Biomass treatment process and system

• US 8,193,395 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2008
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pursuit Dynamics plc (Gaming Realms, PLC)
• Original Assignee: Pursuit Dynamics plc (Gaming Realms, PLC)
• Inventors: Fenton, Marcus Brian Mayhall, Thorup, Jens Havn
• Primary Examiner(s): Witherspoon, Sikarl
• Application Number:
  US12/290,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20090240088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 568/840
• US Class Current: 568/840
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/511 characterised by the composition of the liquids or solids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/59 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31241 the main flow being injected in the circumferential area of the venturi, creating an aspiration in the central part of the conduit
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/80 with stirrers rotating about a substantially vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/8212 with moving and non-moving stirring devices
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0475 with means for deflecting the peripheral gas flow towards the central liquid flow B05B7/0458 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/12 for producing fuels or solvents C12M21/04 takes precedence; liquid carbonaceous fuels C10L1/00, solid fuels C10L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/02 by mechanical forces; Stirring; Trituration; Comminuting crushing, pulverizing, disintegrating in general B02C
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/09 by enzymatic treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/20 Heating; Cooling heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory uses B01L7/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/02 Monosaccharides 2-ketogulonic acid C12P7/60
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/14 produced by the action of a carbohydrase (EC 3.2.x), e.g. by alpha-amylase , e.g. by cellulase, hemicellulase
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 2201/00 Pretreatment of cellulosic or lignocellulosic material for subsequent enzymatic treatment or hydrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/06 Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/10 substrate containing cellulosic material
• CPC Class Codes: C13K 1/06 obtained by saccharification of starch or raw materials containing starch
• CPC Class Codes: D21G 9/0009 Paper-making control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

The present invention provides processes and systems for treating biomass and, e.g., making biofuels, such as bioethanol, from the biomass. More particularly, one process according to the present invention includes (a) inducing at least a first portion of a composition containing biomass and a working fluid to flow into a passage of a fluid processing apparatus, (b) injecting a high velocity transport fluid into the composition through a nozzle communicating with the passage of the fluid processing apparatus, whereby the transport fluid applies a shear force to the composition such that the working fluid is atomized and a vapor and droplet flow regime is formed downstream of the nozzle, (c) condensing the vapor and droplet flow regime, (d) transferring the composition to a first holding vessel, and (e) holding the composition in the first holding vessel at a first predetermined temperature for a first predetermined period of time, wherein a liquefaction enzyme is added to the composition prior to or during the process. Thereafter, the composition may be further processed to form a biofuel, such as, e.g., bioethanol.

Claims

1. A process for treating biomass comprising:

(a) inducing at least a first portion of a composition comprising biomass and a working fluid to flow into a passage of a fluid processing apparatus;

(b) injecting a high velocity transport fluid into the composition through a nozzle communicating with the passage of the fluid processing apparatus, whereby the transport fluid applies a shear force to the composition such that the working fluid is atomised and a vapour and droplet flow regime is formed downstream of the nozzle;

(c) condensing the vapour and droplet flow regime;

(d) transferring the composition to a first holding vessel; and

(e) holding the composition in the first holding vessel at a first predetermined temperature for a first predetermined period of time, wherein a liquefaction enzyme is added to the composition prior to or during the process.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the liquefaction enzyme is selected from the group consisting of a starch-to-sugar converting enzyme, a cellulase- or hemi-cellulase-to-starch converting enzyme, and combinations thereof.

3. The process according to claim 2, wherein the starch-to-sugar converting enzyme is an amylase and the cellulase- or hemi-cellulase-to-starch converting enzyme is a cellulase or hemi-cellulase or both.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises generating a low pressure region formed downstream of the nozzle.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the transport fluid is a condensable gas selected from the group consisting of steam and carbon dioxide.

6. The process according to claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises passing the composition through a temperature conditioning unit to raise the temperature of the composition to the first predetermined temperature.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the first predetermined temperature is between 80°

C. and 85°

C.

