Process for the conversion of and aqueous biomass hydrolyzate into fuels or chemicals by the selective removal of fermentation inhibitors

• US 6,737,258 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2002
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alliance For Sustainable Energy LLC
• Original Assignee: Midwest Research Institute
• Inventors: Nagle, Nicholas J., Sluiter, Amie D., Hayward, Tammy K., Hames, Bonnie R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weber, Jon P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SRIVASTAVA, KAILASH C
• Application Number:
  US10/031,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20020177199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 435/161, 435/162, 435/163, 435/165, 435/252.1, 435/252.9, 435/253.6, 435/255.1, 435/255.2, 435/255.21
• US Class Current: 435/161
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/22 Processes using, or culture media containing, cellulose or hydrolysates thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/38 Chemical stimulation of growth or activity by addition of chemical compounds which are not essential growth factors; Stimulation of growth by removal of a chemical compound C12N1/34 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/10 substrate containing cellulosic material
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/56 Lactic acid
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

A process of making a fuel or chemical from a biomass hydrolyzate is provided which comprises the steps of providing a biomass hydrolyzate, adjusting the pH of the hydrolyzate, contacting a metal oxide having an affinity for guaiacyl or syringyl functional groups, or both and the hydrolyzate for a time sufficient to form an adsorption complex; removing the complex wherein a sugar fraction is provided, and converting the sugar fraction to fuels or chemicals using a microorganism.

Claims

1. A process of making a fuel or chemical from a biomass hydrolyzate comprising:

(a) providing a biomass hydrolyzate;

(b) Adjusting the pH of said biomass hydrolyzate within a range of 6-10.0;

(c) contacting a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, vanadium oxide, and zirconium oxide having an affinity for guaiacyl or syringyl functional groups or both with said biomass hydrolyzate for a time sufficient to form an adsorption complex comprising a compound consisting essentially of phenol compounds obtained from lignin and a dissolved sugar fraction;

wherein the amount of metal oxide is 2;

1 to 4;

1 of the weight ratio of said phenol compounds obtained from lignin;

(d) removing the adsorption complex; and

(e) converting the dissolved sugar fraction into a fuel or chemical using a microorganism selected from the group consisting of r. Zymomonas mobilils, Saccharomyces cerevisae D₅A, or Lactobacillus rhamnosus.

2. The process of claim 1 further comprising, after adjusting the pH, heating the biomass hydrolyzate to a temperature in the range of 80°

C. to 100°

C.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the metal oxide is titanium dioxide, and said titanium dioxide is 2:

1 of the weight ratio of said phenol compounds of the biomass hydrolyzate.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein said biomass hydrolyzate is from a softwood.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the dissolved sugar fraction includes less than one mg/mL of phenol compounds obtained from lignin.