# US 9,434,973 B2 · Bioprocessing

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- Number: US 9,434,973 B2
- Document ID: US9434973B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/863,048
- Filed: 2015-09-23
- Published: 2016-03-03
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2009-05-20
- Assignees: Xyleco, Inc.
- Applicants: Xyleco, Inc.
- Inventors: Marshall Medoff; Thomas Craig Masterman; Harrison Medoff
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434973B2

## CPC

- C12M 45/07: {by electrical or electromagnetic forces}
- C12M 25/00: {Means for supporting, enclosing or fixing the microorganisms, e.g. immunocoatings}
- C12N 11/00: Carrier-bound or immobilised enzymes; Carrier-bound or immobilised microbial cells; Preparation thereof
- C12N 11/14: Enzymes or microbial cells immobilised on or in an inorganic carrier
- C12P 7/02: containing a hydroxy group
- C12P 7/06: Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
- C12P 7/065: {with microorganisms other than yeasts}
- C12P 7/10: substrate containing cellulosic material
- C12P 7/14: Multiple stages of fermentation; Multiple types of microorganisms or re-use of microorganisms
- C12P 19/02: Monosaccharides (2-ketogulonic acid C12P7/60)
- C12P 19/14: produced by the action of a carbohydrase {(EC 3.2.x)}, e.g. by alpha-amylase {, e.g. by cellulase, hemicellulase}
- C12P 2203/00: Fermentation products obtained from optionally pretreated or hydrolyzed cellulosic or lignocellulosic material as the carbon source
- Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
- Y02P 30/20: using bio-feedstock
- C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS}
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- 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
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

Functionalized substrate materials, for example inorganic particles and/or synthetic polymeric particles, are used to enhance bioprocesses such as saccharification and fermentation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of saccharifying a cellulosic or lignocellulosic material comprising: contacting (i) a saccharifying agent that is immobilized on fibers or particles of an inorganic material with (ii) a cellulosic or lignocellulosic material to saccharify the cellulosic or lignocellulosic material,
wherein the saccharifying agent is an enzyme or microorganism,
wherein the inorganic material has been functionalized with carboxylic acid groups by irradiating the inorganic material with ionizing radiation, and
wherein the immobilization is due to interaction between functional groups on the fibers or particles and functional groups on the saccharifying agent.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the saccharifying agent comprises an enzyme.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the particles comprise a synthetic material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the particles or fibers have a Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area of greater than 100 m2/g.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the particles or fibers comprise a material selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, aragonite clay, orthorhombic clays, calcite clay, rhombohedral clays, kaolin, bentonite clay, dicalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, calcium pyrophosphate, insoluble sodium metaphosphate, magnesium orthophosphate, trimagnesium phosphate, hydroxyapatites, synthetic apatites, alumina, hydrated alumina, silica xerogel, metal aluminosilicate complexes, sodium aluminum silicates, zirconium silicate, silicon dioxide graphite, wollastonite, mica, glass, fiber glass, silica, talc, carbon fibers, conductive carbon black, ceramic powders and ceramic fibers, alumina trihydrate, ground construction waste, ground tire rubber, lignin, maleated polypropylene, thermoplastic fibers, fluorinated polymers, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the particles or fibers have a porosity greater than 70%.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the particles or fibers have a porosity greater than 90%.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising recovering the particles or fibers after saccharification and reusing the particles in a second, subsequent saccharification process.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers or particles are provided in the form of a single or multi-layer sheet.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers or particles are provided in the form of a fibrous material that is overlaid, folded, or in the form of a screen or mesh.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers or particles are extruded or coextruded.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the particles or fibers have a nano-scale average particle size.