8. The process according to claim 7, wherein the first predetermined temperature is 83°

C.

9. The process according to claim 1, wherein the first predetermined temperature is between 72°

C. and 80°

C.

10. The process according to claim 9, wherein the first predetermined temperature is between 76°

C. and 78°

C.

11. The process according to claim 9, wherein the first predetermined temperature is 75°

C. or 77°

C.

12. The process according to claim 3, wherein an amylase and a cellulase enzyme are added to the composition prior to step (a).

13. The process according to claim 1 further comprising:

(f) transferring the composition to a second holding vessel following the end of the first predetermined period of time; and

(g) holding the composition in the second holding vessel at a second predetermined temperature for a second predetermined period of time.

14. The process according to claim 1, wherein a first liquefaction enzyme is added to the composition prior to step (a), and a second liquefaction enzyme is added to the composition between the end of the first predetermined period of time and the beginning of the second predetermined period of time.

15. The process according to claim 14, wherein the first liquefaction enzyme is an amylase and the second liquefaction enzyme is a cellulase or hemi-cellulase, or both.

16. The process according to claim 13 further comprising prior to step (f) cooling the composition to the second predetermined temperature.

17. The process according to claim 13, wherein the second predetermined temperature is between 50°

C. and 60°

C.

18. The process according to claim 17, wherein the second predetermined temperature is 55°

C.

19. The process according to claim 13 further comprising:

(e₁) prior to step (f), inducing at least the first composition into a passage of a second fluid processing apparatus; and

(e₂) injecting a second high velocity transport fluid into at least a portion of the composition through a nozzle communicating with the passage of the second fluid processing apparatus, whereby the transport fluid applies a shear force to the composition such that the working fluid is atomised and a second vapour and droplet flow regime is formed downstream of the nozzle of the second fluid processing apparatus, wherein a first liquefaction enzyme is added to the composition prior to step (a), and a second liquefaction enzyme is added to the composition prior to step (e1).

20. The process according to claim 19, wherein the first predetermined temperature is between 50°

C. and 60°

C.

21. The process according to claim 20, wherein the first predetermined temperature is 55°

C.

22. The process according to claim 19, wherein the second predetermined temperature is between 80°

C. and 85°

C.

23. The process according to claim 22, wherein the second predetermined temperature is 83°

C.

24. The process according to claim 19 further comprising:

(h) cooling the composition to a predetermined fermentation temperature;

(i) adding a fermentation agent to the composition;

(j) transferring the composition to a fermentation vessel; and

(k) holding the composition in the fermentation vessel at the predetermined fermentation temperature for a predetermined fermentation time to generate a fermented composition.

25. The process according to claim 24, wherein step (h) comprises passing the composition through a cooling vessel.

26. The process according to claim 25, wherein the cooling vessel is a mash cooler.

27. The process according to claim 24, wherein the predetermined fermentation temperature is between 30°

C. and 40°

C.

28. The process according to claim 27, wherein the predetermined fermentation temperature is 35°

C.

29. The process according to claim 24, wherein the fermentation agent is selected from the group consisting of a gluco-amylase, a yeast, and combinations thereof.

30. The process according to claim 24 further comprising (I) distilling the fermented composition to draw off the alcohol from the remainder of the composition.

31. The process according to claim 30 further comprising (m) returning any recovered water or condensate to the composition flowing into the passage of the first fluid processing apparatus.

32. The process according to claim 31 further comprising:

(n) transferring any remaining composition to a separator; and

(o) separating solids from the remaining composition.

33. The process according to claim 32 further comprising:

(p) recovering water content from the separator; and

(q) returning the water content to the composition flowing into the passage of the first fluid processing apparatus.

