Process for the production of organic fuel

• US 4,326,032 A
• Filed: 09/22/1980
• Issued: 04/20/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leslie H. Grove
• Original Assignee: Leslie H. Grove
• Inventors: Grove, Leslie H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yoncoskie, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US06/189,205
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 435/147, 435/148, 435/160, 435/161, 435/163, 435/842
• US Class Current: 435/148
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/04 acyclic
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/08 produced as by-product or from waste or cellulosic material substrate
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/16 Butanols
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/28 Acetone-containing products
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/54 Acetic acid vinegar C12J
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/842 Clostridium

Abstract

In the disclosed cellulase-catalyzed fermentation process for converting a cellulose- or hemicellulose-containing starting material to an organic fuel, the fermentation medium contains an efficient combination of Clostridium organisms or their enzymes. One preferred combination of organisms includes Cl. cellobioparum and Cl. acetobutylicum. Conversion of the cellulose to a liquid hydrocarbon oxidate proceeds in good yield with relativey minimal carboxylic acid production. The nondistillable residue is suitable for use as a fertilizer.

Claims

1. A method for producing a non-potable oxo- or oxy-aliphatic organic fuel boiling within the range of 20°

to 200°

C. and containing lower aliphatic monohydric alcohols or carbonyl compounds, which method comprises the steps of;

(a) blending water, a cellulose- or hemicellulose-containing particulate mass, and a fermentation agent to form a fermentation medium, said fermentation agent being selected from the group consisting of;

(i) a deliberate combination of at least two carbohydrase-producing Clostridium species in a ratio ranging from 9;

1 to 1;

9, at least one of said species being capable of producing cellulase; and

(ii) the carbohydrase enzymes produced by said combination;

(b) fermenting said particulate mass at fermentation temperatures, with supression of carboxylic acid production, until fermentation products are produced; and

(c) recovering the non-potable organic fuel from said fermentation medium.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said combination is aerotolerant and comprises Clostridium cellobioparum and a second Clostridium species capable of producing an enzyme selected from the group consisting of cellobiase, glucosidase, glucase, and combinations thereof;

at least 40% of the population of the Clostridia being the Cellobioparum species.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said second Clostridium species is Clostridium acetobutylicum.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said fermentation agent includes:

(1) carbohydrase enzymes obtained from Clostridium cellobioparum, and (2) an enzyme selected from the group consisting of glucosidase, cellobiase, and combinations thereof;

at least 40% of the total enzyme activity being the carbohydrase enzymes obtained from Clostridium cellobioparum.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said fermentation is carried out at 30°

-45°

C. and a pH of 3 to 7, with access to atmospheric oxygen.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said organic fuel, tested as an anhydrous blend of organic liquids, has a heat of combustion in excess of 4 Kg-cal/g, boils at 50°

-140°

C., and comprises organic liquids selected from the group consisting of lower alkanols, lower ketones, lower aldehydes, and mixtures thereof.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said organic fuel on an anhydrous basis, contains less than 5% by weight of acetic acid and is substantially free, except for trace amounts, of formic and butyric acids, the major amount of said fuel consisting essentially of C₁ to C₄ alkanols.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said particulate mass of said step (a) is sufficiently finely divided to pass a -50 U.S. mesh screen.

9. A method for producing a non-potable, liquid C₁ to C₅ oxo- or oxy-aliphatic fuel while suppressing the production of aliphatic carboxylic acids, said fuel boiling within the range of 50°

to 150°

C., which method comprises the steps of;

(a) blending water, a cellulose- or hemicellulose-containing particulate mass which is generally -50 U.S. mesh in particle size, and a fermentation agent to form a fermentation medium, said fermentation agent being prepared by deliberately combining at least two enzyme systems including a major amount of enzyme system obtained from Clostridium cellobioparum and a minor amount, greater than 20% of enzyme system obtained from Clostridium acetobutylicum;

(b) maintaining the said fermentation medium at normal ambient temperatures for at least about 12 hours;

(c) fermenting the cellulose or hemicellulose in said fermentation medium for at least 12 hours at a fermentation temperature ranging from 5°

to 50°

C. and a pH ranging from 5 to 7 until aliphatic carbonyl compounds or aliphatic monohydric alcohols are produced by said fermentation medium;

(d) separating said aliphatic carbonyl compounds or aliphatic monohydric alcohols from said fermentation medium.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said combination of enzymes is associated with live cellular material of Clostridium cellobioparum and Clostridium acetobutylicum, and said fermentation temperature is 30°

-40°

C.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein said combination of enzymes is unassociated with live cellular material.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein the population of Clostridia is 60-70% Clostridium cellobioparum organisms.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein 60-70% of the carbohydrase enzyme activity is carbohydrase obtained from Clostridium cellobioparum.