Ensiling Biomass For Biofuels Production And Multiple Phase Apparatus For Hydrolyzation Of Ensiled Biomass

• US 20100144001A1
• Filed: 12/08/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apalta Tehnoloogia Ou
• Original Assignee: SweetWater Energy, Inc
• Inventors: Horton, Jerry Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 8,529,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/161
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/00 Bioreactors or fermenters specially adapted for specific uses digesters for manure A01C3/023; apparatus for PCR B01L7/52; destroying or transforming solid waste B09B3/00; methods for genetic engineering C12N15/00, C12Q1/68; nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844
• 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 21/16 Solid state fermenters, e.g. for koji production
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 25/18 Fixed or packed bed
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 43/02 Bioreactors or fermenters combined with devices for liquid fuel extraction; Biorefineries
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/06 by chemical means or hydrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/09 by enzymatic treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/20 Heating; Cooling heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory uses B01L7/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/10 substrate containing cellulosic material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system for the hydrolyzation of ensiled biomass is disclosed. Ensiled biomass is processed in multiple phases, resulting in a liquid precursor hydrozate and a solid precursor hydrozate. The liquid precursor having significant economic value, and being suitable for uses such as, for example, lower cost and improved efficiency ethanol production. A method for lower cost, improved efficiency alcohol production that uses the resulting liquid precursor hydrozate being produced at distributed sources is further disclosed.

Claims

1. A multiple phase apparatus for the hydrolyzation of ensiled biomass comprising

a source of ensiled and processed biomass;

a treatment vessel that contains the ensiled and processed biomass;

a source of water;

a treatment device operatively coupled to the treatment vessel for treating the contained biomass;

a separator acting on the contained biomass for separation of a liquid precursor hydrozate from a solid precursor;

a vessel for containing the liquid precursor hydrozate; and

a vessel for containing the solid precursor.

2. The multiple phase apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the treatment device is a hot water treatment system.

3. The multiple phase apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the treatment device is an acid treatment system.

4. The multiple phase apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the treatment device is an enzymatic treatment system.

5. The multiple phase apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a water extraction treatment device operatively coupled to the vessel containing the liquid precursor hydrozate.

6. The multiple phase apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the water extraction treatment device is selected from the group consisting of a reverse osmosis system, an applied heat system, an ultra filtration system and a nano filtration system

7. The multiple phase apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising filtration of the liquid precursor hydrozate.

8. The multiple phase apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a process control system.

17. A method for producing alcohol, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving liquid precursor hydrozate produced by the apparatus of claim 1 from

a plurality of distributed sources;

adjusting as necessary concentration strength for fermentation;

fermenting said liquid precursor hydrozate; and

distilling the fermented liquid precursor hydrozate into alcohol.

18. The method for producing alcohol as recited in claim 17, further including the step of concentrating the alcohol with membrane technology.

19. The method for producing alcohol as recited in claim 17, wherein fermenting the liquid precursor hydrozate is performed using packed fermentation with bacteria.

20. The method for producing alcohol as recited in claim 17, wherein packed fermentation includes the use of packed fermenter structures.

21. The method for producing alcohol as recited in claim 17, wherein fermenting the liquid precursor hydrozate is performed using simultaneous scarification and fermentation.

22. The method for producing alcohol as recited in claim 17, wherein fermenting the liquid precursor hydrozate is performed using yeast.

9. A method for the production of a liquid precursor hydrozate comprising the steps of:

harvesting biomass;

ensiling the harvested biomass;

adding water to the ensiled biomass;

treating the ensiled biomass and water mixture;

processing the ensiled biomass and water mixture; and

separating a resulting liquid precursor hydrozate from a solid precursor.

10. The method for the production of a liquid precursor hydrozate as recited in claim 9, further including the step of concentration treatment of the resulting liquid precursor hydrozate.

11. The method for the production of a liquid precursor hydrozate as recited in claim 9, further including the step of mechanically processing the harvested biomass.

12. The method for the production of a liquid precursor hydrozate as recited in claim 9, further including the step of applying inoculates to the harvested biomass.

13. The method for the production of a liquid precursor hydrozate as recited in claim 9, further including the step of mechanically processing the ensiled biomass.

14. The method for the production of a liquid precursor hydrozate as recited in claim 9, wherein treating the ensiled biomass and water mixture includes hot water treatment.

15. The method for the production of a liquid precursor hydrozate as recited in claim 9, wherein treating the ensiled biomass and water mixture includes acid treatment.

16. The method for the production of a liquid precursor hydrozate as recited in claim 9, wherein treating the ensiled biomass and water mixture includes enzymatic treatment.