# US 4,393,136 A · Bacterial ethanol production

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- Number: US 4,393,136 A
- Document ID: US4393136A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/281,293
- Filed: 1981-07-07
- Granted: 1983-07-12
- Earliest claimed: 1980-07-08
- Assignees: Talres Development (N.A.) N.V.
- Inventors: Peter S. J. Cheetham
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4393136A

## CPC

- C12P 7/065: {with microorganisms other than yeasts}
- C12N 11/04: entrapped within the carrier, e.g. gel or hollow fibres
- Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
- 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)}
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Glucose or other substrate is converted to ethanol using immobilized bacterial cells under conditions which prevent growth of the cells.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for producing ethanol, wherein a carbohydrate is converted by immobilized cells of an ethanol-producing bacterium into ethanol, said carbohydrate being presented to said cells in a medium which is nutritionally inadequate for growth of said cells by lacking at least one factor required therefor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein said cells are immoblized in a gel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The process of claim 2, wherein said gel is dried after immobilization of said cells.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The process of claim 2, wherein said cells are co-immobilized with bone char.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said carbohydrate is employed in aqueous solution which does not contain any other nutrient or assimilable material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The process of claim 5 wherein said aqueous solution contains 5-20% (w/v) glucose.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The process of claim 6 wherein said solution contains about 10% glucose.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The process of claim 6 wherein said cells are immobilized in a calcium alginate gel.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The process of claim 6 wherein said cells are immobilized in a calcium alginate-bone char gel.

### Claim 10

In a process for producing ethanol by conversion of a substrate using cells of a bacterium, the improvement which comprises immobilizing said cells and converting said substrate in a non-fermentative manner by dissolving said substrate in water to give a medium which lacks at least one factor required for growth of the bacterium, and contacting said medium with said immobilized cells to effect said conversion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The process of claim 10, when effected on a continuous basis.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The process of claim 10 wherein said substrate is a carbohydrate and said medium lacks any other nutrient or assimilable material.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The process of claim 12 wherein said carbohydrate is glucose in an amount of 5-20% (w/v).

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13 wherein said amount is about 10%.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13 wherein said cells are immobiled in a calcium alginate gel.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13 wherein said cells are immobilized in a calcium alginate-bone char gel.