PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BUTANOL OR ACETONE

• US 20170159079A1
• Filed: 10/19/2016
• Published: 06/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Celtic Renewables Limited
• Original Assignee: Celtic Renewables Limited
• Inventors: White, Jane Samantha, Leiper, Kenneth Alexander, Tangney, Martin, Messenger, Sandra
• Application Number:
  US15/297,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20170159079A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/12 containing four carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C08B 1/003 Preparation of cellulose solutions, i.e. dopes, with different possible solvents, e.g. ionic liquids solutions used in the manufacture of monocomponent artificial filaments or cellulose or derivatives thereof D01F2/02
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/1014 of vegetal origin
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/02 essentially based on components consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen only
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/023 for spark ignition
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/26 Composting, fermenting or anaerobic digestion fuel components or materials from which fuels are prepared
• CPC Class Codes: C12F 3/06 from beer and wine C12F3/02 takes precedence; removal of yeast C12G1/08
• CPC Class Codes: C12F 3/10 from distillery slops
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/16 Butanols
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/28 Acetone-containing products
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/34 produced from substrate containing protein as nitrogen source
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/36 produced from substrate containing grain or cereal material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/20 using bio-feedstock

Abstract

A process for the manufacture of butanol, acetone and other renewable chemicals utilizes one or more of by-products of the manufacture of malt whisky, such as pot ale and spent lees, biomass substrates, such as paper, sludge from paper manufacture and spent grains from distillers and brewers, and diluents, such as water and spent liquid from other fermentations. The process includes treating a substrate to hydrolyze it and fermenting the treated. Also provided is a biofuel including butanol manufactured according to the process.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A process for the manufacture of butanol and/or acetone, the process comprising:

treating a substrate comprising a carbohydrate source and pot ale to solubilise at least a portion of the carbohydrate source to provide a treated substrate; and

fermenting the treated substrate in the presence of a culture of butanol- and/or acetone-forming micro-organisms at a concentration of free copper ions of less than 20μ

to provide a fermented product containing butanol and/or acetone.

21. The process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the step of treating the substrate comprises:

hydrolysing the carbohydrate source in the presence of water and hydrogen ions or water and hydroxide ions.

22. The process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the step of treating the substrate comprises:

hydrolysing the carbohydrate source in the presence of an aqueous solution of sulphuric acid.

23. The process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the step of treating of the substrate comprises treating the carbohydrate source with one or more enzymes.

24. The process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the step of treating the substrate comprises diluting the substrate to provide a concentration of free copper ions of less than 20μ

.

25. The process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the step of fermenting the treated substrate is carried out at a pH of 5.1 or above.

26. The process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the concentration of free copper ions in the fermentation step is less than 15μ

.

27. The process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the culture of butanol- and/or acetone-forming micro-organisms comprises bacteria of the genus Clostridium.

28. The process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the fermentation step is carried out without the removal of solids therefrom.

29. The process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the treating and fermenting steps are carried out simultaneously.

30. The process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the treating and fermenting steps are carried out sequentially.

31. The process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the pot ale is provided by the steps of:

adding yeast to a wort comprising water and one or more carbohydrates selected from the group comprising glucose and oligosaccharides of glucose;

fermenting the wort to provide a wash comprising water and one or more alcohols; and

distilling the wash in a copper distillation vessel to provide a low wines distillate comprising one or more alcohols and a distillation residue of pot ale.

32. The process as claimed in claim 31, wherein the wort is provided by the further steps of:

grinding malted barley comprising starch to provide ground malted barley;

mixing the ground malted barley with water to provide a mash comprising water and ground malted barley;

hydrolysing at least a part of the starch in the ground malted barley of the mash to provide draff comprising spent barley solids and wort comprising water and one or more carbohydrates selected from the group comprising glucose and oligosaccharides of glucose; and

separating the draff from the wort.

33. The process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the pot ale is the by-product of the manufacture of malt whisky.

34. The process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the carbohydrate source is selected from one or more of the group comprising paper, sludge from paper manufacture, fruit and vegetable waste, waste from the baking industry, seaweed and seaweed extracts, forestry derivatives, food crops, grain and crop residues, spent grains, chocolate, algae, non-edible crops and their residues and energy crops.

35. The process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the fermented product further comprises one or more of the compounds selected from the group comprising ethanol, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, acetate and butyrate.

36. A biofuel comprising butanol manufactured according to the process of claim 20.