34. The process according to claim 3 further comprising:

(f₂) after step (e), inducing at least a portion of the composition, a second portion, to flow into a passage of a second fluid processing apparatus;

(g₂) injecting a high velocity transport fluid into the second portion of the composition through a nozzle communicating with the passage of the second fluid processing apparatus, whereby the transport fluid applies a shear force to the second portion of the composition such that the working fluid is atomised and a second vapour and droplet flow regime is formed downstream of the nozzle of the second fluid processing apparatus;

(h₂) condensing the second vapour and droplet flow regime and transferring the second portion of the composition to a second holding vessel; and

(i₂) holding the second portion of the composition in the second holding vessel at a second predetermined temperature for a second predetermined period of time, wherein the first fluid processing apparatus and first holding vessel, and the second fluid processing apparatus and second holding vessel operate in parallel; and

the amylase enzyme is added to the first portion of the composition prior to the induction of the first portion of the composition into the passage of the first fluid processing apparatus, and the cellulase enzyme is added to the second portion of the composition prior to the induction of the second portion of the composition into the passage of the second fluid processing apparatus.

35. The process according to claim 34 further comprising:

(j₂) cooling each portion of the composition to a predetermined fermentation temperature;

(k₂) adding a fermentation agent to each portion of the composition;

(l₂) transferring each portion of the composition to at least one fermentation vessel; and

(m₂) holding each portion of the composition in the at least one fermentation vessel at the predetermined fermentation temperature for a predetermined fermentation time to form a fermented composition, which includes alcohol.

36. The process according to claim 35, wherein the fermentation temperature is between 30°

C. and 40°

C.

37. The according to claim 36, wherein the fermentation temperature is 35°

C.

38. The process according to claim 35, wherein the fermentation agent is selected from the group consisting of a gluco-amylase, a yeast, and combinations thereof.

39. The process according to claim 35, wherein the fermentation of the first and second portions of the composition is carried out in a single fermentation vessel.

40. The process according to claim 35, wherein the fermentation of the first and second portions of the composition is carried out in separate fermentation vessels.

41. The process according to claim 35 further comprising distilling the fermented composition to draw off the alcohol from the remainder of the composition.

42. The process according to claim 35 further comprising:

(n₂) transferring any remaining non-fermented portions of the composition to a separator; and

(o₂) separating solids from the remaining non-fermented portions of the composition.

43. The process according to claim 42 further comprising the steps of:

(p₂) recovering the solids from the separator; and

(q₂) returning the solids to the passage of the second fluid processing apparatus.

44. The process according to claim 42, wherein the second portion of the composition is the solids content recovered from the separator.

45. The process according to claim 5, wherein the transport fluid is steam.

46. The process according to claim 1, wherein the working fluid is water.

47. The process according to claim 1, wherein the biomass comprises one or more starch-based crops.

48. A process for producing bioethanol from a biomass comprising:

(a) inducing at least a first portion of a composition comprising biomass and a working fluid to flow into a passage of a fluid processing apparatus;

(b) injecting a high velocity transport fluid into the composition through a nozzle communicating with the passage of the fluid processing apparatus, whereby the transport fluid applies a shear force to the composition such that the working fluid is atomised and a vapour and droplet flow regime is formed downstream of the nozzle;

(c) condensing the vapour and droplet flow regime;

(d) transferring the composition to a first holding vessel;

(e) holding the composition in the first holding vessel at a first predetermined temperature for a first predetermined period of time, wherein a liquefaction enzyme is added to the composition prior to or during the process;

(f) transferring the composition to a second holding vessel following the end of the first predetermined period of time;

(g) holding the composition in the second holding vessel at a second predetermined temperature for a second predetermined period of time;

(h) cooling the composition to a predetermined fermentation temperature;

(i) adding a fermentation agent to the composition;

(j) transferring the composition to a fermentation vessel; and

(k) holding the composition in the fermentation vessel at the predetermined fermentation temperature for a predetermined fermentation time to generate a fermented composition, which comprises bioethanol.