METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE LARGE SCALE COLLECTION, PREPARATION, HANDLING AND REFINING OF LIGNO-CELLULOSIC BIOMASS

• US 20080038815A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Iogen Energy Corporation (Iogen Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Iogen Energy Corporation (Iogen Corporation)
• Inventors: FOODY, PATRICK Sr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,057,635 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/297.1
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 47/02 Separating microorganisms from the culture medium; Concentration of biomass separating microorganisms from their culture media C12N1/02
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 47/14 Drying
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/10 substrate containing cellulosic material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel

Abstract

A system for collecting ligno-cellulosic biomass over a large area to enable the commercial refining of biomass from 2,500 to in excess of 50,000 tons of biomass per day to produce ethanol or other products. The biomass is collected at a series of collection points and then transported through a network of conduit “loops” interconnecting each of the collection points and the central refining plant. The water used to transport the biomass, as a slurry, is recovered and sequentially recycled in the same pipeline system to push the biomass slurry around the system in a “loop”.

Claims

1. A biomass collection and refining system, comprising:

a biomass refining plant;

a plurality of collection points; and

at least one conduit loop connecting the collection points and the refining plant in a continuous circulating arrangement for transporting a slurry of water and biomass from the collection points to the refining plant.

2. The system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of conduit loops connecting the collection points.

3. The system according to claim 1, having a plurality of collection points for the collection of about 1,000 tons per day to about 50,000 tons per day of biomass.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the system is adapted for collection of at least about 1,000 tons of biomass per day per loop.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the system is adapted for collecting in excess of about 50,000 tons per day of biomass.

6. The system according to claim 1, having between about 7 and 100 collection points.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein water or slurry streams carried from two collection points are combined and transported to the refining plant, and water removed from the slurry at the refining plant is split for recirculation.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the amount of water in the system is relatively constant.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system maintains the solids to liquids ratio in the slurry equal to or less than 15% by weight.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising apparatus for removing water from the slurry.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus for removing slurry water is a cane press, extruder, centrifuge, screen, filter, screw presses or combination thereof

12. A method for collecting and refining biomass, comprising:

collecting biomass at a plurality of collection points which are connected with a biomass refining plant by at least one conduit loop;

introducing the biomass into at least one conduit loop to form a slurry of biomass and liquid;

transporting the slurry of biomass and liquid through at least one conduit loop to the refining plant where the biomass is subjected to cooking; and

removing water from the slurry and continuously reusing the water to transport additional biomass.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising pretreating the slurry of biomass and water in the network to a pH favorable for a later disintegration of lignin and cellulose bonds at the refining plant.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of joining streams of slurry transported from two or more of the plurality of collection points into a single slurry stream directed to the refining plant and splitting the water removed from the slurry coming from the refining plant for recirculation.

15. A method according to claim 13 wherein the biomass is reduced in size and the slurry is pH-adjusted for introduction into the cooking phase.

16. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of removing water to maintain a relatively constant amount of water circulating in the system.

17. The method according to claim 12, comprising a plurality of conduit loops connecting the collection points to the refining plant.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein each of the loops can be operated independently.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the number of loops is matched to the refining plant production capability.