MANAGEMENT OF ETHANOL CONCENTRATION DURING SYNGAS FERMENTATION
First Claim
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1. A process for fermentation of syngas comprising:
- contacting syngas with an inoculated medium having a cell density of at least about 0.1 grams per liter;
removing cells and medium from the fermentation and separating the removed cells and medium to provide concentrated cells and permeate;
separating ethanol from the permeate to provide ethanol and a reduced ethanol aqueous stream; and
providing the reduced ethanol aqueous stream to the fermentation;
wherein a ratio of a rate of providing the reduced ethanol aqueous stream to the fermentation to a rate of removing the cells and medium from the fermentation is about 0.5 to about 25.
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Abstract
A process is provided for management of ethanol concentration during syngas fermentation. A process for fermentation of syngas includes inoculating a medium to provide an inoculated medium. Inoculated medium is contacted with syngas and cells and medium are removed and separated to provide concentrated cells and permeate. Ethanol is separated from the permeate to provide ethanol and a reduced ethanol aqueous stream. The reduced ethanol aqueous stream is returned to the fermentation.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A process for fermentation of syngas comprising:
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contacting syngas with an inoculated medium having a cell density of at least about 0.1 grams per liter; removing cells and medium from the fermentation and separating the removed cells and medium to provide concentrated cells and permeate; separating ethanol from the permeate to provide ethanol and a reduced ethanol aqueous stream; and providing the reduced ethanol aqueous stream to the fermentation; wherein a ratio of a rate of providing the reduced ethanol aqueous stream to the fermentation to a rate of removing the cells and medium from the fermentation is about 0.5 to about 25. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A process for fermentation of syngas comprising:
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contacting syngas with an inoculated medium having a cell density of at least about 0.1 grams per liter; upon reaching a ethanol concentration of more than about 10 g/L in the fermentation, removing cells and medium and separating the cells and medium to provide concentrated cells and permeate; transferring permeate to a permeate holding tank; transferring permeate from the permeate holding tank to a distillation column effective for separating ethanol from permeate to provide ethanol and a reduced ethanol aqueous stream; and providing an a reduced ethanol aqueous stream to the fermentation; wherein a ratio of a rate of providing the reduced ethanol aqueous stream to the fermentation to a rate of removing the cells and medium from the fermentation is about 0.5 to about 25. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A process for fermentation of syngas comprising:
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inoculating a medium to provide an inoculated medium having cell density of at least about 0.1 grams per liter; contacting syngas with the inoculated medium; removing cells and medium from the fermentation and separating the cells and medium to provide concentrated cells and permeate; separating ethanol from the permeate to provide ethanol and a reduced ethanol aqueous stream; and providing the reduced ethanol aqueous stream to the fermentation; wherein a rate of providing the reduced ethanol aqueous stream to the fermentation and a rate of removing the cells and medium from the fermentation is effective for providing a growth factor of at least about 0.01 grams/gram/hour. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A process for fermentation of syngas comprising:
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inoculating a medium to provide an inoculated medium having cell density of at least about 0.1 grams per liter; contacting syngas with the inoculated medium; measuring a growth factor and providing an aqueous stream to the fermentation when the growth factor is less than a critical growth factor. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A process for fermentation of syngas comprising:
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inoculating a medium to provide an inoculated medium having cell density of at least about 0.1 grams per liter; contacting syngas with the inoculated medium; measuring a growth factor and providing an aqueous stream to the fermentation in an amount effective for maintaining a growth factor above a critical growth factor. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A high productivity process for fermentation of syngas comprising:
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contacting syngas with an inoculated medium having a cell density of at least about 0.1 grams per liter; removing cells and medium from the fermentation and separating the removed cells and medium to provide concentrated cells and permeate; separating ethanol from the permeate to provide ethanol and a reduced ethanol aqueous stream; and providing the reduced ethanol aqueous stream to the fermentation; wherein a ratio of a rate of providing the reduced ethanol aqueous stream to a rate of removing the cells and medium is about 0.5 to about 25, wherein the process is effective for maintaining an STY of at least about 60 g/(L·
day).
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Specification