Methods and systems for starch based propagation of a microorganism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021348198-A1
Application number	US-202117384003-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 23, 2021
Priority date	Jun 16, 2016
Publication date	Nov 11, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods that include starch derived from grain as a carbon source for propagation of microorganisms.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of producing a biochemical, the method comprising:
a) providing a propagation composition comprising one or more saccharides derived from grain, and a first cell mass of a microorganism; b) exposing the propagation composition to conditions to propagate the first cell mass of the microorganism into a second cell mass of the microorganism greater than the first cell mass of the microorganism; c) providing a fermentation composition comprising one or more saccharides derived from lignocellulosic feedstock and one or more toxins that are toxic to the microorganism, and at least a portion of the second cell mass of microorganism; and d) exposing the fermentation composition to conditions so that the at least a portion of the second cell mass of microorganism converts saccharides in the fermentation composition into a biochemical.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the propagation composition comprises a ground grain slurry, wherein the ground grain slurry comprises one or more polysaccharides.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more polysaccharides comprise starch, and wherein the ground grain slurry is formed from grain chosen from corn, barley, wheat, sorghum, and combinations thereof.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the ground grain slurry comprises ground corn.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the ground corn is formed by dry grinding whole corn.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the saccharides in the propagation composition comprise starch, and wherein the propagation composition further comprises one or more enzymes chosen from alpha-amylase, glucoamylase, and combinations thereof.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the microorganism is chosen from bacteria, fungi, and combinations thereof.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the microorganism is from a genus chosen from Aspergillus, Candida, Pichia , ( Hansenula ), Phanerochaete, Kloeckera ( Hanseniaspora ), Kluyveromyces, Rhodotorula, Torulopsis, Zygosaccharomyces, Yarrowia, Saccharomyces , and combinations thereof.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the microorganism comprises Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the biochemical is chosen from ethanol, butanol, and combinations thereof.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the propagation composition further comprises a grain stillage composition, wherein the grain stillage composition is derived from distilling a corn grain fermentation product, and wherein the grain stillage composition comprises whole stillage, thin stillage, and/or syrup.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more toxins are chosen from furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural, acetic acid, and combinations thereof.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lignocellulosic feedstock comprises corn stover and corn cobs, and the toxin comprises furfural.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more saccharides are formed by contacting ground corn stover and ground corn cobs with an aqueous composition to hydrolyze hemicellulose into one or more pentoses, wherein the aqueous composition comprises an acid and has a pH from 1 to 3, and wherein the aqueous composition is at a temperature in the range from greater than 110° C. to 170° C.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising, after contacting ground corn stover and ground corn cobs with an aqueous composition to hydrolyze hemicellulose into one or more pentoses, contacting ground corn stover and ground corn cobs with one or more cellulase enzymes to hydrolyze cellulose into glucose.

16 . A method of propagating a microorganism, the method comprising:
a) providing a propagation composition comprising one or more polysaccharides, a first cell mass of a microorganism that can convert monosaccharide into a biochemical, and one or more enzymes that can convert polysaccharide into one or more monosaccharides; b) exposing the propagation composition to conditions to convert polysaccharide into one or more monosaccharides, and propagate the first cell mass of the microorganism into a second cell mass of the microorganism; c) providing a lignocellulosic hydrolysate comprising one or more monosaccharides and one or more toxins that are toxic to the microorganism; and d) combining the lignocellulosic hydrolysate and at least a portion of the second cell mass of microorganism so that the second cell mass of micororganism can convert monosaccharide into a biochemical.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the propagation composition comprises a ground grain slurry, wherein the ground grain slurry comprises the one or more polysaccharides.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the microorganism is from a genus chosen from Aspergillus, Candida, Pichia , ( Hansenula ), Phanerochaete, Kloeckera ( Hanseniaspora ), Kluyveromyces, Rhodotorula, Torulopsis, Zygosaccharomyces, Yarrowia, Saccharomyces , and combinations thereof.

19 . A biorefinery comprising:
a) a propagation system comprising at least one vessel that contains a propagation composition, wherein the propagation composition comprises one or more saccharides derived from grain and a first cell mass of a microorganism, wherein the propagation system is configured to expose the propagation composition to conditions to propagate the first cell mass of the microorganism into a second cell mass of the microorganism greater than the first cell mass of the microorganism; and b) a fermentation system, wherein the fermentation system is in fluid communication with the propagation system to receive at least a portion of the second cell mass of the microorganism, wherein the fermentation system is also in fluid communication with a source of a fermentation composition comprising saccharides derived from lignocellulosic feedstock and one or more toxins that are toxic to the microorganism, and wherein the fermentation system is configured to combine the fermentation composition and the at least a portion of the second cell mass of the microorganism so that the second cell mass of the microorganism converts saccharide in the fermentation composition into a biochemical.

20 . The biorefinery of claim 19 , further comprising a distillation system in fluid communication with the fermentation system, wherein the distillation system is configured to recover biochemical.

Assignees

• Poet Res Inc

Inventors

• Sarks Cory James
• Slupska Malgorzata M
• Carlson David Charles
• Gerdes Benjamin M
• Narendranath Neelakantam V
• Bushong David D

Classifications

• Y02E50/10

  Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel · CPC title

• C12Y302/01001

  Alpha-amylase (3.2.1.1) · CPC title

• C12N1/18

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

• C12N9/2414

  Alpha-amylase (3.2.1.1.) · CPC title

• C12Y302/01003

  Glucan 1,4-alpha-glucosidase (3.2.1.3), i.e. glucoamylase · CPC title