Process for the continuous production of ethanol
OwnerJessica Lavioletteinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for the production of ethanol utilizes a vacuum process and selectively permeable membranes to increase ethanol production efficiency. Yeast converts sugars to ethanol in an anaerobic condition within process chamber void of oxygen and filled with a Nitrogen gas (N2) or any non-oxygen containing gas. A glucose solution is fed into the process chamber to a yeast solution to ferment. A selectively permeable membrane filters ethanol away from the yeast and out of the process chamber. The removal of ethanol from the process chamber keeps the yeast alive to constantly produce ethanol.
Claims11
A method of continuously producing ethanol comprising the steps of:
- a) creating an oxygen free environment within a closed process chamber;
- b) supporting an ethanol producing yeast within the closed process chamber;
- c) introducing a glucose solution into the process chamber for reaction with the ethanol producing yeast;
- and
- d) removing ethanol produced during fermentation from the process chamber through a selectively permeable membrane to control a concentration of ethanol within the process chamber;
- wherein the selectively permeable membrane provides for ethanol to flow therethrough, and prevents the flow of yeast therethrough and wherein the concentration of ethanol within the process chamber is controlled such that the concentration of ethanol does not exceed a concentration determined to denature the ethanol producing yeast.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.