Integrated process for producing "clean beef" (or milk), ethanol, cattle feed and bio-gas/bio-fertilizer
First Claim
1. An integrated continuous process for the production of ethanol and methane comprising:
- fermenting grain in an aqueous medium to produce ethanol in said medium, a residue, and carbon dioxide;
separating the ethanol and residue;
separating the residue into wet cake and thin stillage;
feeding the wet cake to livestock, said wet grain residue constituting 25-80% of a feed ration of said livestock on a dry weight basis;
collecting manure produced by the livestock;
admixing at least a portion of the collected manure and at least a portion of the thin stillage to produce an admixture; and
digesting the admixture to produce bio-gas, a liquid effluent and, as a residue, a bio-fertilizer.
6 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ethanol unit and anaerobic digestion/bio-fertilizer unit are integrated with a cattle feedlot (or dairy operation), wherein a continuous, balanced process yields a sanitary, low- to zero-pollution, and economically efficient production of “clean beef” (or milk), fuel ethanol, and bio-gas/bio-fertilizer. Fossil fuel consumption is substantially reduced, even eliminated, and 100% of the cattle waste is treated in digesters wherein it is converted into medium-BTU gas (bio-gas), organic fertilizer and bio-compost. The ethanol unit serves the purposes of ethanol production, grain pretreatment to produce feed for the cattle:and production of a thin stillage which is fed to the digesters. The grain is first processed in the ethanol unit, where the starch portion is converted into ethanol and CO2. The remaining portion is separated into the thin stillage and a wet cake which is fed directly to cattle as a superior ruminant animal ration which displaces certain traditional feed components, alters the standard starch to protein ratio, and significantly improves conversion efficiencies and meat/milk quality.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An integrated continuous process for the production of ethanol and methane comprising:
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fermenting grain in an aqueous medium to produce ethanol in said medium, a residue, and carbon dioxide;
separating the ethanol and residue;
separating the residue into wet cake and thin stillage;
feeding the wet cake to livestock, said wet grain residue constituting 25-80% of a feed ration of said livestock on a dry weight basis;
collecting manure produced by the livestock;
admixing at least a portion of the collected manure and at least a portion of the thin stillage to produce an admixture; and
digesting the admixture to produce bio-gas, a liquid effluent and, as a residue, a bio-fertilizer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification