US 5,962,307 A · Apparatus for producing organic acids

Abstract

A continuous process and apparatus for preparing organic acids and their salts from biomass. Biomass flows from a region of fresh biomass and high acid and acid salt concentration to a region of digested biomass and low acid and acid salt concentration in a fermentation apparatus under anaerobic conditions. Organic acids and acid salts produced by the process of the present invention are volatile fatty acids such as acetic, butyric and propionic acids and their salts such as calcium acetate, calcium propionate, and calcium butyrate. The apparatus of the present invention contains at least two fermentation reactors in series to increase the biomass residence time in the reactors. The fermentation reactors of the present invention are imbedded in the ground with earthen berms as support for sides having three layers. The core of the reactors are covered with a flexible covering to maintain an anaerobic environment.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An apparatus for producing organic acids and salts of organic acids by anaerobic fermentation of biomass comprising:

a first container means and a second container means for containing the biomass,
a first means for transporting biomass into said first container means,
a second means for transporting biomass from said first to said second container means,
a means for removing biomass from said second container means, and
a means for washing the organic acids and the salts of the organic acids from the biomass, said means comprising a first means to direct water into counter current contact with biomass from said second container means to produce an organic acids and salts of organic acids containing water stream and a second means to direct said organic acids and salts of organic acids containing water stream into counter current contact with biomass from said first container means.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for producing organic acids

Life of this patent

Apparatus for producing organic acids

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9