Non-pressurised pre-treatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of waste fractions

• US 20120171732A1
• Filed: 02/25/2012
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Renescience A/S
• Original Assignee: Renescience A/S
• Inventors: Larsen, Jan, Iversen, Frank Krogh, Nørholm, Nanna Dreyer
• Granted Patent: US 10,465,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/99
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 3/00 Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 3/45 Steam treatment, e.g. supercritical water gasification or oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/02 Stirrer or mobile mixing elements
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/06 with horizontal or inclined stirrer shaft or axis
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/24 Draft tube C12M29/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/04 Phase separators; Separation of non fermentable material; Fractionation
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/06 by chemical means or hydrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/20 Heating; Cooling heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory uses B01L7/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/20 Triglyceride splitting, e.g. by means of lipase
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/2411 Amylases
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/2437 Cellulases (3.2.1.4; 3.2.1.74; 3.2.1.91; 3.2.1.150)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/2477 Hemicellulases not provided in a preceding group
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/48 acting on peptide bonds (3.4)
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/00 Preparation of compounds containing saccharide radicals ketoaldonic acids C12P7/58
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/06 Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
• 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 production of fermentation products, including bioethanol by non-pressurised pre-treatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of waste fractions containing mono- and/or polysaccharides, having a relatively high dry matter content. The process in its entirety, i.e. from non-pressurised pre-treatment over enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation to sorting of fermentable and non-fermentable solids can be processed at a relatively high dry matter content in a single vessel or similar device using free fall mixing for the mechanical processing of the waste fraction.

Claims

1. A method of processing waste fractions comprising

providing waste fractions containing mono- and/or polysaccharides,

subjecting said waste fractions to thermal pre-treatment, followed by

enzymatic hydrolysis of said waste fractions resulting in liquefaction of fermentable parts of the waste, followed by

sorting of fermentable parts of the waste from non-fermentable solids, wherein the liquefied fermentable parts of the waste are subsequently subject to fermentation.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the fermentable parts are subject to anaerobic fermentation.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the fermentable parts are subject to fermentation using an ethanologenic microorganism.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the fermentable parts are subject to fermentation involving addition of nitrogen sources.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the fermentable parts are subject to fermentation involving addition of nutrients or vitamins.

6. A process according to claim 1, wherein the mono- and/or polysaccharide containing waste fractions are unsorted municipal solid wastes (MSW), MSW processed in some central sorting, shredding or pulping device, source sorted waste from households, organic fractions, paper rich waste fractions, or RDF (Refuse-Derived-Fuel) fractions.

7. A process according to claim 1, wherein the mono- and/or polysaccharide containing waste fractions are general industry waste fractions containing paper or other organic fractions, waste fractions from paper industry, waste fractions from recycling facilities, waste fractions from food and feed industry, or waste fractions from the medicinal industry.

8. A process according to claim 1, wherein the mono- and/or polysaccharide containing waste fractions are waste fractions from processing sugar or starch rich products, waste fractions from processing potatoes or beets, contaminated or spoiled agricultural products, contaminated or spoiled grain, potatoes or beets not exploitable for food or feed purposes, garden refuse, manure, or manure derived products.

9. A process according to claim 1, wherein the mono- and/or polysaccharide containing waste fractions are sludge from waste water treatment plants, fibre or sludge fractions from biogas processing, or general waste fractions from the public sector containing paper or other organic fractions.

10. A process according to claim 1, wherein the non-pressurised pre-treatment is performed using steam.

11. A process according to claim 10, wherein the treatment time of the non-pressurised pre-treatment is between 0-120 min. with a temperature ranging between 60-110°

C. and a steam admission of 0-2 kg/kg dry matter.

12. A process according to claim 1, wherein enzymatic hydrolysis of the mono- and/or polysaccharide containing waste fraction is performed with hydrolytic enzymes, supplied in either native form or in form of microbial organisms giving rise to the accumulation of such enzymes.

13. A process according to claim 12, wherein said enzymatic hydrolysis lasts for 0-96 hours and with a temperature ranging from 20-105°

C.

14. A process according to claim 1, wherein enzymatic hydrolysis is conducted using a mixture of enzymes including cellulases, cellobiolases, and hemicellulases.

15. A process according to claim 1, wherein enzymatic hydrolysis is conducted using a mixture of enzymes including proteolytic enzymes.

16. A process according to claim 1, wherein enzymatic hydrolysis is conducted using a mixture of enzymes including alpha amylases and glyco amylases.

17. A process according to claim 1, wherein enzymatic hydrolysis is conducted using a mixture of enzymes including lipases.

18. A process according to claim 1, wherein enzymatic hydrolysis is conducted using a mixture of enzymes including oxidative enzymes.