Process for making alcohol from cellulosic material using plural ferments
First Claim
1. A process for making ethanol from cellulosic fibrous material comprising the steps of steam sterilization of the cellulosic material, thereafter subjecting the resultant sterilized cellulosic material to digestion and fermentation reaction with an innoculum mixture comprising cellulase enzyme and a yeast whereby the cellulosic material is converted to simple sugars with conversion of said sugars to ethanol and recovering ethanol from said digestion and fermentation reaction by vacuum stripping, and recycling the innoculum enzyme-containing residual liquid for reuse to digest subsequent charges of cellulosic material, said digestion of the cellulosic material to simple sugars and the fermentation reaction of the sugars to ethanol being carried out concurrently.
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Abstract
A process for making alcohol from cellulosic material by hydrolyzing the material to sugars and subjecting the resultant reaction mixture to digestion and fermentation to convert the sugars to alcohol. The process comprises sterilization of the cellulosic material; concurrent digestion and fermentation of the sterilized mixture to produce alcohol using innoculum comprising cellulase enzyme and yeast, vacuum stripping to recover the alcohol, and recovery of innoculum for reuse.
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9 Claims
- 1. A process for making ethanol from cellulosic fibrous material comprising the steps of steam sterilization of the cellulosic material, thereafter subjecting the resultant sterilized cellulosic material to digestion and fermentation reaction with an innoculum mixture comprising cellulase enzyme and a yeast whereby the cellulosic material is converted to simple sugars with conversion of said sugars to ethanol and recovering ethanol from said digestion and fermentation reaction by vacuum stripping, and recycling the innoculum enzyme-containing residual liquid for reuse to digest subsequent charges of cellulosic material, said digestion of the cellulosic material to simple sugars and the fermentation reaction of the sugars to ethanol being carried out concurrently.
Specification