METHOD OF CONVERTING A FERMENTATION BYPRODUCT INTO OXYGEN AND BIOMASS AND RELATED SYSTEMS

• US 20070196892A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GS Cleantech Corporation (Greenshift Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GS Cleantech Corporation (Greenshift Corporation)
• Inventors: Winsness, David J., Krablin, Richard, Kreisler, Kevin E.
• Application Number:
  US11/688,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20070196892A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/41
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 3/00 Preparation of elements or inorganic compounds except carbon dioxide recovery of carbon dioxides as by-products C12F3/02
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/06 Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6463 obtained from glyceride producing microorganisms, e.g. single cell oil
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/649 Biodiesel, i.e. fatty acid alkyl esters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

In one aspect, the invention relates to a method of converting byproducts of a fermentation process into oxygen and biomass. Related methods, systems, and other aspects are also described.

Claims

1. A method of creating oxygen and biomass, comprising:

fermenting corn to produce ethanol and a gaseous byproduct;

recovering the gaseous byproduct; and

using the gaseous byproduct to generate the oxygen and biomass.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaseous byproduct comprises CO₂.

3. The method of claim 1, further including using the biomass created to produce the gaseous byproduct.

4. The method of claim 1, further including fermenting the biomass.

5. The method of claim 1, further including extracting oil from the biomass.

6. The method of claim 1, further including hydrolyzing the biomass.

7. The method of claim 1, further including milling corn, and wherein the fermenting step uses the milled corn.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the dry milling step includes cooking the milled corn using a boiler, and the method further includes using the boiler exhaust to generate the biomass.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein using the gaseous byproduct to generate the biomass includes delivering the gas to a bioreactor including a biological agent for promoting biomass growth.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the biological agent comprises cyanobacteria or algae.

11. The method of claim 9, further including the step of harvesting at least some of the biomass from the bioreactor.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the fermentation process produces ethanol and stillage, and the method further includes recovering oil from the stillage.

13. The method of claim 12, further including the step of using the oil as fuel.

14. A method of creating biomass, comprising:

producing substantially pure CO₂ using a fermentation process;

recovering the CO₂ from the fermentation process; and

using the CO₂ to generate the biomass.

15. The method of claim 14, further including the step of using the biomass in the fermentation process.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the fermentation process is a first fermentation process, and further including the step of using the biomass in a second fermentation process.

17. A method for producing ethanol, biomass, and oxygen from ground corn, comprising:

cooking the ground corn;

fermenting the ground cooked corn to produce ethanol and CO₂; and

using the CO₂ to create biomass and oxygen.

18. The method of claim 17, further including the step of fermenting the biomass.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of fermenting the ground cooked corn and fermenting the biomass are performed simultaneously.

20. The method of claim 18, further including the step of using the CO₂ from the step of fermenting the biomass to create additional biomass and oxygen.

21. The method of claim 17, further including the step of recovering oil from the biomass.

22. A method of recycling CO₂ resulting from fermentation, comprising:

fermenting a first biomass to produce CO₂;

using the CO₂ to produce a second biomass; and

fermenting the second biomass to produce CO₂.

23. The method of claim 22, further including the step of fermenting the first and second biomass together.

24. A system for generating biomass, comprising:

a fermenter for producing alcohol and CO₂; and

a bioreactor operatively connected to the fermenter and including a biological agent capable of processing the CO₂ received from the fermenter to create the biomass.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the fermenter receives cooked ground corn and the alcohol comprises ethanol.

26. The system of claim 24, further including a boiler for cooking the ground corn and creating an exhaust gas, and a delivery line for delivering the exhaust gas to the bioreactor.

27. A system for generating biomass, comprising:

means for producing alcohol and CO₂; and

means for creating the biomass and oxygen from the CO₂.