LIQUEFACTION OF STARCH-BASED BIOMASS

• US 20100129888A1
• Filed: 11/02/2009
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pursuit Dynamics plc (Gaming Realms, PLC)
• Original Assignee: Pursuit Dynamics plc (Gaming Realms, PLC)
• Inventors: Thorup, Jens Havn, Fenton, Marcus Brian Mayhall, Heathcote, John Gervase Mark
• Application Number:
  US12/590,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20100129888A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/161
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31241 the main flow being injected in the circumferential area of the venturi, creating an aspiration in the central part of the conduit
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/12 for producing fuels or solvents C12M21/04 takes precedence; liquid carbonaceous fuels C10L1/00, solid fuels C10L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/58 Reaction vessels connected in series or in parallel combinations of bioreactors with other apparatus, C12M43/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/06 Nozzles; Sprayers; Spargers; Diffusers per se B01F23/231, B01J19/26
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/14 Pressurized fluid
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/03 by control of the humidity or content of liquids; Drying
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/20 Heating; Cooling heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory uses B01L7/00
• 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: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

The present invention provides processes for the treatment of a starch-based feedstock. The processes include mixing together a starch-based feedstock and a working fluid to form a slurry, hydrating the starch-based feedstock with the working fluid, adding an enzyme to the slurry, pumping the slurry into a substantially constant diameter passage of a fluid mover, and injecting a high velocity transport fluid into the slurry through one or more nozzles communicating with the passage, thereby further hydrating the starch-based feedstock and activating the starch content of the slurry. Apparatuses for carrying out such processes are also provided. Processes for converting a feedstock to a polysaccharide and systems for producing ethanol using the processes and apparatuses of the invention are also provided.

Claims

1. A process for the treatment of a starch-based feedstock, comprising:

(a) mixing together a starch-based feedstock and a working fluid to form a slurry;

(b) hydrating the starch-based feedstock with the working fluid;

(c) adding an enzyme to the slurry;

(d) pumping the slurry into a substantially constant diameter passage of a fluid mover; and

(e) injecting a high velocity transport fluid into the slurry through one or more nozzles communicating with the passage, thereby further hydrating the starch-based feedstock and activating the starch content of the slurry.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises:

(a) applying a shear force to the slurry;

(b) atomising the liquid phase within the slurry to create a dispersed droplet flow regime;

(c) forming a low pressure region downstream of the nozzle; and

(d) generating a condensation shock wave within the passage downstream of the nozzle(s) by condensation of the transport fluid.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises heating the slurry and/or maintaining it at a first predetermined temperature within a first vessel for a first predetermined period of time.

4. The process of claim 3 further comprising the step of transferring the slurry to a second vessel from the fluid mover, and maintaining the temperature of the slurry in the second vessel for a second predetermined period of time.

5. The process of claim 4, wherein the step of transferring the slurry to the second vessel includes passing the slurry through a temperature conditioning unit to raise the temperature of the slurry.

6. The process of claim 4, further comprising the step of agitating the slurry in the first and second vessels for the respective first and second predetermined periods of time.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein the transport fluid is a hot, compressible gas.

8. The process of claim 7, wherein the hot, compressible gas is selected from the group consisting of steam, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein the hot, compressible gas is steam.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein the transport fluid is injected at a subsonic or a supersonic velocity.

11. The process of claim 1, wherein the working fluid is water.

12. The process of claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises injecting the high velocity transport fluid into the slurry through a plurality of nozzles communicating with the passage.

13. The process of claim 1, wherein step (e) occurs on a single pass of the slurry through the fluid mover.

14. The process of claim 1, wherein step (e) includes recirculating the slurry through the fluid mover.

15. The process of claim 1, wherein the pumping of the slurry is carried out using a low shear pump.

16. The process of claim 1, wherein the feedstock is selected from the group consisting of dry milled maize, dry milled wheat, and dry milled sorghum.

44. A process for converting a starch contained within a starch-based feedstock into shorter chain polysaccharides comprising carrying out the process of claim 1.

17. An apparatus for treating a starch-based feedstock, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a hydrator/mixer for mixing and hydrating the feedstock with a working fluid to form a slurry; and

(b) a fluid mover in fluid communication with the hydrator/mixer;

wherein the fluid mover comprises;

(i) a passage of substantially constant diameter having an inlet in fluid communication with the hydrator/mixer and an outlet; and

(ii) a transport fluid nozzle communicating with the passage and adapted to inject high velocity transport fluid into the passage.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the hydrator/mixer comprises a heater for heating the working fluid and/or the slurry.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the hydrator/mixer comprises a first vessel having an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet of the passage.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the heater comprises a heated water jacket surrounding the first vessel.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the heater is remote from the hydrator/mixer.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a second vessel having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the passage.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the second vessel includes an insulator for insulating the contents of the second vessel.

24. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a residence tube section having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the passage.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the residence tube includes an insulator for insulating the contents of the residence tube as it passes through.

26. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the transport fluid nozzle is annular and circumscribes the passage.

27. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the transport fluid nozzle has an inlet, an outlet and a throat portion intermediate the inlet and the outlet, wherein the throat portion has a cross sectional area which is less than that of the inlet and the outlet.

28. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a transport fluid supply adapted to supply transport fluid to the transport fluid nozzle.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising a plurality of fluid movers in series and/or parallel with one another, wherein the transport fluid supply is adapted to supply transport fluid to the transport fluid nozzle of each device.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising a plurality of transport fluid supply lines connecting the transport fluid supply with each nozzle, wherein each transport fluid supply line includes a transport fluid conditioner.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the transport fluid conditioner is adapted to vary the supply pressure of the transport fluid to its respective nozzle.

32. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising a dedicated transport fluid supply for each transport fluid nozzle.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein each transport fluid supply includes a transport fluid conditioner.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein each conditioner is adapted to vary the supply pressure of the transport fluid to each respective nozzle.

35. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a temperature conditioning unit located downstream of the fluid mover, the temperature conditioning unit adapted to increase the temperature of fluid leaving the passage of the device.

36. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a recirculation pipe adapted to allow fluid recirculation from downstream of the fluid mover to upstream of the fluid mover.

37. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a low shear pump adapted to pump fluid from the hydrator/mixer to the fluid mover.

38. The apparatus of claim 17, which is integrated into an ethanol production plant for producing ethanol from a feedstock.

39. A system for producing ethanol comprising an apparatus according to claim 17 integrated into an ethanol production plant.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the ethanol production plant is a dry mill or a wet mill plant.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the dry mill plant utilizes a corn dry grind based feedstock.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the wet mill plant utilizes a corn wet milling based feedstock.

43. A process for making ethanol comprising carrying out the system of claim 39.