# US 8,772,002 B1 · Method for treatment of microorganisms during propagation, conditioning and fermentation using hops acid extracts and organic acid

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- Number: US 8,772,002 B1
- Document ID: US8772002B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/212,251
- Filed: 2014-03-14
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15
- Assignees: Hercules Incorporated
- Applicants: Hercules Incorporated
- Inventors: John S. Chapman; Corinne E. Consalo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8772002B1

## CPC

- C12P 7/06: Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
- 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)}
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A method of reducing undesirable microorganism concentration, the method comprises (a) introducing a quantity of fermentable carbohydrate, sugar or cellulose to an aqueous system, (b) introducing a quantity of desirable microorganism to the aqueous system, (c) introducing a hops acid extract into the aqueous system and (d) introducing an organic acid solution into said system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of controlling undesirable microorganism concentration in an aqueous solution employed in a fermentation process, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) introducing a fermentable carbohydrate to the aqueous solution;
(b) introducing at least one yeast to the solution;
(c) introducing a hops acid extract into the solution; and
(d) introducing at least one organic acid into the solution;
wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, benzoic acid, propionic acid and their salts.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the steps are performed sequentially.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the organic acid comprises citric acid.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of hops acid extract in the aqueous solution comprises from 1 ppm to 100 ppm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of hops acid extract in the aqueous solution comprises from 2 ppm to 70 ppm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the hops acid extract has a dosage of at least 0.5 ppm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the organic acid has a dosage of at least 100 ppm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the organic acid is citric acid or its salt and the ratio of hops acid extract to citric acid (or its salt) is from 1:10 to 1:6500.

### Claim 9

A method of controlling undesirable microorganism concentration in an aqueous fluid solution employed in a fermentation process, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) introducing a fermentable carbohydrate to the aqueous system;
(b) introducing at least one desirable microorganism which is capable of fermenting carbohydrate to the aqueous system;
(c) introducing at least one hops acid extract into the aqueous system; and
(d) introducing at least one organic acid into the aqueous system;
wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, benzoic acid, propionic acid and their salts.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the steps are performed sequentially.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the organic acid comprises citric acid.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the hops acid extract has a dosage in the aqueous system of at least 1 ppm to 100 ppm.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the hops acid extract has a dosage in the aqueous system of at least 2 ppm to 70 ppm.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the organic acid is citric acid or its salt and the ratio of hops acid extract to citric acid (or its salt) is from 1:10 to 1:6500.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the organic acid is citric acid or its salt and wherein the hops acid extract has a dosage in the aqueous system of at least 2 ppm to 70 ppm and wherein the organic acid has a dosage of at least 100 ppm.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the organic acid has a dosage of at least 100 ppm.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the desirable microorganism is selected from the group consisting of a yeast, a fungi, a bacteria or combination thereof.

### Claim 18

A method of reducing residual byproduct of antibiotic in a fermentation process, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) introducing a fermentable carbohydrate to an aqueous system;
(b) introducing at least one yeast to said system;
(c) introducing at least one hops acid extract into said system; and
(d) introducing at least one organic acid into said system;
wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, benzoic acid, propionic acid and their salts.