Cellulosic biofuel and co-products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018355387-A1
Application number	US-201615735107-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 10, 2016
Priority date	Jun 11, 2015
Publication date	Dec 13, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

This disclosure describes processes for using biomass feedstock to produce a fermented product and co-products. The process includes washing the biomass feedstock, pretreating the washed feedstock, hydrolysis and fermentation of the pretreated feedstock(s) to produce cellulosic biofuel and co-products. The processes may also include yeast hydrolysis and aerobic propagation.

First claim

1 . A method of producing cellulosic biofuel, the method comprising:
washing feedstock; pretreating the washed feedstock by adding acid and by adding base for neutralization; hydrolyzing the pretreated feedstock by adding a cellulase enzyme to produce hydrolysate; removing suspended solids from the hydrolysate to produce clarified sugars and lignin; concentrating the clarified sugars to concentrated sugars;
fermenting the concentrated sugars to produce cellulosic biofuel.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising co-locating a starch ethanol plant to help reduce costs for water and electricity.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the washing comprises counter-flow washing of the feedstock.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the washing comprises at least one of a rotary press, a paddle screen, or a washing table.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the washing the feedstock comprises using water from a scrubber (CO2), from evaporated condensate, or methanator effluent.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the washing the feedstock improves cellulosic biofuel yield by approximately 1% to approximately 30%.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a slurry from the washed feedstock with evaporator condensate received from the concentrated sugars, wherein the slurry ranges from approximately 1% to approximately 25% in solids; pumping the slurry to a predetermined pressure; and injecting steam to the slurry to reach a predetermined temperature; wherein adding the acid occurs after the slurry has obtained the predetermined pressure.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising slurrying the washed feedstock with methanator effluent or condensate from salt purge evaporators.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined pressure ranges from approximately 0 psig to approximately 300 psig.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined temperature ranges from approximately 212° F. to approximately 422° F.

11 . A method for pretreatment of the cellulosic feedstock, the method comprising:
using evaporator condensate from concentrated sugars as water source to cellulosic feedstock to create low-solids slurry; injecting sulfuric acid into the low-solids slurry after it has attained pretreatment pressure; and adding heat to the low-solids pressurized slurry.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the heat ranges from approximately 220° F. to approximately 415° F.

13 . A method comprising:
combining a cellulosic stillage process stream and a defatted stillage stream into a tank; adding a base to the tank to create a mixture; sending the mixture to be combined with a fermenting yeast in a propagation tank to create culture medium with yeast; and mechanically separating the culture medium combined with yeast to produce yeast paste and/or yeast centrate.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the defatted stillage stream is from a starch ethanol plant.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the cellulosic stillage process stream is after distillation in the cellulosic process.

16 . The method of claim 13 , where the propagation tank is an aerobic process.

17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising adding carbon source, aeration, and nutrients for the fermenting yeast.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein an amount of cellulosic stillage process stream ranges from approximately 20% to approximately 60% and an amount of the defatted stillage stream ranges from approximately 40% to approximately 80%.

19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein an amount of cellulosic stillage process stream ranges from approximately 30% to approximately 70% and an amount of the defatted stillage stream ranges from approximately 30% to approximately 70%.

20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the fermenting yeast comprises at least one of a genetically modified organism (GMO), a C5/C6 GMO yeast, a GMO Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast, an aerobic glycerol consuming yeast, and an ethanol fermenting yeast.

21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fermenting the concentrated sugars comprises use of stillage grown yeast paste.

22 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the washing comprises use of water at between 71° C. to 106° C., for a duration of 1 to 60 minutes.

23 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending used washwater from the washing step for treatment to toxins, followed by sending the used washwater to a starch ethanol plant for use as slurry make up water and/or as cook water.

24 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pretreating comprises adding acid after the feedstock has entered a pressurized zone.

25 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedstock comprises a slurry comprising Energy Sorghum Wash Water and thin stillage.

26 . The method of claim 25 , where the slurry comprises 0-60% Energy Sorghum Wash Water, thin stillage and the balance water.

27 . The method of claim 25 , where the slurry further comprises endosperm.

28 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of washing the feedstock comprises washing under conditions that remove one or more of minerals, soluble sugars, potassium, or aflatoxin from the feedstock.

29 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of adding the acid comprises reacting the acid with the washed feedstock for 5 to 10 minutes.

Assignees

• Icm Inc

Inventors

• Javers Jeremy Edward
• Gerken Christopher Riley William
• Vander Griend Samuel
• Spooner Jesse
• Licklider Jonathan Phillip
• Gallop Charles C
• Lantero Oreste J
• Emme Brandon
• Hoefling Ryan Edward

Classifications

• C12P2201/00

  Pretreatment of cellulosic or lignocellulosic material for subsequent enzymatic treatment or hydrolysis · CPC title

• C12P7/649 Primary

  Biodiesel, i.e. fatty acid alkyl esters · CPC title

• C12N1/18

  Baker's yeast; Brewer's yeast · CPC title

• D21C1/02

  with water or steam · CPC title

• C12P7/10 Primary

  substrate containing cellulosic material · CPC title