Process for producing ethanol
AssigneeZeaChem, Inc.
InventorsDan Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for producing ethanol including a combination of biochemical and synthetic conversions results in high yield ethanol production with concurrent production of high value coproducts. An acetic acid intermediate is produced from carbohydrates, such as corn, using enzymatic milling and fermentation steps, followed by conversion of the acetic acid into ethanol using esterification and hydrogenation reactions. Coproducts can include corn oil, and high protein animal feed containing the biomass produced in the fermentation.
Claims7
A method for converting a carbohydrate source and a natural gas source to an easily transportable liquid product comprising the steps of:
- (a) converting said carbohydrate source to acetic acid, acetate, or mixtures thereof by fermentation;
- (b) converting said acetic acid, acetate, or mixtures thereof to ethyl acetate;
- (c) converting at least part of said ethyl acetate to ethanol using hydrogen obtained from said natural gas source;
- and
- (d) transporting said ethanol or ethyl acetate to a location different than the location where it is produced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.