METHOD OF PRODUCTION OF ALCOHOL

• US 20110312055A1
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Weyland AS
• Original Assignee: Weyland AS
• Inventors: Weydahl, Karl Ragnar
• Application Number:
  US13/122,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20110312055A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/165
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 33/126 Preparation of silica of undetermined type
• 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: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

The invention provides a process for producing alcohol from a cellulosic material, said process comprising: hydrolyzing said cellulosic material with an aqueous acid to produce a hydrolysate; extracting acid and water from said hydrolysate with a water-miscible organic extraction solvent to yield (a) a first aqueous acidic solution containing said extraction solvent and (b) a residue containing sugars; subjecting said residue to an oligosaccharide cleavage reaction to yield an aqueous solution of fermentable sugars; fermenting said fermentable sugars and distilling alcohol from the resulting fermented mixture; contacting said first aqueous acidic solution with a pressurized fluid lipophilic solvent in non-gaseous form, which fluid solvent is substantially water-immiscible and is gaseous at ambient conditions, to yield a second aqueous acid solution and a solvent mixture of said extraction solvent and said fluid solvent; depressurizing said solvent mixture to release said extraction solvent for recycling; and, optionally, concentrating said second aqueous acid solution for recycling.

Claims

1. A process for producing alcohol from a cellulosic material, said process comprising:

hydrolyzing said cellulosic material with an aqueous acid to produce a hydrolysate;

extracting acid and water from said hydrolysate with a water-miscible organic extraction solvent to yield (a) a first aqueous acidic solution containing said extraction solvent and (b) a residue containing sugars;

subjecting said residue to an oligosaccharide cleavage reaction to yield an aqueous solution of fermentable sugars;

fermenting said fermentable sugars and distilling alcohol from the resulting fermented mixture;

contacting said first aqueous acidic solution with a pressurized fluid lipophilic solvent in non-gaseous form, which fluid solvent is substantially water-immiscible and is gaseous at ambient conditions, to yield a second aqueous acid solution and a solvent mixture of said extraction solvent and said fluid solvent;

depressurizing said solvent mixture to release said extraction solvent for recycling; and

, optionally, concentrating said second aqueous acid solution for recycling.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alcohol produced is ethanol.

5. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said fluid solvent is liquefied petroleum gas.

6. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein a part of the said lipophilic fluid solvent released in gaseous for in the depressurisation step is combusted to generate energy. for use in the process and a further part of said lipophilic fluid solvent is condensed and recycled.

11. Apparatus for use in a process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, said apparatus comprising:

a hydrolysis reactor;

a first separator arranged to receive hydrolysate from said reactor and to discharge a sugar slurry;

a second separator arranged to receive an extraction solvent/water mixture from said first separator and to discharge an aqueous acid solution;

an acid reservoir arranged to supply acid to said reactor;

an extraction solvent reservoir arranged to supply an organic extraction solvent to said first separator;

a pressurized fluid reservoir arranged to supply a pressurized fluid lipophilic solvent in non-gaseous form, which fluid solvent is substantially water-immiscible and is gaseous at ambient conditions, to said second separator; and

a depressurization chamber arranged to receive said lipophilic solvent from said second separator and to discharge said lipophilic solvent in gaseous form.

3. A process for the production of an aqueous solution of fermentable sugars from a cellulosic material, which process comprises:

hydrolyzing said cellulosic material with an aqueous acid to produce a hydrolysate;

extracting acid and water from said hydrolysate with a water-miscible organic extraction solvent to yield (a) a first aqueous acidic solution containing said extraction solvent and (b) a residue containing sugars;

contacting said first aqueous acidic solution with a pressurized fluid lipophilic solvent in non-gaseous form, which fluid solvent is substantially water-immiscible and is gaseous at ambient conditions, to yield a second aqueous acid solution and a solvent mixture of said extraction solvent and said fluid solvent;

depressurizing said solvent mixture to release said extraction solvent for recycling; and

, optionally, concentrating said second aqueous acid solution for recycling.

4. A process for the production of a sugar composition, said process comprising:

hydrolyzing said cellulosic material with an aqueous acid to produce a hydrolysate;

extracting acid and water from said hydrolysate with a water-miscible organic extraction solvent to yield (a) a first aqueous acidic solution containing said extraction solvent and (b) a residue containing sugars;

drying said residue to yield said sugar composition;

contacting said first aqueous acidic solution with a pressurized fluid lipophilic solvent in non-gaseous form, which fluid solvent is substantially water-immiscible and is gaseous at ambient conditions, to yield a second aqueous acid solution and a solvent mixture of said extraction solvent and said fluid solvent;

depressurizing said solvent mixture to release said extraction solvent for recycling; and

, optionally, concentrating said second aqueous acid solution for recycling.

7. A process for producing particulate silicate comprising digesting rice straw with aqueous acid, precipitating sugars from the aqueous acid with a water-immiscible organic solvent, collecting the resulting mixture of precipitated sugars, lignin and particulate silica, and separating therefrom the particulate silica.

8. A paint comprising silica particles isolated from rice straw.

9. A pharmaceutical comprising silica particles isolated from rice straw as an excipient.

10. A particulate catalyst comprising silica particles isolated from rice straw and loaded with a catalyst.