or other microorganism for converting the fermentable sugar to ethyl alcohol. The firmentation process is desirably carried out continuously, a portion of the wort being continuously or periodically removed, and the solids removed therefrom to provide a beer which is distilled to remove alcohol and provide a sugar-containing aqueous liquor which is recycled to the fermentation tank. The wort is preferably agitated by mixing air with the carbon dioxide gas exiting the tank and bubbling the mixture through the wort.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.