Process for starch liquefaction and fermentation
First Claim
1. A method of making ethanol comprising the steps of:
- a) combining milled plant material with a liquid to form a mash in a commercial slurry tank;
b) allowing the mash to flow from initial combining to a heat exchanger at a rate which is at least 5% to at least 70% less than the rate of flow of beer from a beer well to a distiller;
c) hydrolyzing starch in the mash to form a liquefact;
d) fermenting the liquefact to form a beer; and
e) distilling the beer to produce ethanol.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The presently disclosed subject matter provides improved processes for processing starch from plant sources, including processes for starch liquefaction, for simultaneous liquefaction and saccharification, and for the preparation of ethanol. These processes can be performed without a pH adjustment and at relatively low temperatures. The processes can involve the use of starch-containing plant material derived from plants that express starch-digesting enzymes. The presently disclosed subject matter further relates to improved processes for the preparation of other starch-derived products, including dried distiller grain (dried distiller grain) and dried distiller grain and solubles (dried distiller grain and solubles), and to the starch-derived products, themselves.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method of making ethanol comprising the steps of:
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a) combining milled plant material with a liquid to form a mash in a commercial slurry tank; b) allowing the mash to flow from initial combining to a heat exchanger at a rate which is at least 5% to at least 70% less than the rate of flow of beer from a beer well to a distiller; c) hydrolyzing starch in the mash to form a liquefact; d) fermenting the liquefact to form a beer; and e) distilling the beer to produce ethanol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of making ethanol comprising the steps of:
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a) combining milled plant material with a liquid to form a mash in a commercial slurry tank, b) allowing the mash to flow from initial combining to a fermenter at a rate which is at least 5% to at least 70% less than the rate of flow of beer from a beer well to a distiller; c) hydrolyzing starch in the mash to form a liquefact; d) fermenting the liquefact to form a beer; and e) distilling the beer to produce ethanol. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of making ethanol comprising the steps of:
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a) combining milled plant material with a liquid to form a mash in a commercial slurry tank; b) allowing the mash to flow from initial combining to a heat exchanger at a rate which is at least 20% to at least 55% less than the nameplate rate of flow for a ethanol production plant; c) hydrolyzing starch in the mash to form a liquefact; d) fermenting the liquefact to form a beer; and e) distilling the beer to produce ethanol. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of making ethanol comprising the steps of:
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a) combining milled plant material with a liquid to form a mash in a commercial slurry tank, b) allowing the mash to flow from initial combining to a fermenter at a rate which is at least 20% to at least 55% less than the nameplate rate of flow; c) hydrolyzing starch in the mash to form a liquefact; d) fermenting the liquefact to form a beer; and e) distilling the beer to produce ethanol. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification