Production of ethanol from biomass

• US 5,677,154 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 10/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ingram-Howell, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ingram-Howell, LLC
• Inventors: Van Draanen, Arlen, Mello, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Lilling, Herbert J.
• Application Number:
  US08/477,782
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 435/161, 435/165, 435/163, 435/171, 435/267
• US Class Current: 435/163
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/08 produced as by-product or from waste or cellulosic material substrate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the production of ethanol from non-virgin biomass having deleterious materials therein is provided. The deleterious materials prevent or retard the production of ethanol when the non-virgin biomass is combined with a fermentation material. The method includes primary processing, secondary processing and/or blending the non-virgin biomass with virgin biomass such that the effect of the deleterious materials is reduced, thereby allowing production of ethanol when the biomass is combined with the fermentation material.

Claims

1. A method for producing ethanol from non-virgin biomass, comprising:

providing non-virgin biomass containing convertible biomass and deleterious material, the deleterious material present in an amount sufficient to inhibit conversion of the convertible biomass in the non-virgin biomass to ethanol;

removing at least a portion of the deleterious material present in the non-virgin biomass, thereby producing primary processed non-virgin biomass;

providing virgin biomass, the virgin biomass being substantially without deleterious materials;

combining the primary processed non-virgin biomass with a sufficient amount of the virgin biomass such that remaining deleterious material in the non-virgin biomass is diluted to an extent that conversion to ethanol and byproduct of the combination of the primary processed non-virgin biomass and the virgin biomass can be realized;

treating the combination of the primary processed non-virgin biomass and the virgin biomass with hydrolysis and fermentation materials such that conversion to ethanol and byproduct occurs from the combination of the primary processed non-virgin biomass and the virgin biomass; and

separating the ethanol from the byproduct.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the virgin biomass is present in an amount between 5-95% by weight and the primary processed non-virgin biomass is present in an amount between 5-95% by weight.

3. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the primary processed non-virgin biomass is subjected to a secondary process prior to the combining the primary processed non-virgin biomass with the virgin biomass, whereby the secondary process removes additional deleterious material from the primary processed non-virgin biomass and produces secondary processed non-virgin biomass, the secondary processed non-virgin biomass then being combined with the virgin biomass.

4. The method as described in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the deleterious material removed from the non-virgin biomass contains recyclable materials.

5. The method as described in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the deleterious material removed from the non-virgin biomass is suitable for use as landfill material.

6. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the fermentation material is a bacteria.

7. The method as described in claim 6, wherein the bacteria is Zymomonas mobilis or any strain thereof.

8. The method as described in claim 6, wherein the bacteria is Escherichia coli or any strain thereof.

9. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the fermentation material is a yeast.

10. The method as described in claim 9, wherein the yeast is Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

11. The method as described in claim 9, wherein the yeast is Pichia stipitis.

12. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the fermentation material is a fungi.

13. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the non-virgin biomass having deleterious material therein contains municipal solid waste.

14. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the non-virgin biomass having deleterious material therein contains municipal solid waste, construction and demolition debris, yard waste or combinations thereof.