Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Biomasses Having a High Dry Matter (Dm) Content

• US 20080138862A1
• Filed: 11/07/2005
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elsam A/S, Inbicon A/S
• Original Assignee: Elsam Engineering A/S, Københavns Universitet
• Inventors: Larsen, Jan, Felby, Claus, Vibe-Pedersen, Jakob, Jorgensen, Henning
• Granted Patent: US 7,842,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/72
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/12 Disaccharides
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/14 produced by the action of a carbohydrase (EC 3.2.x), e.g. by alpha-amylase , e.g. by cellulase, hemicellulase
• 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

The present invention relates to a process for liquefaction and saccharification of polysaccharide containing biomasses, having a relatively high dry matter content. The present invention combines enzymatic hydrolysis with a type of mixing relying on the principle of gravity ensuring that the biomasses are subjected to mechanical forces, primarily shear and tear forces. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the further utilisation of such processed biomasses, e.g. for subsequent fermentation into bio-ethanol, bio-gas, specialty carbohydrates for food and fees as well as carbon feedstock for processing into plastics and chemicals.

Claims

1. A process for liquefaction and saccharification of polysaccharide containing biomasses having a dry matter content of above 20%, characterised in subjecting said biomass to:

a) enzymatic hydrolysis, and

b) mixing by a gravity based type of mixing providing mechanical processing and/or degradation of the biomass

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the said polysaccharide containing biomass is a lignocellulosic biomass derived from agricultural crops consisting of e.g. corn stover, bagasse, straw e.g. from rice, wheat, rye, oat, barley, rye, rape and sorghum, tubers e.g. beet, potato, cereals from e.g. rice, wheat, rye, oat, barley, rye, rape, sorghum, wood consisting of softwood e.g. Pinus sylvestris, Pinus radiata, hardwood e.g. Salix spp., Eucalyptus spp. or municipal solid waste, waste paper, fibre fraction from processing of biogas, manure and similar biomasses.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the said polysaccharide containing biomass is starch, e.g. starch containing grains or refined starch.

4. A process according to claim 1, wherein the said polysaccharide containing biomass is a mixture of starch, e.g. starch containing grains or refined starch, and lignocellulosic biomasses derived from agricultural crops consisting of e.g. corn stover, straw e.g. from rice, wheat, rye, oat, barley, rye, rape and sorghum, tubers e.g. beet, potato, cereals from e.g. rice, wheat, rye, oat, barley, rye, rape, sorghum, wood consisting of softwood e.g. Pinus sylvestris, Pinus radiata, hardwood e.g. Salix spp., Eucalyptus spp., municipal solid waste, waste paper and similar biomasses.

5. A process according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the dry matter content of the polysaccharide containing biomass is between 25-80%.

6. A process according to any of claim 1, 2 or 4 wherein at least 20% (w/w) of the lignocellulosic biomass has a fibre size above 26 mm.

7. A process according to any of claim 1, 2 or 4, wherein the lignocellulosic biomass has been subjected to heat pre-treatment between 110-250°

C.

8. A process according to any of claims 1-7, wherein the enzymatic hydrolysis is performed with a combination of hydrolytic enzymes including a carbohydrolytic enzyme and an oxidative enzyme.

9. A process according to any of claims 1, 3 or 4, wherein the enzymatic hydrolysis of starch containing grains is performed with a combination of hydrolytic enzymes and proteolytic enzymes.

10. A process according to any of claims 1-9, wherein the enzymatic hydrolysis is performed at 0-105°

C.

11. A process according to any of claims 1-10, wherein the mixing of the polysaccharide containing biomass is relying on free fall mixers such as drum mixers, tumble mixers or similar mixing devices.

12. A process according to any of claims 1-11, wherein the time of treatment for the enzymatic hydrolysis is 0-72 hours.

13. A process according to any of claims 1-12 which is carried out as a batch, fed-batch, continuous or a similar process.

14. Use of a material produced by a process according to any of claims 1-13, in a process for ethanol production.

15. Use of a material produced by a process according to any of claims 1-13, in a process for lactic acid production.

16. Use of a material produced by a process according to any of claims 1-13, in a process for bio-gas production.

17. Use of a material produced by a process according to any of claims 1-13, in a process for feed production.