Process of using wet grain residue from ethanol production to feed livestock for methane production

• US 6,355,456 B1
• Filed: 01/19/2000
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IBR Patent Holdco, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dakota AG Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Hallberg, David E., Schlesinger, Victor W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Naff, David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MELLER, MICHAEL V
• Application Number:
  US09/487,604
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 435/161, 435/166, 426/624, 426/807
• US Class Current: 435/161
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/38 from distillers' or brewers' waste
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/10 for ruminants
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/06 Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/10 Process efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/141 Feedstock
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/87 Re-use of by-products of food processing for fodder production
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/40 Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 426/807 Poultry or ruminant feed

Abstract

An integrated continuous process for the production of ethanol and a bio-gas containing methane is disclosed. The process comprises the following steps. First, grain is fermented in an aqueous medium to produce ethanol in the medium which contains a wet distillers'"'"' grain with solubles as a wet grain residue and carbon dioxide. Next, the wet grain is feed to livestock in a feedlot which has slatted floors. The wet grain residue constitutes 25-80% of a feed ration of the livestock on a dry weight basis. The feed ration consists essentially of the 25-80% wet grain residue and grain. Third, the manure from the livestock is collected from beneath the slatted floor. Fourth, the collected manure is digested anaerobically with microorganisms to produce the bio-gas containing methane and, as a residue, a bio-fertilizer. Fifth, the bio-gas is combusted to produce heat. Sixth, the grain is dry milled utilizing heat produced by the combustion.

Claims

1. An integrated continuous process for the production of ethanol and a bio-gas containing methane comprising:

(a) fermenting grain in an aqueous medium to produce ethanol in said medium, a wet distillers'"'"' grain with solubles as a wet grain residue, and carbon dioxide;

(b) feeding the wet grain residue to livestock in a feedlot having slatted floors, said wet grain residue constituting 25-80% of a feed ration of said livestock on a dry weight basis, said feed ration consisting essentially of said 25-80% wet grain residue and grain;

(c) collecting manure produced by the livestock from beneath the slatted floor;

(d) digesting the collected manure anaerobically with microorganisms to produce the bio-gas containing methane and, as a residue, a bio-fertilizer;

(e) combusting said bio-gas to produce heat; and

(f) dry milling the grain used in step (a) for fermenting to produce ethanol utilizing the heat produced by said combusting.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein said digesting is either plug flow or mechanical continuous flow digesting.