MATERIALS AND METHODS FOR CONVERTING BIOMASS TO BIOFUEL

• US 20140178946A1
• Filed: 02/25/2014
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Edeniq, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Edeniq, Inc.
• Inventors: Galvez, Adriano III, Richards, Glenn
• Application Number:
  US14/189,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20140178946A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/99
• CPC Class Codes: C08H 8/00 Macromolecular compounds derived from lignocellulosic materials pretreatment thereof B27N
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/02 Monosaccharides 2-ketogulonic acid C12P7/60
• 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: C12P 2201/00 Pretreatment of cellulosic or lignocellulosic material for subsequent enzymatic treatment or hydrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/10 substrate containing cellulosic material
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/14 Multiple stages of fermentation; Multiple types of microorganisms or re-use of microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: C13K 1/02 obtained by saccharification of cellulosic materials manufacture of fodder A23K10/32
• CPC Class Codes: C13K 1/06 obtained by saccharification of starch or raw materials containing starch
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/678 Aviation using fuels of non-fossil origin

Abstract

This disclosure provides for materials and methods for converting biomass to biofuels. The materials include a colloid mill with or without cellulase enzymes, and the methods include the use of a colloid mill and optionally cellulose enzymes to pretreat biomass for use in a biomass to biofuel production process.

Claims

1. A method of treating a biomass/water mixture comprising cellulose and starch, comprising:

a) contacting the biomass/water mixture to at least one amylase to hydrolyze starch contained in the biomass;

b) milling the biomass/water mixture with a high shear milling/mixing device comprising a rotor and a stator to produce milled biomass, thereby reducing the size of biomass particles in the biomass/water mixture compared to pretreatment of the biomass with a hammer mill alone,

c) following the contacting and milling, adjusting the temperature of the amylase-treated milled biomass to a temperature suitable for fermentation; and

d) fermenting the amylase-treated milled biomass in the presence of at least one cellulase that hydrolyzes the cellulose contained in the biomass to sugar.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting occurs prior to the milling.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fermenting results from yeast added to the amylase-treated milled biomass, making biofuel from biomass.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the amylase comprises an alpha amylase.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the amylase comprises a beta amylase or glucoamylase.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature is about 30°

C. to about 55°

C.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the high shear/milling mixing device is a colloid mill.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the gap between the rotor and stator is adjustable.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the gap setting can be dynamically adjusted.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the high shear/milling mixing device has a gap setting between the rotor and stator of between 0.104 and 0.728 millimeters.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass comprises grain.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass comprises cellulosic biomass.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the milled biomass comprises at least 15% bone dry solids (BDS).

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the mixture comprises 21-46% bone dry solids (BDS).

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the biomass comprises grain and cellulosic biomass.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the gap setting is between 0.2 and 0.3 millimeters and the biomass is grain.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the grain is hammer milled whole kernel corn.

18. A method of treating corn comprising both cellulose and starch, the method comprising:

a) hammer milling whole kernel corn and mixing with water thereby generating a biomass/water mixture having a particles size mostly ranging from 100 to 1600 microns,

b) contacting the biomass/water mixture to at least one amylase to hydrolyze starch contained in the biomass,

c) milling the biomass/water mixture with a high shear milling/mixing device comprising a rotor and a stator to produce milled biomass, thereby reducing the size of biomass particles so that the biomass has a particle size mostly ranging from 100 to 800 microns,

d) adjusting the temperature of the amylase-treated milled biomass to a temperature suitable for fermentation; and

e) fermenting the amylase-treated milled biomass in the presence of at least one cellulase that hydrolyzes the cellulose contained in the biomass to sugar.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the fermenting results from yeast added to the amylase-treated milled biomass, making biofuel from biomass.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the high shear/milling mixing device has a gap setting between the rotor and stator of between 0.104 and 0.728 millimeters.