Method for the production of concentrated alcohol from fermentation broths
AssigneeIogen Energy Corporation
InventorDavid George Geros
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for obtaining a concentrated alcohol solution from a lignocellulosic feedstock. The lignocellulosic feedstock is hydrolyzed to prepare a sugar solution. The sugar solution is fermented to produce a fermentation broth comprising alcohol and at least about 1 g ammonium ions/kg fermentation broth. The alcohol in the fermentation broth is then concentrated by distillation to produce an alcohol-enriched vapour. Either before distillation, during distillation or during the azeotrope breaking process, the concentration of ammonia in the alcohol-enriched vapour can be reduced by acid addition to at most about 300 ppm. The alcohol in the alcohol-rich vapour is then further concentrated by an azeotrope breaking process to provide the concentrated alcohol solution.
Claims37
A method for obtaining a concentrated alcohol solution from a lignocellulosic feedstock, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) producing a fermentable sugar solution comprising ammonium salts or a combination of ammonium salts and ammonia, wherein at least a portion of the fermentable sugar solution arises from hydrolyzing the lignocellulosic feedstock;
- (ii) fermenting the sugar solution to produce a fermentation broth comprising alcohol and at least about 1 g ammonium ions/kg fermentation broth;
- (iii) concentrating the alcohol in the fermentation broth by distillation to produce an alcohol-enriched vapour;
- and
- (iv) reducing the concentration of ammonia in said alcohol-enriched vapour by acid addition, before or during the distillation and then further concentrating alcohol present in said alcohol-rich vapour by an azeotrope breaking process to obtain the concentrated alcohol solution.
A method for obtaining a concentrated alcohol solution from a lignocellulosic feedstock, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) producing a fermentable sugar solution comprising ammonia or ammonium salts, wherein at least a portion of the fermentable sugar solution arises from hydrolyzing the lignocellulosic feedstock;
- (ii) fermenting the sugar solution to produce a fermentation broth comprising alcohol and at least about 1.0 g/kg ammonium ions;
- (iii) concentrating the alcohol in the fermentation broth by distillation to produce an alcohol-enriched vapour;
- and
- (iv) reducing the concentration of ammonia in said alcohol-enriched vapour by acid addition, before or during the distillation, to at most about 300 ppm, and then further concentrating alcohol present in said alcohol-rich vapour by an azeotrope breaking process to obtain the concentrated alcohol solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.