METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING A CELLULOSIC FEEDSTOCK

• US 20100024807A1
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abengoa Bioenergy New Technologies, LLC (Abengoa SA)
• Original Assignee: Sunopta Bioprocess Inc. (Lallemand Inc.)
• Inventors: Burke, Murray J., Hillier, Sunalie N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,778,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 127/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2135 Humidity, e.g. moisture content
• CPC Class Codes: C08B 1/00 Preparatory treatment of cellulose for making derivatives thereof , e.g. pre-treatment, pre-soaking, activation
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/03 by control of the humidity or content of liquids; Drying
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/06 by chemical means or hydrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/02 Monosaccharides 2-ketogulonic acid C12P7/60
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 2201/00 Pretreatment of cellulosic or lignocellulosic material for subsequent enzymatic treatment or hydrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 2203/00 Fermentation products obtained from optionally pretreated or hydrolyzed cellulosic or lignocellulosic material as the carbon source
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/10 substrate containing cellulosic material
• CPC Class Codes: C13K 1/02 obtained by saccharification of cellulosic materials manufacture of fodder A23K10/32
• CPC Class Codes: C13K 13/00 Sugars not otherwise provided for in this class
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

A method and apparatus for treating a cellulosic feedstock, such as for subsequent ethanol production, are disclosed. The method comprises determining an initial moisture content of the cellulosic feedstock and adding an amount of moisture to the cellulosic feedstock to obtain a predetermined moisture content of the cellulosic feedstock, wherein the cellulosic feedstock may subsequently be subjected to hydrolysis. The apparatus comprises a moisture sensor that provides an initial moisture content reading of the cellulosic feedstock, and a weight sensor providing the weight of the cellulosic feedstock. A processor is configured to determine an amount of moisture to be added to the cellulosic feedstock based on the weight and the initial moisture content of the cellulosic feedstock to obtain treated cellulosic feedstock having a predetermined moisture content.

Claims

1. A method for treating a cellulosic feedstock comprising:

a) determining an initial moisture content of the cellulosic feedstock;

b) adding an amount of moisture to the cellulosic feedstock to obtain a predetermined moisture content of the cellulosic feedstock; and

,

c) subsequently subjecting the cellulosic feedstock to hydrolysis.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step b) comprises

determining the amount of moisture required to obtain the predetermined moisture content based on the weight of the cellulosic feedstock and the initial moisture content of the cellulosic feedstock;

and,

adding the amount of moisture.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein steps a) and b) are performed automatically.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein steps a) and b) are performed on a continuous basis.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial moisture content is less than 15 wt % based on the total weight of the cellulosic feedstock.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined moisture content is about 30% to 60 wt % based on the total weight of the cellulosic feedstock.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a weight of the cellulosic feedstock as the cellulosic feedstock is conveyed to a mixing vessel.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising conveying the cellulosic feedstock through a mixing vessel and, adding at least a portion of the amount of moisture to the cellulosic feedstock while the cellulosic feedstock is conveyed through the mixing vessel.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising adding moisture to the cellulosic feedstock through multiple inlet ports provided on the mixing vessel.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising completing addition of the amount of moisture prior to conveying the cellulosic feedstock through a downstream portion of the mixing vessel.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding at least a portion of the amount of moisture prior to conveying the cellulosic feedstock through a mixing vessel.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising passing the cellulosic feedstock downwardly into the mixing vessel while exposing the cellulosic feedstock to droplets of water of between 600μ

and 6000μ

in diameter.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating the cellulosic feedstock while conveying the cellulosic feedstock through a mixing vessel and completing addition of the amount of moisture prior to conveying the cellulosic feedstock through a downstream portion of the mixing vessel wherein the cellulosic feedstock has a temperature less then 50°

C. prior to entering the mixing vessel and a temperature from 50°

C. to 70°

C. after exiting the mixing vessel.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding a hydrolysis catalyst with the moisture.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the cellulosic feedstock is heated while the amount of moisture is added.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial moisture content of each segment of cellulosic feedstock is determined and the amount of moisture to obtain a predetermined moisture content is provided to that segment of the cellulosic feedstock.

17. A cellulosic feedstock treatment apparatus, comprising:

a) a moisture sensor providing an output value corresponding to an initial moisture content of the cellulosic feedstock;

b) a weight sensor providing an output value corresponding to a weight of the cellulosic feedstock;

c) a processor coupled to the moisture sensor and the weight sensor, the processor being configured to determine an amount of moisture to be added to the cellulosic feedstock based on the weight of the cellulosic feedstock and the initial moisture content of the cellulosic feedstock to obtain treated cellulosic feedstock having a predetermined moisture content; and

,

d) a mixing vessel downstream from the weight sensor.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the weight sensor comprises a weighing conveyor.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the mixing vessel comprises a longitudinally extending volume having an inlet, an opposed outlet and a conveyance member positioned inside the volume.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a passage from the weight sensor to the inlet wherein at least a portion of the passage extends downwardly.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the portion comprises at least one moisture injection port.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one moisture injection port is configured to provide discrete droplets of water of between 600μ

and 6000∞

in diameter.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein an upstream portion of the mixing vessel has multiple water injection ports.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a downstream portion of the mixing vessel has an absence of water injection ports.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the mixing vessel has a heating jacket.

26. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a downstream hydrolysis reactor.

27. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor provides a signal to at least one moisture addition member and the signal is lagged by an amount of time corresponding to the time for a segment of cellulosic feedstock to travel from the moisture sensor to a moisture addition zone containing the at least one moisture addition member.